Mixing Things Up

Last week in a Bible study group, some friends and I talked about the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost and giving people the ability to speak in various languages. This was in response to Christ's commission for the early church to go out and make disciples of all the world. Since people in different parts of the world speak different languages, these early believers would need some divine help in order to communicate with those people.

I've been spending a lot of time in the Old Testament lately. Today I read Genesis 11 which tells the story of the tower of Babel. People point to this story as a warning against pride and self-security, but I think the root sin in this (and every) situation is disobedience. God commanded these people to spread out and fill the whole world. Instead, they decided to clump together and build a big city. So God came down and mixed up their languages so they had no choice but to separate from each other.

God said, "Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. - Genesis 11: 6-7

When I read this verse, it reminded me of thediscussion last week about the Spirit coming down at Pentecost. This is another instance of God showing up and mixing up peoples languages. Interestingly, these two stories aren't all that different.

The reason for the mix-up at Babel was to send people out around the world. At Pentecost, the languages were given to send people out around the world.

One difference, however, is that in the story of Babel, the languages came as a result of disobedience. At Pentecost, it was because of faith. This happened after the sacrifice of Jesus. The blood has been shed, forgiveness is now available. God was enabling and sending those first believers out into the world, to preach to those were who have been scattered for millennia, gather them up, and bring them back to God. Using those exact same languages that brought about the original scattering, God brought healing and redemption to people all over the world.

I find it so comforting to know that God doesn't scatter things without gathering it up again later. He doesn't convict without later offering redemption. He may tear down, but He will rebuild. If you're in a season of tearing down, I encourage you to seek God like never before. He will rebuild you if you offer yourself to Him.

"The Me I Want to Be" review

I'm going to try something new today and discuss a book I recently finished reading. The book is called "The Me I Want to Be" by one of my favorite authors and teachers, John Ortberg. As most of his other books, this latest work talks about Spiritual Formation; the transforming of human character through authentic experiences with God.

The book is an encouragement to become the version of yourself that God intended you to be. The book doesn't actually call anyone to change who they are, but instead to become more of who you are. Everything about you was created by God for a purpose. The way you worship, the way you learn, your interests and desires have all been selected by God to create a one-of-a-kind you. Throughout the book he gives examples of how we don't (and shouldn't) all worship in the same way, nor should we feel guilty about it. Some sing, some dance, some pray for hours on end, some write, some talk over coffee, some serve... but nobody should feel guilty if all of those expressions of worship don't appeal to them. Instead, Ortberg suggests we find out which expression of worship we feel most connected with God, and then do that more often and more passionately. Become more of who you already are. He uses a few scriptural examples of different forms of worship... Martha was a server, David was a song writer, Paul was a missionary, and Esther was a beauty-pageant winner. All of them were different, but used what they had to worship God in they way He created them to be.


But this isn't a "you're perfect so don't ever change" sort of book. It does acknowledge sin and pleads for repentance. In fact, it argues that your uniqueness means that you sin in a way that is unique to you. There's an entire chapter about "signature sins", common areas of struggle faced by people of certain personality types.

There was only one apparent down-side that I noticed. It might be a little nit-picky, but I found that a lot of the scriptural references didn't include the book or verse numbers, which made it more difficult to look up the verse for yourself later.

Overall, this is a great book is John Ortberg's humorous yet convincing style. The book also includes a card with an access code for "Monvee", an online spiritual-accessment tool. This code will allow you to complete a test that will reveal things about you, like how you learn, how you relate to people, what sort of sins might be problematic for you, and even which biblical characters are most similar to you. I would highly recommend this book to anyone searching for purpose or struggling to accept themselves.

The Me I Want to Be By John Ortberg

Paper Shredder

A few days ago I talked about a great young king named Josiah (It Ain't Easy). His son, Jehoiakim, didn't grow up to be quite as devoted to God. In fact, he was pretty awful.

In Jeremiah 36 we have the horrifying story of when some men came to read God's Word to Jehoiakim. But instead of listening intently and taking instruction from the Lord, Jehoiakim tore off little pieces of the scroll as the men were reading it and tossed those pieces into the fire. Bit by bit, he eventually burned the entire scroll.

In the story of his father Josiah, we see the righteous person's  response to God's Word: tearing of robes, or sorrow.

"When the king [Josiah] heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes" - 2 Chronicles 34:19

But in the story of the son Jehoiakim, we see the other end of the spectrum; the wicked person's response to God's Word: tearing the Word.

When we think of people burning God's Word, we think of nations that suffer from extreme opposition to Christianity. But what if we, as Christ's followers, did the same thing in our hearts? We may not physically tear a page from the Bible and set it on fire, but what if we tear a message from our hearts, erase God's instruction from our mind and cast it away? Ever have a thought like this:

"I know it's wrong... but..."

"I shouldn't really enjoy this... but..."

It's easy to point a condemning finger at Jehoiakim for tearing pieces out of God's Word, however, I know in my own life there has been times that I've willingly thrown away bits and pieces of God's commands. I'm sure we've all done it—tried to justify something we know is wrong, saying it "could be worse" or "not as bad as what other people are doing".

Join me and let's hold ourselves to a higher standard; to God's standard. Let's be people like Josiah, not Jehoiakim. Let's respond to God's commands with sincerity and devotion. If we catch ourselves ripping out a little bit of God's word, let's confess it and correct it. Otherwise, like Jehoiakim, we eventually could rip out commands bit by bit until the entire Word of God has been thrown out of our heart.

Blessed are the Hungry

Earlier in the summer, I met up with a friend for coffee and a chat. She was struggling with some spiritual stuff at the time involving seeking God. Sometimes we can feel like we're chasing after God but can't quite seem to catch Him. This can get frustrating after a while, which is where she was.

We talked and prayed over a few passages of scripture, and God began to give some insight and encouragement. In the midst of her frustration, we came to realize that she is actually incredibly blessed.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. - Matthew 5:6

Jesus had a habit of turning our way of thinking upside down: the last will be first, the servant is the greatest, and the hungry are blessed. Though all of these things are contrary to our normal way of thinking, they are all very true in God's kingdom.

When people are hungry, they search for food. The more hungry someone is, the more desperately they search. They will go where ever they need to go, and do whatever they need to do. They aren't distracted by other things. Those who are spiritually hungry, likewise, will stop at nothing to search for God. They won't give up when Satan put obstacles in their way, they won't settle for the lukewarmness of the average church-goer, and they won't be satisfied with only a little bit of godliness. They won't be distracted by the meaningless things of this world. They want a feast of God! In this sense, these people are truly blessed.

Personally I find myself the most spiritually off-track during times when I am least hungry for God. It is only after times of solitude and prayer when I ask God to restore my hunger that I find myself eagerly back on The Way.

The laborer's appetite works for him; his hunger drives him on. - Proverbs 16:26

Satan loves to discourage. When things get difficult or God seems distant, it's easy to give up. But as proverbs 16:26 tells us, our appetite works for us. You don't give up looking for food just because you're discouraged. Nor do the hungry stop looking for God just because Satan pushes them down. They just get back up, and continue searching. And because God is a loving Father who wants to be found and experienced, He will not stay hidden for long. In His sovereignty, He may choose to make His presence difficult to feel for a certain length of time. But "those who seek will find" (Matthew 7:7). God will eventually reveal Himself to those who eagerly seek Him. And He will reveal Himself abundantly.

The righteous eat to their hearts' content... - Proverbs 13:25

 For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. - Psalm 107:9

As the Psalm above says, God "satisfies". He doesn't just drop by for a bit and leave us wanting more. He's a God of abundance who gives us more than we need, making us overflow with blessings.

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.- Luke 6:21

For someone struggling in their spiritual life, it's difficult to "force" yourself to be more godly. You can't fake it with God, He knows the heart. But He is always ready to help. I would encourage anyone struggling with this to pray for spiritual hunger. Ask God to increase your desire for His Word and His presence. When God grants you a true craving for Him, you are blessed beyond anything you could imagine.

For Sale

I spent the last three days overseeing a hot tub expo here in St. John's. There was a team of pro sales men who managed to sell over fifty hot tubs, each priced over $10 000, in just one weekend. Admittedly, I don't know much about the hot tub industry, but their sale skills really impressed me. The idea of a hot tub doesn't really appeal to me, nor does spending ten grand. So I was shocked that somehow these guys managed to convince more than fifty people that it was worthwhile. They found a way to appeal to the people's desires and present them with an offer so appealing that they couldn't say no.

This got me thinking about how Satan would probably make a great salesman. First off, I'm in no way implying that the sales guys from this expo are Satan or are immoral in any way; I don't know enough about hot tubs to determine whether or not their sale pitches were factual or not. In fact, from the conversations I've had with them, they all seem like great guys. I'm only using this "salesman" idea as a metaphor.

In the perfect light of God's word, we see sin for what it is.

As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.- Proverbs: 26:11

I will repay them double for their wickedness and their sin, because they have defiled my land with the lifeless forms of their vile images and have filled my inheritance with their detestable idols.  - Jeremiah 16:18

and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men - 2 Peter 2:7

Sin is described as vomit, vile, detestable, and filthy. Definitely not words used to describe desirable things. Yet somehow, Satan makes the sale day after day. Like a good salesman, Satan tries to connect with you and learn about your desires. He uses that knowledge against you, selling you sin specifically twisted to fit your desires. Like duct tape, desires have a dark side and a light side. The light side holds us tightly to God, while the dark side is slippery.

For example, someone might have a desire to marry. This is a good, God-given desire. In God's perfect plan, that would bring together a man and a woman to share their lives together, growing daily in their love for God, praying together, reading and discussing scripture together and blessing others around them as they are carried along by God's Spirit. But when Satan tries to entice someone with this desire, he might lure them with lustful images and impure relationships. Satan gives them only a small, fleeting imitation of what God had in store. After he makes the sale, he pulls away the mask and the captive person sees the sin for what it is: vile, detestable, filthy vomit.

Someone else might have the desire to speak. They could be gifted with the ability to speak well and easily around lots of people. God could use this desire for godly purposes, like teaching or encouraging. Satan could entice someone to use this desire for gossip or manipulating others.

Avoiding temptation is difficult. Especially when it appeals to our desires. What we need to ask ourselves is if this thing will fulfill God's purpose for our desire or Satan's distortion of the desire. God's purposes bring us closer to Him, they glorify Him, and they are for our long-term benefit. Satan's distortions, however, push us away from God, they insult God, and they only benefit us in the short-term and harm us in the long-term.

The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and destroy; I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10

We need to be aware of this short-term benefit sales pitch that Satan throws at us. We have a bad habit of trying to meet our desires as quickly and as easily as possible. We're not all that different from fish trying to fill their stomachs with whatever is floating nearby. Fish don't take time to examine what they're about to eat. They don't notice that the lure they're swallowing isn't real food but just an imitation. They don't ponder on the decision long enough to notice the hook. They simply see what they believe is a way to fulfill their desire and before they realize what is happening, they're caught.

We all know we're smarter than fish, so it's time we start living like it. Slow down in life, take time to pray over things and seek God's counsel. Ask for eyes to see the world for the way it is, so that we might have the ability to distinguish between the vomit of Satan and the Spirit-filled blessings of God.

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. - Matthew 13:16

How about you? Has Satan ever sold you a lie that, when looking back on it, you can't believe you were suckered into it? If you feel comfortable, leave a comment and share about a time when you were led astray by Satan's sale pitch and how you can be watchful in the future.

It Ain't Easy

A lot of people don't like reading the Old Testament because they find it sad. There's a lot more people making mistakes and screwing up in the Old Testament and a lot more talk of wrath and punishment. But another characteristic of the Old Testament that isn't talked about enough is that it's caffeinated; it wakes us up and makes us pay attention.

I've been spending a lot of time going through the Old Testament this summer. When going through the two books of Kings and the two books of Chronicles, all the mess-ups in Israel's history are a little overwhelming sometimes. The people seemed like they went out of their way to find ways to anger God. But perhaps one of the causes of those centuries of disobedience is rooted in their neglect of the Old Testament, or, the Book of the Law as it was called at that point. Finally, after a string of failed leaders and horrible kings, a young king by the name of Josiah shows up. He was just eight years old when we took the throne, but his child-like innocence and the humility that comes with youth may have been just the thing Israel needed. He spent his early years devoting himself to God and getting reacquainted with the Lord that his nation had been neglecting for so long. When Josiah reached the age of 28 he decided to do some repairs on the temple, which also had been neglected and was starting to look shabby over the years. During the renovations, the priests uncovered a dusty old book—the Book of the Law. They took the book to King Josiah and read it to him, and his heart shattered.

Cares For Me

God's Spirit goes ahead and guides me. Other people who have thrown themselves into the River of God have been pushed by the Spirit to intercept my paths and carry me back to my Father.

The enemy tried to knock me down, but he knocked me into the River. Now I'm sinking in God's grace and being carried along faster and further than I can go on my own. I'm being carried to places too wonderful for me, seeing things angels long to look into, tasting grace I didn't earn.

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him. Or in my case, He cares for those who are rebellious but who will come to trust in Him someday. God tells His people "Now I will break the yoke from your neck and tear your shackles away." He's a God who sets us free. An invitation has been extended and the offer for salvation is on the table of the Lord. Not just salvation from sin, but salvation from the fruit of sin: suffering, worry, rage, shame, regret.

The River is the only way to the table and it starts at the cross.