Mark 10:7-9 Keeping the Promise

Mark 10:7-9 “FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. "What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." (NASB)

 It was our anniversary two weeks ago.  We celebrated 31 years of marriage together by first going to CBCC for my daily treatment and then to a very nice dinner.  When the girls in the radiation treatment area saw that my wife was with me this particular visit (she had been before) they asked for the first time if she would like to see what the machine looks like.  I said I thought she would.  They also asked if there was some special reason she was with me this visit and I said it was our anniversary.  And so, as I got on the table and prepared for my treatment someone went out to get Sharon.  She came in and got the nickel tour of the treatment room while they got me in the correct orientation for my session.

 Treatment only takes about two minutes once everything is ready to go.  So, in no time I was done and getting my shoes back on when one of the girls came back in and asked, "How many years?"  I said, "31".  She said, " What is the secret?"

 Well …

 I contemplated my answer and then said, “A Christian marriage.”

 Silence …

 After the awkward moment I supplemented my answer with, “Making a promise and keeping it.”

 Well that met with a little more overt support and discussion about how few could and did actually make and keep commitments or promises these days.

 Since then I’ve had a chance to think more about this encounter and the truth of the situation.  Statistically my first answer may be untrue as we see virtually the same divorce rate occurs among Christians and non-Christians.  So, perhaps that’s just not it.  So, what about my second or follow-up answer around making a promise and keeping it?  Perhaps that is getting closer to the truth.

 I can say that in my marriage we are together today because we have both made a commitment and are very determined to keep the commitment.  Maybe we're both just that stubborn.  We would also very readily confess we are not the easiest people to live with and there are plenty of witnesses to that over the years but we have lived by our promise.

 I believe however it is the promise itself that must be examined in order to fully appreciate its power and perhaps render strength to my original answer.  In the marriage ceremony several questions are asked of the couple with regard to the commitment they are making.  Those questions of commitment or covenant are where the power of a lasting marriage are derived.  Perhaps the power of the promise is not even fully understood at the time but is appreciated after the fact and strengthened with understanding.

 The fact is that the promises made in the marriage ceremony are not simply between the husband and wife but between husband, wife and the Lord.  Sharon and I agree that our promise was not just to one another but to God Himself as well.  In some way making that promise to love honor and cherish all the days of my life was strengthened with the knowledge that it was made not just to my wife but to God.  I know Sharon feels the same way too.

 So the scripture says, "What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." I’ll not be the one to argue, disagree, object or rebel.  AMEN!

Philippians 4:6-7: Be Anxious for Nothing

Philippians 4:6-7 NASB “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

So the coolest thing about cancer that I can think of is getting to wear that purple shirt at the annual Relay for Life event.  Well, that sounds pretty shallow.  I guess it is really.  And that’s kind of how I’ve felt about this diagnosis that has come my way over the past weeks and months.  Kind of shallow, like it is about as important as that purple shirt.

Why?

Well, for one thing I’ve just witnessed two other fellows die.  One was a believer, his place was secure in heaven and the other had his heels dug in deep.  He had folks knocking down his door aching to present the Gospel to him hoping along with his wife that he would respond to the good news and he did not.  I call him the nicest guy in hell.  He was, the nicest guy you would want to know but he died without the saving blood of Jesus.

So, you see my own situation is – well, shallow.

I had the early indicators and my doctor has followed up with me and we finally got the call that indeed I have cancer.  My cancer unlike the nice guy is very early and very treatable, it isn’t the type that is a death sentence the moment you hear the word.  Very early, not just treatable but curable.

So is that the reason for my peace?

I’m not so sure.  You see the treatment I’m faced with is eight weeks of radiation five days each week.  It will take its toll on my energy and there could be some other secondary treatment fallout.  But I have zero anxiety, I’m completely at peace.  Everyone keeps asking me about it like I should be upset and worried.  Maybe I’m missing something but I’m not bothered.

All I can point to my friends is the scripture that tells me what is really happening, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Have I given “Thanks” to God for my cancer?  Not so much.  That would still be on my to do list but I have been thinking a lot about things.

As my saved friend went to be with Jesus this week and my nice friend went to hell a few weeks back it does get you thinking about eternal things.  It gets you thinking about the things that matter.  In my case it helped me to stay focused on something besides my cancer – that really is a shallow issue and so I’ll get through this.

I certainly appreciate your prayers.  I suspect that eight weeks of this will bring some unknowns and perhaps some unpleasantness.  None the less, I have peace – unexplainable peace.  AMEN!

Psalm 46 - Don’t Just Do Something, Sit There

Psalm 46 To the leader. Of the Korahites. According to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. [Selah]
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns.
The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. [Selah]
Come, behold the works of the LORD; see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.
"Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth."
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. [Selah] (NRSV)

 Guys – we’re the worst offenders in this category.  How often have we had our wife come to us with a story from work or a project she’s working on in a volunteer setting or maybe even with the kids a bit rattled and anxious.  She rambles on excitedly about all the troubles.  What is it that we are doing?  Solving the problem in our mind, perhaps even interrupting her to give her the answer to her “Simple” problem. 

Wrong answer!  She simply needs to download AND you simply need to listen. 
 

You need to really listen, not to solve but to empathize with her.  You need to really understand what she is saying to you.  You also need to understand what she wants.  I know – if we knew what women wanted … Regardless, beyond the immediate topic you need to listen to her to understand whether she is asking for your help or simply expecting your ear.  The solving will come soon enough.

David in his psalm gives us some perspective.  The perspective will help in this situation with our wives and it will also help in our own deep water times of trouble.  The bulk of Psalm 46 reminds us of God’s strength against the assaults that come our way. 

The imagery is fortress like.  “God is our refuge and strength” and “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge”.  Clearly, this God is strong and protective in nature.  The psalm also gives imagery of God’s unique strength with phrases like, “He utters his voice, the earth melts” and “God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved”.

Overall the intent is a reflection on the truth of who God is in His power, protection and strength.  He is in sovereign control over His creation and those upon whom he casts His love within it. 

Here’s a test for you.  Do you love God?  It is a yes or no question.

If the answer is yes there is a verse for you to consider.  (1John 4:19)  “We love because he first loved us”. (NASB)  Scripture tells us that if we love God – it is only because He loved us first.

So, this God who protects those He loves – if you love Him must have loved you first.  Otherwise you would be incapable of loving Him.  Get it?  If you love Him, He loved you first and He protects the ones He loves.

And now – we can come to where David lands in Psalm 46 and perhaps a phrase you have heard before.  “Be still and know that I am God”

When you stop the problem solving.  When you stop the worrying.  When you stop, stop, stop.  You give the Lord a chance to get through all the chatter and grant you the assurance that Psalm 46 gives us in black and white.  AMEN!

Exodus 20:1-6 Ego or Theo? Where is Your Center?

Exodus 20:1-6  Then God spoke all these words, saying,  "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.  "You shall have no other gods before Me.  "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.  "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,  but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. (NASB)

Does anything in the passage above sound familiar?  It should!  What you have in this passage from Exodus is commandment one in a list of ten otherwise known as the ten commandments.  I would argue that the first is listed first for a reason.  Simply, it is the most important; the anchor.  It puts God in His place of supremacy and by inference everything else in its place.

In recent weeks I have encountered several situations in which the place of God has not been as black and white as it seems in these simple verses.  Do you believe what is written here?  Any arguments with commandment number one?  Do you have a problem with God’s claim here?

Frankly, those to whom I refer betrayed by their actions if not their words a really big problem with God’s own self declaration.  God says, “I am the LORD your God” and “You shall have no other gods before Me” and yet the behavior I have observed have indicated otherwise.

Now before you get ahead of me – the individuals in question had made claims of Christianity at least in some form.  Hmmmm!  How can that be?  You see, if God is in fact God and the behavior observed blatantly or otherwise indicated something different there must be a problem.  There was in fact a problem.

Sin was the problem.

Surely sin is a problem from which we all suffer.  As brothers of Adam we are all stained by the remnant of this sin whether saved by grace or still dead in our sin (unsaved) – our flesh still carries this blemish.  So in the case of my observation whether a professing Christian misbehaving or a faker, a wolf in sheep's clothing so to speak – the result was the same; sinful behavior.

The core issue is who is God?  Specifically, who is God in relation to you?  Who is the center of your universe?  Have you really surrendered to this commandment?  Do you indeed have, “No other god” before Him?  As believers when we fight the Spirit and yield to the flesh we put another god on the alter.  We become a god unto our-self as it were putting self ahead of God.  Have you ever considered it that way?  That’s the bottom line – each time we fail to submit yielding to self rather than the Lord we are putting ourselves in His place.  We become our god!

WOW!

If we don't actually put ourselves in that place - there are lot's of other small gods out there in today's culture to bow down to.  That’s exactly what Israel did in their continual struggle with idolatry throughout their wandering through the wilderness after their passage from Egypt.  What’s changed?  Sure, we don’t erect golden calves but boy there are hundreds of replacements in our lives that may become the object of our worship if we slip.  What is your center today?

Is God, the one God; your God?  Have you surrendered self?  Have you surrendered the other little gods of this world?

“Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6 NASB 

Why is that?  Jesus paid the price for those pesky sins that prevent us from having a relationship with a holy God for one.  Beyond that, Jesus mediates as our faithful High Priest in heaven having walked on this earth suffering as we do every temptation yet living a sinless life.  Jesus also sent us a helper – the Holy Spirit, so as believers the Spirit testifies to our spirit about the truth of our salvation and the way in which we should behave in this life.  He is quite a guy that Jesus, eternal God and second person of the trinity. 

If you haven't asked Jesus to do this for you it doesn't cost anything and you can't do anything to earn His favor.  All you have to do is ask.  Pray to Him!  On your knees in your heart or out loud just ask Jesus to save you from your sins.  Tell Him you accept His free gift that He offers to you having paid the price for your sins by dying on that cross in Jerusalem 2000 years ago.  Accept that gift by faith today and you will be saved.

Because of Jesus we can have victory over sin.  Yes, we’ll stumble but we do not have to claim the place of God for ourselves – that’s ridiculous!  Who wants that kind of responsibility?  AMEN!