I saw a news report last night about two superlative distinctions that mankind now has since he "evolved" from monkeys. The first is our ability to understand deeper meanings of words and secondly, our ability to hear the various tones of music. I had to laugh about the monkey part but I was thrilled to hear anew that our response to the two witnesses that God left in the earth are being recognized for their high function indeed.
This bears out in our Bible citation about entering the land. God in control, Moses and his many words and his songs of praise and Joshua responding with valor to lead the people into the land. And the strength behind it all: A wonderful God who has determined to have a family composed of all who wish to respond to His plan and submit to His control, choose to obey the mighty words, praise Him in song and move out with Jesus. What words and songs are we listening to today? Are we on the correct route?
Thursday, June 13, 2019
Sunday, June 2, 2019
Bibledoorajar: Reading and Singing
Two aspects of Joshua's leadership were assured by God through Moses. Those aspects were the reading of the law that Moses had written down and that was housed with the Ark and the singing the song that Moses (with Joshua) wrote just before his death. God declared that these two aspects would be a witness for Him in the land. Each aspect when heard would serve to move the hearts of the people to continue their trust in God and to make sure their youth heard the witness too.
Listening closely to the witness (word or song) is important to keep the trust. Paul discussed the Word at length with the church in Rome. He pointed out that the law points to the Good News of the Messiah. It calls for belief (commitment) and trust. Of course, he said there was a problem if it is not paid attention to and obeyed. The law has consequences whether it is known or not known. But if attention is paid to it, God will write it on hearts so that trust can continue. The law remains a witness.
Jesus repeatedly said "It is written" and, though the due recipient of worship ,He also sang hymns with His disciples. Singing just after the institution of the Lord's Supper is one recorded incident. The hymn was a witness of the Father's goodness and provision and contributed to trust.
The song that Moses wrote includes verses about future failures that the people would make but it also underscores the beauty of repentance and returning to God. It was and is a witness. Though all did not receive the witness, there remained a remnant which did. Today it is the same. Not all appreciate the witness in the earth through the hearing of the Word and songs, but there remains a remnant which does.
Listening closely to the witness (word or song) is important to keep the trust. Paul discussed the Word at length with the church in Rome. He pointed out that the law points to the Good News of the Messiah. It calls for belief (commitment) and trust. Of course, he said there was a problem if it is not paid attention to and obeyed. The law has consequences whether it is known or not known. But if attention is paid to it, God will write it on hearts so that trust can continue. The law remains a witness.
Jesus repeatedly said "It is written" and, though the due recipient of worship ,He also sang hymns with His disciples. Singing just after the institution of the Lord's Supper is one recorded incident. The hymn was a witness of the Father's goodness and provision and contributed to trust.
The song that Moses wrote includes verses about future failures that the people would make but it also underscores the beauty of repentance and returning to God. It was and is a witness. Though all did not receive the witness, there remained a remnant which did. Today it is the same. Not all appreciate the witness in the earth through the hearing of the Word and songs, but there remains a remnant which does.
"Sing on, ye joyful pilgrims.
While here on earth we stay.
Let songs of home and Jesus
Beguile each fleeting day.
Sing on the grand old story
Of His redeeming love.
The every\lasting chorus
That fills the realms above."
Fannie Crosby
Sunday, May 26, 2019
Bibledoorajar: Mighty Men of Valor
Before Moses died he had selected two and one- half tribes composed of valiant men to be the tip of the spear as the people moved into the land. They were to maintain their protective position until every tribe was in the land. But Moses had died. How were they to view their previous commitment?
When Joshua asked, they were quick to say they would still gladly accept the responsibility. They believed in the leadership of this great commander as much as they had in Moses. Joshua must have spoken with the same authority given by God as Moses had. The mighty men believed. They would be willing to take on assignments even though Joshua would not be present with them.
In Bible class this morning we were examining the interactions of Jesus with his disciples just before His death. John records that as they talked, the disciples seemed to see Jesus in a different way and they saw God in a different way too. They said Jesus was speaking much more clearly about spiritual things and that they did not have to question so much. Jesus saw mightiness arising and exclaimed that finally, they believed in the authority God had given to Jesus and that He had given to them. This was a good thing because Jesus told them that shortly they would all be scattered to their own homes and He would not be available in the flesh. Even though this was to happen, they were to maintain their protective positions for each other. And this was the lesson for the class to take to heart. We are to maintain our protective positions for each other even though we are scattered to our homes. None of us can "save the world" but we must pray for and assist our fellow believers. A local fellowship is a place for Christ' authority to accomplish much. God gave us to Jesus and He shares Himself with us so that we can be enabled to share with each other and help each other. Jesus prays for us. Amazing. For God so loved......
When Joshua asked, they were quick to say they would still gladly accept the responsibility. They believed in the leadership of this great commander as much as they had in Moses. Joshua must have spoken with the same authority given by God as Moses had. The mighty men believed. They would be willing to take on assignments even though Joshua would not be present with them.
In Bible class this morning we were examining the interactions of Jesus with his disciples just before His death. John records that as they talked, the disciples seemed to see Jesus in a different way and they saw God in a different way too. They said Jesus was speaking much more clearly about spiritual things and that they did not have to question so much. Jesus saw mightiness arising and exclaimed that finally, they believed in the authority God had given to Jesus and that He had given to them. This was a good thing because Jesus told them that shortly they would all be scattered to their own homes and He would not be available in the flesh. Even though this was to happen, they were to maintain their protective positions for each other. And this was the lesson for the class to take to heart. We are to maintain our protective positions for each other even though we are scattered to our homes. None of us can "save the world" but we must pray for and assist our fellow believers. A local fellowship is a place for Christ' authority to accomplish much. God gave us to Jesus and He shares Himself with us so that we can be enabled to share with each other and help each other. Jesus prays for us. Amazing. For God so loved......
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Bibledoorajar: What God Knew About Joshua
I am going to pick up my 13- year- old autistic great nephew after school today and introduce him to some beginning work tasks as he is interested in earning some money. His grandmother could not remember when that was going to take place so Clay told her, "it is Tuesday, Oma." He further counseled her that she needed to work on her listening skills! She was reporting all of this to me when she called to verify. That started me thinking about Joshua and what God knew about him.
I think God knew that Joshua had good listening skills. It seems God thought he would try his best to separate the right messages from the wrong. How very valuable he would be to God. I was telling my Bible class yesterday that I can remember the "old folks" of my youth praying in Jesus name for Jesus sake. It was important to them that whatever "work" was to be accomplished as a result of that prayer would bring glory to Jesus and not to the humans involved. That is something that we should all try to remember. Good works to God are those that proceed from holy principles and that are regulated and monitored by righteous rules. They keep the right end in view.....glory to God. It is not necessarily wrong to want to be appreciated, but it is wrong to take all the glory, forgetting where the ability came from in the first place and for whom we were made to glorify. With God's help, I hope to get some of that through to Clay today. Maybe we will talk about Eric Liddell, the Scottish preacher who ran for God's glory while Harold Abrahams, a Jew, ran to oppose racist thoughts against the Jews without thinking of glorifying HIs God. Perhaps my young autistic boy can catch the idea. Lord, make Him your chariot of fire in Jesus name for Jesus sake. Amen.
I think God knew that Joshua had good listening skills. It seems God thought he would try his best to separate the right messages from the wrong. How very valuable he would be to God. I was telling my Bible class yesterday that I can remember the "old folks" of my youth praying in Jesus name for Jesus sake. It was important to them that whatever "work" was to be accomplished as a result of that prayer would bring glory to Jesus and not to the humans involved. That is something that we should all try to remember. Good works to God are those that proceed from holy principles and that are regulated and monitored by righteous rules. They keep the right end in view.....glory to God. It is not necessarily wrong to want to be appreciated, but it is wrong to take all the glory, forgetting where the ability came from in the first place and for whom we were made to glorify. With God's help, I hope to get some of that through to Clay today. Maybe we will talk about Eric Liddell, the Scottish preacher who ran for God's glory while Harold Abrahams, a Jew, ran to oppose racist thoughts against the Jews without thinking of glorifying HIs God. Perhaps my young autistic boy can catch the idea. Lord, make Him your chariot of fire in Jesus name for Jesus sake. Amen.
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Bibledoorajar: The Commander
"Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people: “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you will cross the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own." Joshua 1:10 ff
Joshua was truly a great and confident commander. He did not establish a steering committee or ask for ideas. He simply told his army officers to spread the word with preparation details. Several things come to mind as I read this. One is that Jesus did not consult with flesh and blood as He lead his disciples. He waited for the Father to speak to Him and said He did nothing without hearing from Him. And then there was the apostle Paul. In Galatians, he said that he was" an apostle not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead." He further said that "the gospel he preached was not received from man not taught by man, but that it came by revelation of Jesus Christ". He did not consult with flesh and blood about his gospel. Galatians 1 ff. Paul added that after three years he went to Jerusalem to consult with Peter. It is good that we know our proper relationship with our commander. One unknown wrote of it in part in this way....
Joshua was truly a great and confident commander. He did not establish a steering committee or ask for ideas. He simply told his army officers to spread the word with preparation details. Several things come to mind as I read this. One is that Jesus did not consult with flesh and blood as He lead his disciples. He waited for the Father to speak to Him and said He did nothing without hearing from Him. And then there was the apostle Paul. In Galatians, he said that he was" an apostle not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead." He further said that "the gospel he preached was not received from man not taught by man, but that it came by revelation of Jesus Christ". He did not consult with flesh and blood about his gospel. Galatians 1 ff. Paul added that after three years he went to Jerusalem to consult with Peter. It is good that we know our proper relationship with our commander. One unknown wrote of it in part in this way....
I am a soldier in the army of God
The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer
The Holy Scripture is my code of conduct
Faith, prayer and the word of God are my weapons.
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
Bibledoorajar: Confidence and Courage
There were two things that God made clear and underscorably clear to Joshua. He was to put all of his confidence in God and His law and he was to courageously fear no man. There were no other elements of their discussion. 1) Trust me only and 2) fear no man. This at a time when Joshua faced strong peoples with other gods. He had seen Moses have to take this stance many times but the test was now for him and for the nation that he would be leading. If Joshua was to be confident in God and courageous against evil men then so was the nation he was to lead. Somehow in thinking about this point of their history. I feel better about God and Joshua than I do the nation. It makes me wonder just how well the Christian nation is doing in this regard and me a member of it.
In John, we read of Jesus saying He could not entrust Himself to some folk because he knew they would betray Him. The Psalmist says it is better to put your confidence in God than man (118) and the prophets in later times were always sending this message to Israel and Judah. It seems it is a hard lesson for we God knowing people to learn deep within our soul. Usually, it is because we have put too much of our trust in the men around us and less in God and our heavenly Joshua. It's just that our situations can be so iffy, isn't it? Yesterday we were discussing the disciples' plight at a given point. Jesus had just told Judas to leave the room (he had all the money). Jesus, who could do the supernatural, had just announced he would die very soon. He said He would send another Helper but nobody in the room knew when. If one did not feel the strong attraction to Jesus and His love one could be tempted to feel a little bereft and look around to men for help. But praise God they did feel that love and stayed the course. It is a prayer for strength and wisdom we all need to make.
"Faith of our fathers, holy faith, we will be true to Thee 'til death"
Frederick Faber
In John, we read of Jesus saying He could not entrust Himself to some folk because he knew they would betray Him. The Psalmist says it is better to put your confidence in God than man (118) and the prophets in later times were always sending this message to Israel and Judah. It seems it is a hard lesson for we God knowing people to learn deep within our soul. Usually, it is because we have put too much of our trust in the men around us and less in God and our heavenly Joshua. It's just that our situations can be so iffy, isn't it? Yesterday we were discussing the disciples' plight at a given point. Jesus had just told Judas to leave the room (he had all the money). Jesus, who could do the supernatural, had just announced he would die very soon. He said He would send another Helper but nobody in the room knew when. If one did not feel the strong attraction to Jesus and His love one could be tempted to feel a little bereft and look around to men for help. But praise God they did feel that love and stayed the course. It is a prayer for strength and wisdom we all need to make.
"Faith of our fathers, holy faith, we will be true to Thee 'til death"
Frederick Faber
Saturday, April 20, 2019
Bibledoorajar: Leadership
Bibledoorajar is in Dallas this week supporting hundreds of young leaders from fellowships across the Southwest. Young people that willingly spend time doing bulletin boards, scrapbooks, speeches, poems, art mediums, puppeteering, Bible readings, signing for the deaf, song leading, choruses and more, meet to be judged by their elders. It is really quite a production. The events are designed to assist the youth in becoming more comfortable as they think of taking on leadership roles within the Christian community. The hope is that they will desire with all their hearts to continue to be as good attendants to Jesus as Joshua was to Moses. Many have prayed for, encouraged and assisted them in making their presentations possible but each young person has had to meet strict criteria for their age group on their own. May they always be willing to serve Him. One thing is for sure. He is in control and someone will. Below is a picture of the mighty group from our small fellowship. The care and concern that they have for each other makes the heart swell. Each will find out what medal they won in each of their categories when they get back home. Thank you, Lord, for every one of them and for their courage and sacrifice!
"Lord of heaven and earth. Lord of all creation. Lord of heaven and earth. Lord of all creation, of water, earth and sky, the heavens are Your tabernacle; glory to the Lord on high.
God of wonders beyond our galaxy. You are holy, holy; the universe declares Your majesty. You are holy, holy; Lord of heaven and earth, Lord of heaven and earth...."
Lyrics by Marc Byrd
"Lord of heaven and earth. Lord of all creation. Lord of heaven and earth. Lord of all creation, of water, earth and sky, the heavens are Your tabernacle; glory to the Lord on high.
God of wonders beyond our galaxy. You are holy, holy; the universe declares Your majesty. You are holy, holy; Lord of heaven and earth, Lord of heaven and earth...."
Lyrics by Marc Byrd
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