Chaplain’s Corner – I AM the Light of the World

Jul21

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world” (John 1:9)

We learned in elementary school that our sun is the origin of our light, and that even the light from the moon is only reflected light. So how can it be that God spoke light into existence even before he created the sun, moon, and stars? Genesis 1:1-5 reads:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.”

It was not until the fourth day of creation that He created the sun, moon, and stars. How can it be? It is because God himself is the light. “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).

Fast forward to the Book of Revelation at the end of the Bible when the new heaven and earth is revealed. The new Jerusalem comes down from heaven and “shines with the glory of God.” “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp” (Revelation 21:23).

Light represents God’s glory. In both James 1:17 and 1 John 1:5, God’s essence and personality are equated with all that is “light.” In the Bible, darkness often symbolically refers to evil, sin, and corruption. Therefore, light represents goodness, honesty, purity, wisdom, glory, and love—everything that God is. (Reference)

Therefore, Jesus acknowledged his divinity, his role in creation, and his role in our redemption when he said in John 8:12 – “I AM the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

What is the takeaway for us as believers? Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount that as believers and disciples, we are the light of the world. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Like the moon that can only shine the reflected light of the sun, we as believers can only shine the reflected light of God the Father and God the Son. This is important because Jesus told us to let our light shine before men so that our good deeds can be seen which will give glory to our Heavenly Father.

Fellow believers, we are to shine our lights!! Even though we are mere mortals, we have the power of the light in us. The physical nature and power of light is such that one drop of light can dispel the darkness. We have such a unique and valuable opportunity as Mission staff to be the light of Christ to those we serve; to dispel the darkness that plagues their lives; and to provide Hope for Today, Hope for Tomorrow, and Hope for Eternity.

 “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6b).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – I AM the Bread of Life

Jul14

“Taste and see that the Lord is good….” (Psalm 34:8).

At the time this devotional is published I am on vacation with friends, and one of our most cherished activities is eating together. Even though we are at a state park in separate cabins, we share resources to prepare and eat several meals together. God did endow me with a major love of eating, and I just love the whole “bread” metaphor in the Bible.

God in his wisdom created man with a need for bread. Every nationality has different dietary customs, but I think each one has some equivalent of bread on the menu. It is universal. The first mention of bread in the Bible was when “…Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High… (Genesis 14:18). Shortly thereafter, in Genesis 18:6, “… Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. ‘Quick,’ he said, ‘get three seahs (approx. 27 quarts) of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.’”

And we all know of how God provided manna (bread) for the entire Exodus journey from the Mt. Sinai until they crossed over the Jordan River to the Promised Land (Exodus 16:35). God sustained Elijah and the widow of Zarephath for three and one-half years through the miraculous provision of oil and flour (1 Kings 17:13-14). Those are just a couple of the stories where bread plays a major part in the action.

Bread was even an element of the Old Testament sacrificial system. Grain offerings were to be baked into cakes of bread for the sacrificial fellowship or peace offerings as described in Leviticus 7:11-16. According to the website GotQuestions.org, “Most sacrifices in the Old Testament system were not eaten by worshipers, but the peace offering was meant to be eaten—only a portion of the animal or grain brought to the altar was burned; the rest was given back to the worshiper and to the poor and hungry. The beautiful picture here is of God’s provision for His people, both physically and spiritually. His grace and goodness are present throughout the offerings. In the peace offering, God was providing what we need: a way to thank Him for His goodness and physical sustenance.”

When we get to the New Testament, the best-known story about bread is when Jesus fed the five thousand with five small barley loaves and two fishes (John 6). And when the crowd of people followed him to the other side of the lake, Jesus challenged them saying that they were only following him because he had filled their bellies. He went on to tell them that they should be seeking food that would not spoil—food that would endure to eternal life. “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

“Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’‘Sir,’ they said, ‘always give us this bread.’”

Then, in verse 35, “Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’”

As bread sustains physical life, so Christ offers and sustains spiritual life. He is nourishment for our soul, but we must partake to get the benefit. The bread on the shelves of the grocery store does us no good. The bread in our pantry does us no good either. It is not until we consume it that it nourishes us, that it saves our lives.

The breaking and eating of bread is especially good when we acknowledge the communal aspect. I admit that I eat far too many meals in my car (any is too many). It is not mindful, and the nutritionists will tell you that mindful eating is healthier. Food is meant to be enjoyed. We are meant to savor our food, to be aware of where it comes from. Jesus includes this acknowledgement of our Provider in his model prayer when he says “Give us the day our daily bread”. And during the Last Supper, Jesus models gratitude for his meal when he prays. “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’”

So, whether we are alone in our car or around the table with family or friends, let us use the actual act of eating to invite Jesus to join in the celebration of our meal, to commune with us. Let us use this time to remember that while we are dependent upon God and therefore thankful for our food, we are even more dependent upon the life-giving sacrifice of Jesus and therefore thankful for the spiritual nourishment that comes from our Savior.

Break Thou the Bread of Life

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – Who Is God?

Jul7

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14)

In the Book of Exodus, when Moses meets God at the burning bush, God states his own name for the first time. He is telling Moses that this is my name, and this is how you are to introduce me to my people. It is an all-inclusive name. It conveys eternity: He is in every time, past, present, and future. It conveys self-existence; He is dependent upon no one and nothing for his existence. God is the Creator, and everything other thing that has ever existed was created by him. Unfathomable, unsearchable, truly awesome.

Essential and foundational to our faith is knowing God. Yet what a challenge! God is so much more than our human minds can grasp. In Romans 11:33-34 (quoting from Isaiah 40;13) – Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” This is the Apostle Paul speaking. If he is in awe of God, how much more should we be.

The best way to know about God is to read his Word to us in the Bible. We can read account after account of how God has accomplished great and good things; how he has made and kept his promises. Even Balaam, a pagan prophet, acknowledged that “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” (Numbers 23:19). I especially like how our CEO, Glenn Cranfield, puts it. “God is who he says he is, and he can do what he says he will do.”

In the New Testament, when the crowds challenged Jesus as to his identity, they referenced Abraham. “Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” (John 8:53). Jesus replied: “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58). With this statement, Jesus invoked his own divinity as the second person of the Trinity. In other chapters of the book of John, Jesus makes seven “I AM” statements of his own:

  1. “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51)
  2. “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12)
  3. “I am the door.” (John 10:7)
  4. “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)
  5. “I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14)
  6. “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
  7. “I am the true vine.” (John 15:1, 5)

Finally, three times in the Book of Revelation, Jesus tells John: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13). In subsequent Chaplain Corner devotionals, we will explore these “I AM” statements of Jesus and how they relate to the message of the entire Bible of redemption and reconciliation.

The best way to know about God is to study His Word. The best way to know God is to believe what his Word says to us and to put that belief into practice. What does this mean for you and me? It makes all the difference to me when I pray. If I begin my prayer as Jesus instructed, “Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,” and when I ponder who he is and how he has kept his promises throughout all time, then I can pray with confidence, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” God is who he says he is, and he can do what he says he will do.

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – Immanuel

Jun30

“But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29).

This wonderful word from God is especially reassuring when we understand the context. Moses is prophesying to the children of Israel about future times if/when they become corrupt and begin to worship other idols. At that time, they will be scattered, exiled from the Promised Land to nations that worship other gods.  But, Moses promises, if from there (this place of exile) you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and all your soul.

Well, brothers and sisters, if you define exile as anywhere outside of the Kingdom of God, as Peter certainly does in 1 Peter 2:11, then we are in exile here on earth even as our true citizenship is in Heaven.

I consider myself a seeker in this sense. I love to think about God. On my good days, He is everywhere I look: in nature, in the faces of my family, in the hands of our incredible staff. On my bad days, he is there, too. I just might not be looking for Him. Or maybe I am looking in the wrong place or in the wrong way or for the wrong things. Right?

Earlier this week I read a passage from Psalm 31 in which the Psalmist tells God, “My times are in your hands.” That is a figure of speech because, of course, God does not have hands. He is a Spirit. We attribute human characteristics to God to help us to understand him, but that is just because our human minds are not capable of comprehending the full scope of His Being. How can we as humans understand the omnipresence of God? Isaiah says, “he sits enthroned above the circle of the earth” (Isaiah 40:22).  At the same time, the Psalmist says he is present everywhere, to each of us at the same time (Psalm 139:7-12).

He is there when we are happy and when we are sad.

He is there when we are serving and when we are being served.

He is there when we are healthy and when we are sick.

He is there when we are at church, at home, in our car, at the park, or anywhere else.

He is there when we wish he were not, or even when we forget about him.

God is not hiding from us. All we must do is seek him, open our eyes (see the June 23, 2021, Chaplain’s Corner for a wonderful story about this). He is there in nature; he is there in the face of our loved ones. He is there in the chapel, in the dayroom, in the dining room, the dorms, the office, and the parking lot.

What is more, God sent his son, Jesus, to dwell among us. “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:23).  Jesus, God Incarnate, has always been with us in spirit. But then he condescended to take on humanity to walk right alongside us. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1, 14)

And then, when Jesus knew that he would be returning to heaven, he still promised us that he would be with us always. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:29b). And, to further provide us access to God’s presence, Jesus told us “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—” (John 14:16), which is of course, the Holy Spirit.

My advice is this:

  1. When life is going great, give thanks and seek God. You need him more than you know.
  2. When life is not going great, pray and seek God. He will provide for your needs.
  3. At all times, practice seeking God, remembering who He is and what He has done for you.

“… God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5b).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – Whom Shall We Fear?

Jun23

“…no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,
declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:17)

Have you ever felt like you were being attacked from every side? Surrounded? If not by a person, then by circumstances? Have you ever felt alone, like no one is on your side? Or maybe you are just so tired and emotionally drained that your own mind and body are in distress? The Bible tells us that we are never alone, even when it feels that way. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about Elisha in 2 Kings 6:13-17 when Israel was under continual attack by the King of Aram:

“’Go, find out where he is,’ the king (of Aram) ordered, ‘so I can send men and capture him.’ The report came back: ‘He is in Dothan.’ Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?’ the servant asked. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet (Elisha) answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

Those who are with us are more than those who are with them! Yes!! Even though we cannot see them, we need to know they are there—the vast multitudes of angel armies are arrayed in battle against the enemy. I take immense comfort in this.

There are many other stories in the Bible of God’s miraculous intervention to save his people during their battles against their enemies. Many times, God gave the people the weapons and strength they needed to overpower the enemy. Many other times, it was only by God’s divine intervention that victory was secured. I have included just a few below:

  • When the children of Israel were escaping from Israel, God miraculously intervened to part the Red Sea, and to throw their pursuers into confusion and jam their chariot wheels.
  • When the children of Israel were beginning their conquest of the Promised Land, God led Joshua to win the Battle of Jericho.
  • Again, when Joshua was going up against the five kings of the Amorites, “After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. The Lord threw them into confusion before Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.” (Joshua 10:9-11)
  • When the Israelite army was cowering in fear of the Philistines, God helped David, a shepherd boy, to kill Goliath with a rock to defeat the powerful Philistines.
  • Another time when God helped the children of Israel to defeat the Philistines: “While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites.”  (1 Samuel 7:10)
  • God spoke to King Jehosophat of Judah: “Your Majesty and everyone from Judah and Jerusalem, the Lord says that you don’t need to be afraid or let this powerful army discourage you. God will fight on your side! So, here is what you must do. Tomorrow the enemy armies will march through the desert around the town of Jeruel. March down and meet them at the town of Ziz as they come up the valley. You will not even have to fight. Just take your positions and watch the Lord rescue you from your enemy. Do not be afraid. Just do as you are told. And as you march out tomorrow, the Lord will be there with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:15-17)

In the New Testament, angels broke Peter’s chains and opened the gates of the jail so that he could walk out. You and I need to remember that with God all things are possible. His protection for his people did not end with the New Testament. He will still protect us. He will continue to empower us. He will always fight for us. We just need to realize that he can, and he will. Since we know that is true, then, as the song says, Whom Shall I Fear?

For as long as we are citizens on earth, we will have conflict, sickness, wars, disasters, and all kinds of troubles. That comes with being survivors of the Fall. In fact, Jesus himself told us that “in this world you will have trouble.” But that statement is in the context of what Jesus himself promised us: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Even when we cannot see Him, He is there, fighting against the enemy. Fighting for us. In Him, we will have victory. You will not even have to fight. Just take your positions and watch the Lord rescue you from your enemy.

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7)

If you have read to this point, I would love for you to share a Bible verse that gives you comfort in times of trials and tribulations.

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – Thou Shalt Be Content

Jun16

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:17)

This tenth commandment is interesting. The seventh commandment has already forbidden the act of adultery, and the eighth commandment has already forbidden the act of stealing. Thou shalt not covet is a commandment for our hearts and minds. It is a commandment that says we should not even desire those relationships or things that belong to someone else. This is especially hard in today’s world. In our day and age of Intense marketing everywhere you look and a culture that constantly reinforces that you can and should have it all–immediate gratification—it is challenging not to succumb to the feeling that we need everything we see. I really dislike the feeling of manipulation I experience going to a shopping mall. I walk in thinking I will just look around but not buy anything, and shortly thereafter I begin seeing so many items that I suddenly cannot live without. Have you ever bought something on impulse, then got it home and didn’t even open the package for days? Maybe you found it later stashed away and could not even remember why you bought it. Okay, me neither.

James writes about the link between our desires and our subsequent actions. He says, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (James 4:1-3)

In the above passage, James gives us two clues to overcome covetousness, and note that these work hand in hand:

  1. You do not have because you do not ask God. Whenever we want anything, the first step is to lay it before God. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).
  2. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives.  First, ask Him to align your heart with His. “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).

Maybe you want that pair of shoes more than your next meal. Lay it before God and tell him how you feel.  If you ask God and align your heart with his, he will do one of two things: 1. He will grant your desire, or 2. You will find that you do not really want those shoes anymore.

Personally, I find it easier to begin something than to stop anything, so when I think about trying to stop covetousness, I find that it is helpful to practice the opposite, which is contentment. Paul wrote about contentment from prison: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (Philippians 4:12)

So, you may ask, what is the secret of being content in any and every situation? How can we be so content that we covet nothing? Max Lucado says the secret is simply this: “Count your blessings and focus more on what you have and less on what you don’t!” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

I use the passage from Proverbs 30:8-9 as my personal prayer most days:

Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
    give me neither poverty nor riches,
    but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
    and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
    and so dishonor the name of my God.

Paul, in his teaching to the young pastor Timothy, gives us all good advice: But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man (and woman) of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

This concludes our study on the Ten Commandments. Although these commands were given by God to Moses early in the formation of the Jewish faith, obedience to the law–and the spirit of the law as amplified by New Testament teaching–remain essential to us as Christians. God told us that he prefers obedience to sacrifice, and Jesus reinforced this by saying “If you love me, keep my commands.” I will refer us to a verse we have used before to sum up this teaching and guide us in our obedience:

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:8-10)

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – Thou Shalt Speak with Integrity

Jun9

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16).

This is the ninth commandment; one of a list of “thou shalt nots.”

Have you ever had a relationship with someone where you felt that you had to take what they said “with a grain of salt?” Maybe they are known to exaggerate or stretch the truth; maybe they have been caught in white lies; maybe you have to sift through too much extraneous information to get at what they are trying to communicate. What happens in those cases is that miscommunication can occur, and problems invariably result.

There are many references to our speech in the Bible.  Verbal and written communication is foundational to our understanding as Christians. God spoke the world into existence. Jesus is the Word. God’s word is trustworthy.

Just as God’s word is trustworthy: “For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does” (Psalm 33:4), he also makes it clear that he expects our word to be trustworthy as well. James discourses on the power of the tongue (James 3:3-12). Three of the seven things that the LORD hates involve speech that is not trustworthy.“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community” (Proverbs 6:16-19).

We know God because we can trust what He says. What He says reveals His character to us. We know each other by what we say. What we say reveals our character to each other. Sure, our actions may speak louder than words; but what is essential is that our words and our actions line up, and that they line up in obedience to God. That is the definition of integrity.

Paul gives us several instructions regarding our speech. First, we should consider what we should stop saying:

  • “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips” (Colossians 3:8).
  • “Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood” (Ephesians 4:25a).
  • “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths” (Ephesians 4:29a).
  • “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Ephesians 4:31)

Then we should consider what we do communicate:

  • “Speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body” (Ephesians 4:25b)
  • “…but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29b).
  • “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

The very best advice I have tried to live by (imperfectly, but I am still working on it) is to weigh all my words and to try to say nothing except what would be beneficial to the person I am speaking with. If what I would say has the result of building myself up, whether it is obvious or backhanded, I am trying to just not say it. It has no value to the person I am speaking with. If what I say is critical or harmful to another, then I am trying to just leave it out of the conversation. It has no value to the person I am speaking with. “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).

Let us strive to be people of integrity. Let us strive to be people who are sincere and who can be trusted in all that we say; to be people who speak only what is edifying to others. Let our reputation be that of one who’s word is his bond.

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11).

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – Thou Shalt Be Generous

Jun2

“You shall not steal.” Exodus 20:15

Unfortunately, this is one commandment that most of us are prone to rationalize or interpret in a wide variety of ways. In fact, it is interesting that I should even feel the need to describe the type of honesty I am talking about. Honesty should mean honesty, without exception, and not subject to definition by anyone.

There are a number of ways to steal, broadly categorized into two types: active and passive. Active stealing includes embezzlement, robbery, extortion, and kidnapping. We know these actions are wrong. After all, they are punishable by law.

Then there is passive stealing, which includes negligence resulting in damage to another’s property, failure to return a found object to its rightful owner, and failure to give what rightfully belongs to another (this includes greediness resulting in failure to tithe and to be charitable). Most times, these are “invisible” offenses. There are even more subtle ways to steal. A Robert Half study found that employees on average steal roughly 4.5 hours from their employer each week, either by fudging on time cards or by doing personal work on company time. Did it ever occur to you that this is stealing? This site provides biblical examples for all the above.

We rationalize stealing sometimes by thinking that we are not really stealing because it is something that is “owed” to us, or that no one will be hurt, a “victimless” crime if you will. We work it out in our heads that we are justified in taking what belongs to someone else. However, we know in our hearts that there is no victimless crime. There will be consequences, just perhaps not direct or immediate, so it is easy to get away with. But this rationalization fails to consider that there is One who sees and knows everything that we do and what our motivation is. The plain truth of the matter is that stealing of any kind is a sin. It is a sin because it directly violates the eighth commandment, and:

  • Stealing harms another person or entity.
  • Stealing assumes we have rights that are more important than those of another.
  • Stealing implies lack of trust in God’s provision.

This eighth commandment undergirds some of the other commandments. Adultery is a form of stealing. Murder is a form of stealing. Stealing and lying usually go hand in hand. Stealing is a sin, in any form. So, what is the antidote for stealing?

  1. If we steal in any form, we should be quick to repay our debts. Let us follow the example of Zacchaeus, the tax collector who, when addressed by Jesus, quickly said “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount” (Luke 19:8).
  • The Apostle Paul advises us to counteract the sin of stealing with generosity. “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need” (Ephesians 4:28).

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:8-10)

In Christ,

Judy

Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – Thou Shalt Be Faithful

May26

“You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:13).

Adultery is voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not his or her spouse (Google Dictionary). Jesus allows that it is grounds for divorce. “But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery” (Matthew 5:32).

And as we are learning in our ongoing study of the Ten Commandments, Jesus has more to say about this commandment. “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). (And I am quite sure that the same goes for looking at men lustfully.)

What is adultery? We read the dictionary version above, but what is adultery in God’s eyes? Adultery is unfaithfulness. Faith is what binds us together. Adultery is unfaithfulness. It is cheating on our spouse; it is cheating on a covenant made before God. If faith binds us together, adultery tears us apart.

God created marriage. He holds marriage in such high regard that he uses marriage as a metaphor to describe the Church. John Piper describes it this way:

Ephesians 5:31 is a quotation of Genesis 2:24, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one.” Then Paul adds in verse 32: “This is a great mystery, and I take it to mean Christ and the church.”

The union of man and woman in marriage is a mystery because it conceals, as in a parable, a truth about Christ and the church. The divine reality hidden in the metaphor of marriage is that God ordained a permanent union between His Son and the church. Human marriage is the earthly image of this divine plan. As God willed for Christ and the church to become one body (Galatians 3:28, 1 Corinthians 12:13), so He willed for marriage to reflect this pattern—that the husband and wife become one flesh.

Just as the Apostle Paul used marriage to describe the union of Christ and the church, Old Testament writers used adultery as a metaphor for idolatry and unfaithfulness to God. In the book of Hosea, “God brings to life a consistent picture used throughout the Old Testament.  In this picture, the LORD is the husband of Israel, and their passionate, chronic attraction for idols was like the lust of an adulterer.  His people were as unfaithful as a prostitute was.” (Blue Letter Bible, David Guzik commentary on Hosea).

Throughout the Bible, God makes it very clear that he created the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman as the foundation of our society. It is also clear that this covenant was designed after the beautiful covenant between Jesus and his church. It is thrilling to imagine that glorious wedding celebration described by John in his Book of Revelation:

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:6-9)

This subject is hard. Many of us find ourselves with a history of unfaithfulness. Perhaps a spouse has been unfaithful to us, or perhaps we have been unfaithful, either to a spouse or to God, or both. Praise God that he is a God of forgiveness.  Let us take comfort, indeed relief, because of His everlasting faithfulness to us, from the words in Joel 2:23-27; 32:

Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts, and the locust swarm—my great army that I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed…. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.

Do you find that being faithful, whether to God or to your spouse, is a challenge?

  • Being faithful requires intention: “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 34)
  • Being faithful requires active obedience: “Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” (Philippians 1:27)
  • Being faithful requires prayer: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
  • Being faithful is one of the fruits of the spirit, meaning that it can only be accomplished with the help of the Holy Spirit: “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Faithfulness brings rewards. Let us be faithful to our spouses, to our families, to church, to God.

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

And let us rejoice in the knowledge that God is always faithful to his people. We can rely on his faithfulness to us. We can take joy in his faithfulness to us. Jeremiah wrote: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Because of God’s faithfulness to us, we can sing that wonderful hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”

In Christ,

Judy

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

Chaplain’s Corner – Thou Shalt Love Your Enemy

May19

“You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13)

We are continuing our study of the Ten Commandments. The first four are the “vertical” commandments, which speak to our relationship with God. The last six commandments are “horizontal,” dealing with our relationships with others. Last week the devotion was on the fifth commandment, “Culture of Honor.” Now we begin a series of “thou shalt nots.” Jesus had much to say about this sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not murder,” which was intended to protect innocent life. He teaches in Matthew 5:21-26, during his masterpiece Sermon on the Mount:

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”

We have an incentive not to murder. It is a crime against the law of the land and if we are found guilty, we will most likely serve time in prison if not receive a death sentence. However, the judicial system can only take action on our behaviors. The court system will not judge us on the condition of our hearts.

Jesus, on the other hand, is at least as concerned about our hearts. We will be called on Judgment Day to account for our motives as well as our behaviors. It is good that we do not act on a sincere desire to murder someone, but Jesus says we will be judged similarly for having hate in our hearts and for holding on to grudges and ill will and for failing to do whatever is in our power to reconcile with each other.

What is hate? Hate is an intense or passionate dislike. It can be directed toward people or places or things. Hate is usually an unhealthy emotion; however, the Bible identifies seven things that God hates. “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community” (Proverbs 6:16-19). Romans 12:9 tells us “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

Does this mean that we should hate what God hates? Franklin Graham advises: “However, as we learn to love righteousness and hate sin, we must never, ever, turn to hating our fellow man.” His advice is supported by Scripture. “Whoever hates his brother is in the darkness … and does not know where he is going” (1 John 2:11); “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15).

Graham continues, “So while the world ratchets up its contempt and cruelty, especially toward disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are called not to return evil for evil, or insult for insult (1 Peter 3:9). Instead, we are to love our enemies and pray for those who launch attacks against us.”

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighborand hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48)

Obeying the letter of this commandment is not nearly as difficult as obeying the spirit. In fact, I would go so far as to say that if everyone obeyed the spirit of this commandment, we would never experience murder. But obeying the spirit of this commandment is difficult. Sure, it is easy to love those who love us back, but Matthew 5:46 points out, what reward is there for that? Let us go out of our way to lavish love on everyone, including our enemies, and in so doing so enjoy the abundant, unmerited love the Father has for each of us.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:8-10)

In Christ,

Judy

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14