The Necessity of God's Judgment - February 18, 2018

Isaiah 26:9 - At night my soul longs for You, indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; For when the earth experiences Your judgments the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

I often marvel when the godless become all inflamed when someone mentions the possibility that God still allows the earth to be judged through natural disasters. These do not know my God. For my God is a God of both judgment and mercy. This is the reason He is holy. There is no other way He could be otherwise without the juxtaposition of these two character traits within His Divine Nature. Somehow, those who mock the God of the Bible have instead this sickening, mealy-mouthed god who chooses to wink at sin. This "god," in their thinking, does nothing other than look the other way when nations continue to live like the devil. Then, these reprobates expect His grace "to be shed on thee" no matter how they have lived. They believe Jesus, if indeed He is the Son of God, was some type of a milk-toast savior who would not dare say anything bad against anyone. Those who believe this have never studied the Holy Bible. Or, if they have, they have allowed another spirit and not the Holy Spirit to guide them in their pursuit of truth.

The truth is this, beloved of God. The Lord God Almighty has put every nation on a probationary warning that He will no longer tolerate sin. He refuses to bend His character to adjust to ours. He will not excuse immorality, lasciviousness, licentiousness, or perversion. If the Lord Jesus turned away from these and did not judge them, He would have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah on that final day. No beloved, He will do no such thing. These that would shrink from understanding both a God of mercy and judgment fail to see those scriptures where Jesus condemns the sins and unbelief of those cities in ancient Palestine. Jesus pronounces the following woes from the Gospel of Matthew:

Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.” (Matthew 11:20-24)

I can guarantee, by the word of the Lord in the Holy Scriptures, judgment of this type looms large over our sensually-soaked world. One might say, what miracles have we seen in our present world that would qualify us for the type of judgment Jesus speaks? The miracles of His grace are all around us, every day. However, the godless are too interminably stupid through their continued refusal to believe in the God of the Bible that they have lost all their understanding regarding God's miracles. The miracle that God allows the heart of the unrepentant to continue to beat while they mock His holiness is the greatest miracle of grace and mercy outside of Christ's redemption. That God continues to allow godless, perverted humanity to draw breath is a miracle when they continue to live their selfish lives. Yet, when God does begin to speak through calamity, whether it is a natural disaster, a health epidemic, or a financial meltdown, the godless speak of the intolerance of those who would suggest such things. They vehemently speak with vitriolic anger asking how can we believe in fairy tales and angels and all this religious mumbo-jumbo? They curse God out of a position of total ignorance regarding who God is and what He desires to give them through His mercy. He is graciously offering them a wake-up call as Isaiah states in our lead verse. If they will but understand that God's judgments are merciful and full of patience. He is trying to teach the world about His righteous character and how He will not accept the world's selfish, sin-soaked lifestyles. He is the Judge of the earth and He is coming one day soon to hold court.

For all those who would consider my words hateful, then you do not understand my intent. My God and my Jesus are not "touchy-feely" Persons. They are part of the Holy Godhead who are full of love and mercy but at the same time unswerving from what will be the coming judgment. For God to behave any differently than as the Judge and the Lover of our souls would be to demean God and make Him less than He is. He has come in every instance of calamity the world has experienced. And, He will continue to appear in the midst of every judgment the earth is yet to endure. He uses these to show us we are out of control and lost without Him. If we do not surrender to Him and experience His mercy now, we will experience His judgment both now and in the life to come. Choose this day whom you will serve ... As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).

Heavenly Father, forgive us, heal us, and save us from ourselves. Allow Your judgments upon this earth to drive us to an understanding of Your righteousness and Your kindness. May we see You as You truly are ... a wise and holy God that is in love with a rebellious race. May we come to You! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick

Knowing Jesus - February 11, 2018

John 8:31-32 - So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

In my early youth, there was nothing I enjoyed more than spending time with my dad. Didn't matter what we were doing, I just liked being with him. I remember one summer when he had promised me a week with him on the road and how disappointed I was when he had to cancel. He was working a sales route up in South Dakota, and more than see a state I had never been to, I just wanted to be with my dad. He took me later that summer to Kansas which was still good, but I still remember the huge disappointment of the initial letdown. As I grew older and more cynical, I was less enamored about spending time with the "old man" as I would call him behind his back. During my rebellious teens, the more he would tell me what to do, the more I tried to do just the opposite. While it still bothered me to disobey him, I nonetheless wanted to do what I wanted to do. My troubled feelings were not enough to keep me from following my own selfish desires which eventually aided my addictions.

While my father was not a godly man, he nevertheless tried to live morally and understood the consequences of where my behavior was taking me. No amount of talking or cajoling to behave differently really mattered. It was not my final concern if it broke my parents hearts. Often, it would cause me great consternation that I was upsetting them, but I was still going to do what I wanted to do. Because of this rebellious attitude, it would take years to undo the mess of not listening to sound advice and living destructively. Occasionally, I would listen and make a pittance of change but it would never last. I was not ready to listen to wisdom on a daily basis which could change the course of my life.

Likewise, throughout the Gospels, we see continual instances of those who wanted to live according to their desire and yet reap the benefit of being called God's children. However, Jesus was always quick to point out they could not pick and choose how they were to follow God. It is understandable why Jesus told the Jews in our lead verse the importance to continue in His word. It does not matter if they took what seemed like a clever saying of a great teacher and sought to apply it in some abstract manner. The Lord wanted them to know the importance of not selectively reasoning His sound bites in their minds, but to take all of His words to their hearts. In Jesus' admonition, truth that ultimately sets people free is that which a person allows to become an active dialogue within. Passing from the brain to the heart, it becomes the Living Word within that changes thought and action. The result is the demonstrative expression of their desire to embrace not only the message, but the Messenger. This is the definition of a disciple, to bring oneself under the discipline of the Teacher.

The discipline of Jesus' statement to the Jews is profoundly rigorous. Undoubtedly, some desired to just take bits and pieces of Christ without accepting everything He required. Like these, we might be just as eager to accept the promises of God. However, it is often easy to take a promise out of context or without its conditions. Jesus' words here are a wonderful promise how the Son certainly sets us free through the knowledge of the truth. The quid pro quo of Christ's promise in this instance is the word "If" and then the condition of continuing in His word. What does that mean, to continue in His word?

In simplest form, it means obedience to what Jesus says. That does not mean picking and choosing what He says either. It means studying His love letters written to us in the Holy Bible everyday. It means understanding that Jesus was so full of love that He often spoke the truth with brutal honesty. It means loving the Jesus that weeps over the lost but equally as much the Jesus who whips sin out of His temple. Those who would just seek to "follow" Jesus' teachings will never come any closer to knowing this Man then if someone tried to follow the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi expecting to know him. Instead, we must out of love and respect give ourselves to know Christ intimately by giving ourselves to His word.

It often grieves me when I hear someone say they follow the teachings of Jesus. Most of the time this shows me they have never met the Savior. No, what they follow instead is an idea or a concept. This is not Christianity. To be a Christian is to fall in love with the Man, Christ Jesus and want to know everything there is to know about Him. It is to become like Him because we have surrendered to Him, not to an idea. In the same way that children should obey their parents out of love and respect, so should we embrace the active dialogue that God gives us in His word that is able to change our lives. Then, beloved, we will know truth and the truth will set us free!

Heavenly Father, help us to know the truth of Your word. Set us free by not understanding a concept but by knowing the Man, the Living Word of God, Christ Jesus. Give us wisdom and understanding to do so. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick

After These Things - February 4, 2018

Genesis 22:1 - Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am.”

Testing can be either a pleasant or unpleasant activity, depending on one's preparedness. As a student, I did not like the discomfort generated by not studying. So, I would usually give it my best shot to try to understand the exam material. Usually, I was satisfied with the outcome. However, there were those particular times when no amount of preparation seemed to help. After a setback such as a less than desirable grade, it was time to cut my losses and get ready for the next test, whatever that might be. It was usually not that important how I did with one grade, but rather the summation of the entire examination throughout the course material. The obvious bears worth mentioning, how one must continue to do the next right thing to accomplish the desired goal. Often, the next right thing is a series of tests that result in creating something much more important than any knowledge. That thing is often defined as character.

 

While the Patriarch Abraham is known for his great faith, one might not fully understand how he first obtained his godly trust. As with every effect, there is a cause (or a catalyst, if you will). Few take time to truly understand the causation or the context of Abraham's greatest test of faith. We look at Abraham's obedience to sacrifice Isaac and we shake our heads in wonder. However, a test of this colossal size only occurs "after these things." It is a decided moment in the heart of God and at a point in a man or woman's life when either heaven or hell is about to bend, respectively. However, this moment was also a series of faithful and not so faithful exercises throughout the life of the patriarch. Often, Abraham did as God desired and believed Him. At other times, we see him lying to save his own skin. Nonetheless, all of that was now moot in the light of the one great question; Could Abraham totally give away what he loved the most? The test in which Abraham became known for ultimately was the result of many previous tests of which no one will know of on this side of eternity other than he and God.

In the same way, how much was the Son of God tested upon this earth before His greatest test on Calvary's tree? We know of His temptation before His ministry in the Gospels, and His trial in the Garden of Gethsemane. But what about His other thirty-some odd years where we hear nothing in regard? Without question, He lived a continual life of testing, temptation, and trial that  culminated in the greatest triumph ever accomplished. He was examined in all areas throughout His life and, finally, on that fateful day was found perfect and complete. Jesus knew His life was predestined for that moment when---after all these things---He would lay down His life for all those before Him who had failed the test. Then, as our surrogate, He passed every exam the law could ever require from us. In a very real way, Jesus Christ "tested out" of every obligation the Father ever required of us and gained our entrance into God's eternal presence forever.

Both Abraham and Jesus knew all about "after these things." The former learned faith through obedience, while the Latter lived the perfect mortal life and showed us how to live, die, and then be raised into new life. While Jesus is our perfect reflection of the Father, Abraham is our imperfect model to show us how the journey is always preparing us for that moment when we can say, "Here I am!" We will not do everything perfectly, but we must continue on in faith. In time, we will come to that place in our journey which is "after these things." Then, may we like Abraham, be ready for anything the Lord would require of us.

Holy God, thank You for all the trials and tests you bring our way. Often, it is difficult to embrace what You are doing in the midst of the testing. But help us to see as You see regarding what You are doing. For we know it is a perfect result, and we desire to trust You for the outcome. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick

The Real Zeal - January 28, 2018

Psalm 69:9 - For zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.

What are we passionate about? One does not need to look further than weekend sporting events, where collegiate and professional sports fans are bedecked in their teams colors. (Often, this may be in the form of body paint rather than conventional clothing, despite freezing conditions!) There is a loyalty that seems unrivaled when you get someone talking about their team allegiance. For nearly a century, we have had a "border war," of sorts between Tigers and Jayhawks where I live. Even though this rivalry is no longer played out in conference play, the enmity still simmers waiting only for a way to express itself. While some might chide at this type of good-spirited competition, passionate allegiance is hard-wired into every individual to some degree. If it does not find its expression through sports, it will find another way.

God probably cares little if we are passionate about sports, per se. He understands we need recreation as human beings and undoubtedly allows this as a form of escape from the anxiety of daily living. However, He does not want this to fulfill His divine plan for passionate pursuit of Him. Along with this pursuit comes our attitude and desire for Him and the things of the His Spirit. In this regard, I have sometimes heard people say that a person can become so heavenly-minded they are no earthly good. Personally, I have yet to find such a person. The opposite is usually the rule rather than the exception. We become so passionately wrapped up in our own lives and the pursuit of our own creature comforts that we do not even think of heaven.

King David understood passionate pursuit of God. We have scores of psalms attributed to this ancient Israelite in this regard. Possibly some of his contemporaries believed David was a bit "over the top" in his pursuit of Yahweh. What often appears as religious fanaticism to the world, can be the zeal and passion of a believer for the God who lives within. Certainly this was manifest a thousand years later when Jesus fulfilled this prophetic psalm as he cleansed the temple of His Father (John 2:17). Purity of the actual Davidic (constructed by Solomon) and Herodian temples is the literal application of this verse in Psalm 69:19. However, we know from Paul's writings how the temple of the Lord in the New Covenant is our body -- the vessel of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 3:16).

It is a wonderful ambition to keep our bodies pure, both in what we consume and what we allow it to do. As already mentioned, our lead verse speaks to us about the temple of the Lord and how He lives within -- not only in our bodies but also in our souls and spirits. In this regard, may we all be challenged with the following question: Are we consumed with what God thinks about His living quarters within us? Or, are we ashamed when we participate in some conversation, or watch some movie, or when we go somewhere He would not approve? He is our guest yet so many of us treat Him like a hobo in a flophouse! The great nineteenth century preacher Charles Spurgeon aptly stated, "yet it is no disgrace to any generous spirit that is regenerate, to have the zeal of God's house to eat him up. It is a slander to call it folly."

Do we sit on our hands at church on Sunday mornings and then raucously shout and dance when our team makes the big score that afternoon? When we have a zeal for the God who dwells within, then we will become partakers of the reproach of the world. Is no one reproaching us for our zeal? Then possibly we have none. May we all live passionately and fervently for the One who dwells within.

Father, help us to be passionate about living, yet not forget the One who we live for. May our passion for the things we love pale in respect for the zeal we have for You. Grant us hearts of fire and mouths that speak Your praise. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick

Following on Purpose - January 21, 2018

Ruth 1:16 - But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God."

A pastor friend of mine from Zimbabwe endured great hardship as a child refugee during the civil war in the 1980s. Listening to him recount the brutality of the opposing forces and how it affected his young life were shocking. (He tells one story how he faked his own death by smearing blood on himself and hiding in a pile of corpses until the militia had left.) However, the murder of his father and the forceful separation from his godly mother did not keep him from trusting in God. When he was finally brought to a Christian school where his education was sponsored by a wealthy American couple, he flourished with grateful attention to both his studies and to growing as a Christ follower. Today, he is a respected seminary professor, pastor, and a beloved example of what a survivor of extreme oppression needs to do in order to rise from the ashes. His understanding of where he has come from and his gratitude to his benefactors are testaments of his godly character.

This brief synopsis of a rather lengthy story is one that ends with great hope for the future. Similarly, the story of Ruth is possibly the most beloved story in God's word regarding self-sacrifice and love toward her benefactors. In this small book of only four chapters, we find a woman bereft of her husband with no visible hope of familial redemption. Her mother-in-law Naomi cannot promise her a husband, only a life of poverty as one who gleans behind the reapers in her home town of Bethlehem. (In comparison, this would be like those who are on welfare in our society today.) However, Ruth took every opportunity to submit to Naomi and obeying her advice to seek mercy in the fields of a close relative, Boaz (Ruth 3:12). This ultimately led to her redemption by this kinsmen redeemer which brought her in to the place of joint-wealth with her new husband (Ruth 4:10). From this union, King David himself would become the great, great grandson of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 4:17).

Greatness often springs from lowly beginnings. We certainly see this typified from a manger, to the cross, to the empty tomb! Whether Jesus Christ Himself or Ruth or my pastor friend, obedience through humility was their key to rise from the proverbial ashes. Perfect, godly submission always results in extraordinary outcomes. These results will always be first for the benefit of God and others. My pastor's agenda in going to school was first to help his family out of poverty. Ruth's was to help her beloved mother-in-law with sustenance to live through her gleaning. Jesus' goal was to empty Himself of God and redeem mankind (Philippians 2:7). In all these instances, holiness (or setting ourselves apart for God) is never for our own edification. True holiness is never enthroned as a spectacle of grandeur, but it is lived out in mundane ways for others. The bi-product of sanctification truly is a life of peace and joy, but this was not God's main desire in making us holy. Like Ruth, our desire should be to cling to God at all cost. Then, He will reveal His grand plan as we follow.

Sanctification's ultimate result is to draw all our attention from ourselves to others. The only way that can happen is by first looking to Jesus who is passionate for mankind. In the beginning, we will find our focus to be firmly transfixed on the Savior, as Ruth was toward Naomi. In time, however, we find we begin to see the Savior in others as we minister (e.g. Boaz). Likewise with my pastor friend. His physical redemption from poverty and eventual death to self meant a way out, first for him, then his family and then for so many others which he has touched through Christ. Like Ruth, he said to the Lord, "your people shall be my people and your God my God." This attitude allowed him to follow on purpose with a clarity of mission and with deep gratitude. This afforded him as well as Ruth to see beyond what God could do for them and to recognize the image of God in others. Through this godly transformation of following the Savior, it created a godly heritage for many through selflessness. Hence, the world has become enlarged for God through their simple act of obedience by following on purpose.

Gracious God, may we all  understand that to follow You is to empty ourselves of our goals, agendas, plans, or expectations. Help us to give to You totally so that you can make us holy vessels to provide for others. Like Ruth and this pastor, may we live for You so that we might live for others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick

Bearing Fruit - January 14, 2018

Matthew 21:19 - Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, "No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you." And at once the fig tree withered.

Like any type of cultivated plant, fruit trees require particular care in order to yield significant fruit. Fig trees, for instance, require regular mulching of organic or processed fertilizers around their trunks for the first three years after planting. Then, adequate pruning has to occur. After a few years, a fig tree can produce enough figs to feed a family of four. (This is all according to an arbor-centric website all about the care of fruit trees.) As with most living things, it only makes sense that if a plant such as a fig tree is cared for, it will produce fruit in its season and according to its care.

Fig trees are commonly referenced in biblical times as a source of sustenance for ancient Israelites. The earliest mention of any one particular type of tree in the Scriptures is the fig tree from which Adam and Eve sowed together leaves for makeshift coverings (Genesis 3:7). Figs were also some of the fruit brought back by the spies that Moses sent out (Numbers 13:23). Solomon mentions them in his garden (Song of Solomon 2:13), and Isaiah prescribes figs as a boil remedy for King Hezekiah (Isaiah 38:21). However, the fig's most common use was to complement the Middle Easterner's fruit diet, as our Lord depicts in the Gospels.

In our lead verse, did Jesus know this fig tree had no fruit? It seems obvious that He chose not to use His divinity to ascertain this particular instance. This, in a way, was added grace for this tree which was soon to be cursed and withered under His divine power. In the same respect, God gives us much grace until the time He comes looking for fruit on us. He allows us to grow wherever we are planted and appear to be "green" and useful for the kingdom. However, when He comes looking, we had best have produced more than spiritual leaves.

Are we a lone fig tree in our walk with God? We have far less chance of producing fruit if we are. The main benefit of fig tree groves rather than solitary fig trees is fertilization. A lone fig tree has far more likelihood to not be fertilized than a grove of trees. (A random insect or bird may cause fertilization to a lone tree, but don't count on it!) If we are indeed a lone fig tree, are we possibly only worthy of trying to produce a false covering like Adam and Eve tried to create? Our works will never save us, beloved. We must bear fruit, in season. There is no guarantee the Lord will continue to come looking once we have disappointed His initial desire to find fruit in us.

Are we all planted together for His glory? May we all look to the Lord and then to other believers for our strength. Then, may we produce fruit as we serve both for God's glory!

Heavenly Father, let none of us experience Your disappointment when you come looking for fruit on Your beloved. May we look to You and others to make us healthy spiritual trees that will bear fruit in season for Your glory.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick

Choosing Our Cross - January 7, 2018

Matthew 16:24-25 - Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

There are many "cross-bearers" in the world today. However, scripture tells us that many of these will be denied the heavenly prize and few instead will find it (Matthew 7:13-15). Some will bear their cross for a cause or a movement with no thought of God. These will reap what they sow, for God will not give a thought for them in the final outcome. While there are a plethora of noble "crosses" to bear in our sick world, the only one that truly matters is that of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we carry a cross to save the planet or to help dying AIDS children in Africa or to open an orphanage in Delhi and are not following Christ, it will mean nothing in regard to determining our eternal home. The best we can hope for are human accolades which are destined to perish one day along with this temporal earth.

The only cross we are to bear is the cross of Jesus Christ. The world will congratulate us if we carry another cross for a noble cause, and will diametrically hate us if we carry the cross of Jesus (John 15:18). The former smacks of humanistic endeavor and the ability of man to pull himself up by his proverbial bootstraps. The latter is a declaration of the total inability of mankind to save himself and our need of a Savior. Only when we come to Jesus are we able to come after Him as the scripture states. Denial of self will not then be a laborious chore, but instead an expression of love toward the One who gave us life. Denial of one thing without passion for another only results in disappointment. (Ask the addict who attempts to quit drugs with just determination.) If we first embrace Jesus by coming to Him, then coming after Him and bearing our own cross will seem the most natural thing. In reality, the expected will then become a supernatural empowering that will crucify our flesh daily as the aroma of Christ breaks forth in our souls.

Our only consideration when deciding who or what we will devote our lives to is what is to be gained or lost. Our decision should not be based on "wishing" as Jesus proclaimed, but instead it should be founded on the bedrock of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In order for a man or woman to move beyond the pipe dream of wishing, they must understand reality. The cross that many bear is superfluous or meaningless in the light of their eternal destiny. However, when the aforementioned give their lives to Jesus Christ, then the dynamic of hope fills their souls. And hope does not disappoint because of the love which Christ pours out within the soul of those who trusts in Him (Romans 5:5).

In this coming year, it is imperative we decide who or what we serve. Some might say, "I will serve none but myself and my family. I don't want any of this religious stuff." Of course the reality is that everyone is involved in this "religious stuff." Everyone worships in their own way. They either serve the god of self and human accomplishment, or they surrender to Jesus and come after Him, carrying their cross in joyous servitude. The former means eternal loss ... the latter equates to life eternal. Who will we trust to save our souls? If we trust in Jesus, may we all first deny ourselves and then take up our crosses and follow Him. There is salvation in no other manner!

Heavenly Father, the choice is before us all. Help us to choose to follow Your Son. Help us to decide that anything less than total devotion to Him is folly. Grant us eyes to see and ears to hear in order to come to Him and then to come after Him, bearing our cross. In our surrender comes true freedom. Thank you Lord for Your great plan. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Your Barefoot Servant,

Rick