The Symbolism in the Gifts of the Magi

I wish to begin by sharing a prophecy of the Messiah found in Isaiah chapter 60, verses 3 and 6: “The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising . . . The multitude of camels shall cover your land, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and incense, and they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord.”

Isaiah foresaw the day that nations would come to worship the one true God; when herds of camels would cover the land; whenever people from Sheba would come bringing gold and incense. He prophesied of the day when eastern wise men, Persian astrologers or Magi, would come to Israel seeking the Christ who was born in Bethlehem. Isaiah foresaw the day when those who once worshipped the stars would be led by a star to bow down and worship the Light of the World. Let’s take a brief look at the Magi and the gifts they presented to the newborn Savior.

The first item is the Gold, which represents Jesus’ kingship and His kingdom. Jesus was prophesied as the coming King in Isaiah 9:6-7, for we read this: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.” Jesus was described by the prophet Isaiah as a “Prince” having a “kingdom.”

This kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, revealing that Jesus is Lord of heaven (the kingdom of heaven); therefore, possessing divinity and having all power. He has the power to grant life and take it away (Mt 25:31-34, 41), and the power to lay down His own life (1 Jn 3:16) so that we might live by believing in Him (Jn 3:16). Jesus, who was God made flesh (Jn 1:1, 14), was holy; thereby, becoming the perfect and innocent Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world (Jn 1:29) by dying on the cross to pay the price for our sins. Jesus was King of Kings (Rv 19:16) having all power and authority, and yet He humbled Himself on our behalf (Jn 13:3-5), and died so that we might live!

Now let’s look at the Frankincense, which was a type of incense. “Frankincense was an odorous resin imported from Arabia, yet also grown in Palestine. It was one of the ingredients in the perfume of the sanctuary, and was used as an accompaniment to the meat-offering. When burnt it emitted a fragrant odor, and hence the incense became a symbol of the divine name and an emblem of prayer” (Easton’s Bible Dictionary). The Magi’s incense told of Jesus’ divinity, for burning incense was regarded as an act of worship to Almighty God. Therefore, this little child, sitting in the lap of His mother, was worshipped as Lord of Lord’s (Rv 19:16).

The incense tells of His sacrifice, since incense was used in the temple sacrifices. Ephesians 5:2 says, “Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Isaiah 53:5-7 contains a prophecy of Jesus, and we read this: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed . . . He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth” (vv. 5, 7). Jesus became the perfect sacrificial lamb to be slain and sacrificed on our behalf, and for our sin. This occurred as He died on the cross. Jesus’ willingness to lay down His own life arose unto God as sweet smelling incense.

Now let’s look at the Myrrh. “This was the gum or viscid white liquid which flows from a tree resembling the acacia, found in Africa and Arabia” (Easton’s Bible Dictionary). Myrrh was sometimes offered to prisoners being executed on the cross; and in Mark 15:23, it was offered to Jesus, though He did not partake of it. Therefore, myrrh can symbolize the crucifixion that Jesus would endure on our behalf.

Myrrh was also used for embalming (Smith’s Bible Dictionary). In Mark 15:43, we read that Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for Jesus’ body, and in verse 46 we read, “Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.” In the next chapter, Mark 16:1 states, “Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.” Among these spices was myrrh. The myrrh tells of Jesus’ suffering, His death, and His burial.

It’s important for us to realize that Jesus didn’t just die and remain buried, along with all the great prophets before Him. Jesus was more than some ordinary prophet. He was, and is, and always will be prophet, priest, and King! If He had just remained in the ground, that would not have proven anything except defeat. The Scripture delivers the good news that Jesus rose from the grave (Mk 16:6)! The Bible tells us “the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23); but Jesus was victorious over death and sin when He arose! And we will be too, if we will just believe in Him and confess Him as Lord (Rom 10:9-10). Remember, “The myrrh represents Jesus’ death and burial.” But, we are also reminded of how Jesus overcame death and the grave through His resurrection!

A great treasure has been presented to us. The King of heaven, God’s one and only Son gave His life for us (John 3:16) – The Gold. This King became the sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sin (Romans 6:23) as He died on the cross – The Frankincense. And He was buried in a tomb taking all our sins with Him, and He overcame the tomb when He rose from the grave, granting us victory over sin (1 Corinthians 15:54-56) – The Myrrh. This great treasure leads to salvation from our sins and to eternal life in God’s kingdom; that is, if we will receive it (Him) into our heart and life.

How to Avoid Breaking the Law

Not too long ago, I was driving down the highway watching people speeding past me at break-neck speeds, who were obviously breaking the law; and I started thinking about how easy it is to break the law while driving. For example, when you study to obtain your driver’s license, you pick up a small slim booklet containing only the basic highway rules. However, there’s probably a thousand-page manual floating around somewhere at the Department of Motor Vehicles, containing so many laws that it would make your head spin!

The website DMV.ORG lists some bizarre driving laws. In Alaska, authorities have found it necessary to declare it illegal to tether a dog to the roof of a car. In Massachusetts, it’s illegal to operate a car with a gorilla in the backseat. In Derby, Kansas, it’s considered a misdemeanor to screech your tires while driving, costing you thirty days in jail. In Minnetonka, Minnesota, it’s illegal to drive a truck that leaves mud, dirt or any sticky substance on the road. In University City, Missouri, it’s illegal to honk the horn of someone else’s car. In Oklahoma, you’ll be given a ticket if caught reading a comic book while driving; and last but not least, in Lexington, Kentucky, if you stop for ice cream while driving, it’s illegal to carry an ice cream cone in one’s pocket.

It’s so easy to break the law, because most aren’t found written in any manual you pick up for taking your driver’s test. This reminds me of the Old Testament law. On Mount Sinai, Moses received the Decalogue, known as the Ten Commandments (Ex 20:1-17). However, there were actually six hundred thirteen other laws that people were supposed to uphold in addition to the Ten Commandments. James said, “Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” (Jas 2:10); and it wouldn’t have taken very much for someone to stumble, with so many additional rules and regulations.

I found myself frustrated in thinking about how easy it is to break the law; but then a passage a Scripture came to mind. In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Jesus basically said, “You won’t have to worry about breaking any laws if you keep God and your neighbor in mind, and be certain to put them first.”

James may have stated, “Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” (Jas 2:10); however, he concluded, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well” (2:8). The apostle Paul said, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Rom 13:8). In his book entitled The Greatest Thing in the World, author Henry Drummond tells us that “Christ came and said, ‘I show you a more simple way. If you do one thing . . . if you love, you will unconsciously fulfill the whole law’.”

As believers in Christ, we don’t have to walk around in fear of transgressing the law, so long as we remember to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength; and remember to love our neighbor as ourselves (Lk 10:27). As Henry Drummond stated, if we love then we’ll unconsciously fulfill the entire law. We will be law abiding citizens without ever giving it a second thought! Therefore, as Paul admonished, let’s “put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (Col 3:14).

Are You Self-Confident or Dependent?

I have a question for you to consider, one which might help you understand why you’re going through a time of trials or difficulty. The question is this: “Are you self-confident, or are you dependent on the Lord?” Allow me to begin with an illustration, in order to stir your imagination and get you to thinking.

One day a mother was out shopping with her son. When she took him shopping, she couldn’t keep him by her side. As soon as she would turn her back, the boy would wander off somewhere, though keeping his mother in sight. She would then have to go and find him. Her son had a pride problem. He was disobedient and thought he had his mother wrapped around his little finger. He was also overconfident in his own ability to venture out, and to know where his mother was at all times.

Well, again the boy departed from his mother and assumed that she would be there. His mother then decided she would get sneaky, and when he wasn’t looking she hid from him behind a clothes rack. When the child realized his mother was gone, he frantically began searching for her. She then decided that he had had enough, and she came out from her hiding place. When the boy saw her, he dashed to her and clung to her; and from that time forward, he stayed right by his mother’s side, and never let her out of his sight again.

This is somewhat similar to what the Lord will do if we become overconfident and think we can do it all on our own. He might stop speaking to us and stop revealing things to us, as He hides His face. Isaiah 59:2 says, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” Keep in mind, however, that it is actually “we” who have turned away from the Lord first.

The Lord can’t reach us through our pride and conceit, so He may choose to humble us through disappointment or a wounded heart. In humbling us, God is forcing us into the wilderness of our own self to explore our incompetence and weaknesses. He wants us to realize that we truly need Him in our life.

Mark 1:12-13 says, “Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.” Jesus wasn’t driven into the wilderness to be taught a lesson; but to show forth His spiritual fortitude in overcoming the attacks of the devil. However, believers are often driven into the wilderness for a lesson.

What’s so important about the wilderness? Two Scripture references tell us what exactly God uses the wilderness for. Matthew 4:1 says, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Luke 3:2 says, “The word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.” The Lord uses the wilderness 1.) to test and try us, and 2.) to reveal things to us. The wilderness is a purging ground; a place of spiritual cleansing and revelation.

Sometimes we can become prideful and overconfident in our own abilities; and similar to the illustration of the mother and her son, God will have to depart from us, or hide from us, in order to gain our attention and cause us to cling to Him. He will do so by testing us in the wilderness of our inner-being.

When we’re lost in the wilderness and seeking a way home, if we’ll call out to Him, then He will answer us. In Zechariah 13:9, the Lord said, “I will . . . refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people;’ and each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God’.” If you’re going through a time of trials or difficulties, then call on the name of the Lord. The Bible says, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 13:9).

Now, the verse that says, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved,” is actually a reference to being saved from our sins. Romans 6:23 tells us, “The wages of sin is death.” If we die before knowing Jesus as our Savior, we will experience spiritual death, which is spending forever in the flames of hell; but if we will confess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, we will gain spiritual life. Romans 6:23 goes on to say, “But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The Necessity of Confrontation

I have been a pastor for a number of years, and I have observed church conflict on many occasions. I recall one church that was so afraid of conflict that the members never confronted one another about their sin problems or disagreements. This church wound up promoting an atmosphere that enabled the perpetuation of sin. Added to this, the members exhibited what is called “passive aggressive behavior,” demonstrated in talking about others behind their back, or making snide comments in their presence.

In his book The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren says, “Many fellowships have been sabotaged by fear: No one had the courage to speak up in the group while a member’s life fell apart.” He also says that because of a lack of confrontation “thousands of fellowships have been destroyed.” Now, when I use the word “confrontation,” I am not referring to lashing out at someone in accusation and blame; but rather, sitting down and peacefully talking things out, working toward resolution and unity.

Warren says, “Many church fellowships and small groups remain superficial because they are afraid of conflict. Whenever an issue comes up that might cause tension or discomfort, it is immediately glossed over in order to preserve a false sense of peace. Mr. ‘Don’t Rock the Boat’ jumps in and tries to smooth everyone’s ruffled feathers, the issue is never resolved, and everyone lives with an underlying frustration. Everyone knows about the problem, but no one talks about it openly. This,” Warren emphasizes, “creates a sick environment of secrets where gossip thrives.”

The Bible shares “four important steps to conflict resolution.” Step One is found in James 5:16, which says, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” Before ever approaching someone about a matter, we need to bathe the situation in prayer; perhaps for a few weeks, or maybe even a few months.

Billy Graham once said, “Hot heads and cold hearts never solved anything.” Prayer is a vital part of reconciliation, for God works through prayer to prepare both our heart and the heart of our perceived adversary. We can’t confront someone in anger or resentment and expect to solve anything at all.

Steps two through four are found in Matthew 18:15-17. Listen as I share Step Two from Matthew 18:15: “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” When you finally feel led to talk with an individual, it should be done between you and him alone. Keep in mind, however, that you should never confront someone of the opposite sex alone, and the same can be said about an adult confronting a minor.

Listen as I share Step Three from Matthew 18:16: “But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established’.” This verse says that if your brother or sister refuses to resolve matters that you must try to reason with them again; only this time, taking along a witness. Maybe the other person will see that he or she does indeed have a problem when it’s realized that more than one individual agrees with us.

Listen as I share Step Four from Matthew 18:17: “And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” This verse says that if the individual refuses to settle a matter, even after being confronted by two concerned believers, that he should be treated as a heathen or tax collector. This means the person should be ignored, or perhaps even shunned, until he repents and comes into alignment with God’s Word.

Now on the subject of shunning; I understand that some people view this notion as archaic, and perhaps even unloving and un-Christ-like. Keep in mind, however, the words of Paul: “If anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother” (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15).

In any conflict situation we must keep in mind Ephesians 6:12, which states, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood.” We need to approach every attempt at confrontation and reconciliation with humility and compassion toward our brother or sister in Christ, keeping in mind the very real fact that he or she might not know what they are doing. Perhaps the individual is just L.U.I., or rather, Living Under the Influence; that is, the influence of sin and the world.

The Church: A Place to Call Home

In Hebrews 10:25, we’re told not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together” as a body of believers. The church is supposed to be a place where we unite in fellowship, in order to build up one another in the faith. Paul said, “Comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing . . . Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thes 5:11, 13). The church should be a place where people can turn in times of difficulty; a place where they can feel secure; and a place they can call home.

Home is a location, or perhaps even a state of mind, that everyone’s searching for; whether they’ll admit it or not. For example, in the movie “Garden State,” the character Andrew Largeman observed,

You know that point in your life when you realize that the house you grew up in isn’t really your home anymore? All of a sudden, even though you have some place where you can put your stuff, that idea of home is gone . . . You won’t have this feeling again until you create a new idea of home for yourself . . . for your kids, for the family you start . . . Maybe that’s all family really is – a group of people who miss the same . . . place.

Notice how he mentioned creating a family around the idea of home. For the believer, the church is “our family created around the idea of home.” I once saw a church logo that expressed the kind of safety and security that we’re all seeking. It read, “A place to belong. A place to begin again.” Too many times, however, we don’t feel like we have a church family; it doesn’t really feel like home. I want to share with you an illustration, which I’ve edited in order to cut down on length:

Many years ago in England a circus elephant named Bozo . . . [had a change in] personality. Several times he tried to kill his keeper, and when the children came near his cage he would charge toward them as if wanting to trample them to death. It was obvious he would have to be destroyed . . .

[One day] the huge circus tent was packed . . . [and] out of the crowd came a short, inconspicuous man in a brown derby hat. [He told the manager], “There is no need [to kill this animal] . . . give me two minutes in the cage alone with him” . . . “All right,” he said, “but first you will have to sign a release absolving the circus of all responsibility.” The small man signed the paper . . . The door to the cage was unlocked, the man stepped inside, then the door was locked behind him . . .

At the sight of this stranger in his cage the elephant threw back his trunk, let out a mighty roar, then bent his head preparing to charge. The man stood quite still, a faint smile on his face as he began to talk to the animal . . . He seemed to be speaking some foreign language. Slowly, as the man continued to talk, the elephant raised his head. Then the crowd heard an almost piteous cry from the elephant as his enormous head began to sway gently from side to side. Smiling, the man walked confidently to the animal and began to stroke the long trunk. All aggression seemed suddenly to have been drained from the elephant . . .

After a while the man bade farewell to the elephant and left the cage . . . He told the manager, “You see, he’s an Indian elephant and none of you spoke his language, Hindustani. I would advise you to get someone around here who speaks Hindustani. He was just homesick.” And with that, the little man put on his coat and hat and left. The astounded manager looked down at the slip of paper in his hand. The name the man had signed was Rudyard Kipling.

There are countless people lost without Jesus Christ, searching for home. Many times they enter the church to discover that it doesn’t feel like home. It might feel like a country club, or possibly a war zone; but not home. If we fail to create an atmosphere of home, then people will leave the church, never knowing what it is to have a real home in Jesus and in heaven. If we want to present a safe-haven and a home to the lost, then we need to start speaking the language of home.

Allow me to share what an atmosphere of home looks like, from the words of nineteenth century pastor Frederick W. Robertson. He said, “Home is the one place in all this world where hearts are sure of each other. It is the place of confidence.  It is the place where we tear off that mask of guarded and suspicious coldness which the world forces us to wear in self-defense, and where we pour out the unreserved communications of full and confiding hearts.  It is the spot where expressions of tenderness gush out without any sensation of awkwardness and without any dread of ridicule.”

The author of Hebrews said, “Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb 10:24-25). In order to create an atmosphere of home, we must consider others first; be certain to love people; present opportunities for individuals to serve according to their giftedness; be sure to encourage others; and provide venues for people to fellowship with one another as often as possible.

Escaping the Cave of Despair

When I was in my early twenties, I used to go cave exploring as often as possible with a friend. Sometimes we went caving about twice a week. One evening we followed a lead for a new cave that we’d heard about, one that was in the top of a ridge and that was supposed to be really huge. When someone tells you that a cave is really large, then it’s probably no bigger than a groundhog hole.

After an hour of ridge walking, we finally saw a small hole at the top of a knob. We got down on our hands and knees; and when we crawled in about five feet, we started smelling something really gross. We crawled in a little further and we soon discovered the source of the smell, which just happened to be an old dead dog.

There’s nothing worse than the stench of death. So, what does the Lord have to say about the times that we smell the stench of death in our spiritual life; when we enter the cave of despair and hopelessness? In 1 Kings 19:9-10, we read:

And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

Elijah entered the cave of despair, prompted by fear and self-pity. The Lord had just given him a great victory by displaying His power over the prophets of Baal, when He sent down fire from heaven to devour a sacrifice that was doused with many pots of water. The Lord had also allowed Elijah to capture and execute the prophets of Baal (1 Kgs 18:20-40). Elijah should’ve realized the Lord would protect him no matter what; but Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him, and he fled in fear (19:2-3).

The way that Elijah acted is how we sometimes act. The Lord can place a calling on our life to serve Him. He can show us many signs that confirm our calling and His presence among us. We can face many challenges bravely; but there’ll be something to come along that will unnerve us, and cause us to feel as though we can’t go on. When this happens we tend to feel defeated, and then we attempt to run away from God. We feel like giving up altogether; and like Elijah, we come up with the excuse that no one else cares about the Lord, so why should we even try anymore!

When we run from the Lord we can feel as though we’re in a deep pit surrounded by darkness. Maybe you’re in a place of despair because you’ve run from the Lord just as Elijah did, but let me tell you that God will pursue you when you run away from Him. In Psalm 139:7, David asked, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” Just remember that you can run from the Lord, but you can’t hide!

When He catches up to you, He’s going to ask you the same question that He asked Elijah in verse 9, which is, “What are you doing here?” When you’re in despair and you ask yourself why you’re there, please keep in mind that the Lord is the one prompting the question. How will you answer Him?

The ultimate cave of despair that a person can enter into is death. So, what does the Bible have to say about the darkness and the finality of death? In John 11:38-41, 43-44, we read:

Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying . . .

[Jesus] cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

In any other form of disparity we can often find ways to help ourselves, but there’s no way to escape death. No human being can resurrect another person from the dead; and if they did, it wouldn’t be by their own power, but God’s. We can resuscitate someone, as in performing C.P.R., but not bring a person back to life after they’ve been lying in the grave. Jesus is the only one who can resurrect someone from the dead.

The death that I’m talking about is not physical death, but a spiritual one. Romans 6:23 tells us, “The wages of sin is death,” meaning death to a person’s soul, which is equivalent to spending eternity in hell. Jesus overcame death after He died on the cross and was resurrected. In order for us to be raised from spiritual death into spiritual life, we must believe that Jesus rose from the grave. Jesus has power over sin and death, and He will grant us that power too, but only if we believe that He is able.

Jesus said in verse 40, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” We must believe and have faith in Jesus Christ in order to be rescued from the ultimate cave of despair, and receive eternal spiritual life.

Whenever we find ourselves in despair, we often feel as though we’re in a dark cave and that death is slowly encroaching. We’re not alone, though, for the Lord sees us wherever we are, He sustains us in our time of need, and He hears our cry and is ready to rescue us when we ask for His help. He is even able to bring us back to life once we die; but only if we call on the name of Jesus Christ.

Where Have You Come From?

In Genesis 15:3-5, we read how Abram approached the Lord with a heavy heart, concerning how he had no offspring of his own; and thus, no male heir from his bloodline. The only person whom he could foresee as an heir, who would one day receive his blessing and inheritance, was a household servant (15:3).

In response to his plight, God replied, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body” (15:4). The Scripture continues to tell us, “Then He brought him outside and said, ‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.’ And He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be’” (15:5).

The Lord made Abram an incredible promise: his barren wife (16:1) would bear him a male heir, and his descendant would be as numerous as the stars. You would think that Abram and Sarai would have gained a newfound hope and trust in God’s enduring faithfulness; but on the contrary, in Genesis 16:1-8, we see how they responded in unbelief, taking matters into their own hands:

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan.

So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes. Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The Lord judge between you and me.” So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please.” And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence.

Now the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”

So, what’s wrong with the picture here? Keep in mind how the Lord had just promised Abram that he would have a child of his own flesh and blood; and yet, he went in to Hagar and had a child by her at Sarai’s suggestion. Both Abram and Sarai refused to trust God; thereby, committing sin.

We see that Hagar allowed Abram to come in to her (16:4), which was actually sin on her part; and when she conceived, Hagar began to despise her mistress Sarai, feeling superior to her (16:4-5); adding a prideful spirit to her growing list of sins. She then fled the scene after upsetting her mistress (16:6).

When the angel of the Lord appeared to Hagar in the wilderness, He asked an important question: “Where have you come from, and where are you going?” (16:8). Hagar responded with a partial truth. She told Him only that she was running away from Sarai. She didn’t say, “I’m running away from my mistress, because I despised her.” Hagar tried to imply that Sarai had dealt unjustly with her; but she was on the run, because she had exalted herself above her mistress.

What the angel of the Lord was prompting from Hagar by asking, “Where have you come from?” was for her to reflect on her actions. He was asking her, “Where have you come from in your spiritual life?” This is a question that calls each of us to reflect on our sinful choices and behavior.

Did you know that Satan was once asked the same question that Hagar was asked? In the book of Job, the Lord inquired of the devil, “Where have you come from?” (1:7, NRSV). His reply was similar to Hagar’s; for he avoided the spiritual and convicting aspect of the question, and answered only that he was “going to and fro on the earth, and walking back and forth on it” (1:7, 2:2).

Going to and fro on the earth was actually an “appropriate” answer. You see, there are countless people wandering to and fro on the earth, lost in what they’re doing; and they can find no real meaning or purpose in life. Sin has resulted in numerous people losing sight of our ultimate purpose and reason why we were created; which is for the glorification of God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus once said, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going” (John 8:14). Jesus is the only one who can truly know where He came from and where He’s going, because He is God incarnate and He knows no sin.

The second half of the angel’s question was “Where are you going?” He was asking, “How do you want this story to end?” “Will you continue down the same path, leading to destruction; or will you repent, change course, and live?”

All people are sinners, according to the Bible (Rm 3:10, 3:23). The Lord calls us to reflect on our life and look to see where we have come from – what particular sins we have committed. Many people wander through life to and fro like Satan, trapped in their sins. Whether you’re lost in sin, or confused in understanding God’s will for your life, you should stop and look back to see what has taken place.

If you turn to the Lord through His Son, Jesus Christ, then you will receive the forgiveness of sin, and find direction for your life. Jesus sees the beginning and the end. He sees where you have come from, and where you are going. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end (Rv 21:6). Therefore, make sure that “where you are going” is founded in Him.

Assisting Pastoral Leadership by Serving

Rick Warren says, “A few years back I made a list of young pastors in America that I needed to be praying for; like others had prayed for me when I was young. Today, more than half of the young pastors on that list are no longer in ministry.” In this article, I wish to share with you about a serious problem happening in ministerial leadership, which is pastoral burnout; and I also wish to propose a biblical solution.

Kent Crockett tells us, “Burn-out occurs when we give out more than we take in. We go from giving out to giving up. Cars that aren’t refueled will run out of gas. Wells that are not replenished will run dry. Batteries that are not recharged will have no power. We are not any different. A Christian [or a pastor] that is not refueled, replenished, and recharged will burn out.”

In the book of Exodus, we find an example of a God-ordained leader on the verge of exhaustion and burnout; physical burnout that is. However, the account gives us something to apply when considering spiritual and emotional burnout in Christian leadership. Let’s take a look at Exodus 17:8-13:

Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

We read here that Israel went out to fight against the Amalekites, and how Israel prevailed whenever Moses kept his staff held high in the air; however, when his arms became tired and he lowered them, then the Amalekites prevailed. In applying this example to burnout in Christian leadership, we’re reminded that no one can keep working incessantly without getting weak and tired.

Do pastors get burned out? Don’t they just work only one day a week? According to the August 1, 2010 issue of the New York Times “33 percent [of pastors] felt burned out within their first five years of ministry,” “50 percent feel unable to meet the needs of the job,” “90 percent work more than fifty hours a week,” and “1500 pastors leave their ministries each month due to burnout and conflict.”

Pastoral ministry also takes a toll on the family. The same New York Times article tells how “52 percent of pastors say they and their spouses believe that being in pastoral ministry is hazardous to their family’s well-being and health,” “80 percent of pastors say they have insufficient time with their spouse,” and to top it off, “the clergy has the second highest divorce rate among all professions.”

In our passage, we see that Moses was unable to keep his staff held high for hours on end; therefore, Aaron and Hur rolled up a stone and sat Moses down in order to alleviate some of his fatigue, and they also stepped in on either side of him and held up his arms, refusing to leave his side until Joshua had won the battle. This example shows us that the only way a Christian leader can continue to effectively minister in his calling is to have others come alongside him and help out.

In the very next chapter, in Exodus eighteen; when Jethro saw Moses judging the cases of the people all by himself, he told him, “The thing that you do is not good . . . This thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself” (18:17b, 18b). Jethro then instructed him, “You shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God . . . And let them judge the people at all times . . . So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you” (18:21a, 22).

In Acts 6:1-4, we read that when the “widows were neglected in the daily distribution” of bread, that “the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, ‘It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word’.”

Both Moses and the twelve apostles needed help, though they are considered among the greatest men of faith. Moses needed help in order not to wear himself out judging the people all by his lonesome; and the twelve apostles need assistance ministering to the widows, so they could have time to dedicate themselves to the study of the Word, which was their foremost calling. From where did their help arrive? It came from among the congregations which they were leading and shepherding.

When you see a pastor doing most of the church’s ministry alone, keep in mind that he’s not following a biblical model. He might be doing too much because he sees others as being incompetent; or perhaps, he doesn’t understand God’s grace and is operating under a works- based system; or maybe, his congregation feels that since the pastor is getting paid that he must earn his keep, and that the church must get its “money’s worth” out of him. Whatever the reason, ministry that excludes the help of others within the body of Christ is unscriptural and ineffective.

Both Moses and the apostles appointed leaders to be over certain areas of ministry; and they also called upon deacons and volunteers, delegating some of the ministry needs to them. Therefore, if congregations wish to have healthy, productive and effective pastors then other church appointed leaders, deacons and compassionate volunteers must seek out ways in which they can share the burden with their pastor; and please keep in mind that, according to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), each and every Christ-follower has the responsibility of serving in the kingdom.

“Walk Across America” at Canton Baptist Church

On Sunday morning July 21, 2013, Jim Buckley (and wife Glenda) with “Walk Across America” stopped at Canton Baptist Church along his nation-wide trek. Jim spoke to the congregation, bringing them a message about the home and family; and He is affiliated with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), which sent its video crew to film on location during the worship services.

His sermon focused on how Jesus utilized the home to strengthen families; and how Satan is infiltrating homes to destroy them. He began his message sharing how Jesus stayed at the home of Zacchaeus (Lk 19:5); thereby, impacting his life in a meaningful and lasting way.

He then pointed out where Acts 8:3 states, “Saul began to destroy the church going from house to house” (NIV). Therefore, the devil is tearing down the church one family at a time, going from house to house; but if we allow Jesus to reign in our heart and make Him the center of the home, then the devil will lose his foothold.

Buckley concluded his message by sharing how Saul eventually came to know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior; and how he later, as the Apostle Paul, began proclaiming the gospel message and teaching people “from house to house” (Acts 20:20).

Later that afternoon, the BGEA video crew interviewed the Mitchell’s at their home. They were looking for a family with an inspirational story; one in which they overcame great odds to maintain their faith and family. The Mitchell video will appear on the “Walk Across America” website after the editing is completed.

This was a memorable and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Canton Baptist Church; one that will be talked about for years to come.

Truth under Fire by Human Reasoning

In 2 Timothy chapter 3, the apostle Paul said that “in the last days” (3:1) “men will be . . . always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (3:2, 7). I recently read an Internet article entitled “Pastor’s Loss of Faith Started with Loss of Hell,” which demonstrates how learning and book knowledge can actually subvert heart knowledge, resulting in missing the truth found in the Word of God. I have shared a snippet from this article below:

In the span of just a few months, Jerry DeWitt went from a respected pastor with a vibrant congregation to an atheist without a job. DeWitt, 42, is the first “graduate” of The Clergy Project, a program supported by several atheist organizations that assist pastors who have lost their faith to “come out” as atheists to family, friends, congregations and communities . . .

DeWitt’s transition from true believer to total skeptic took twenty-five years. It began, he said, with the idea of hell. How could it be, as he had been taught and preached, that a loving God would damn most people to eternal fire? “This thing called hell; it began to rock my world,” he said.

From there he read about universalism – the idea . . . that salvation is universal, and “all people” will be restored in their relationship with God without any action on their own part. After universalism, he discovered the idea, supported by some neuroscientists, that God is actually our inner dialogue. “I went from God loves everybody to God saves everybody to God is in everybody,” he said.

Jerry DeWitt had difficulty with the idea of hell, believing that eternal punishment contradicts the love of God. DeWitt subscribed to the popular opinion that love is tolerance and letting people do whatever they please.

The Bible, however, shares that one aspect of love is correction. Jesus said, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent” (Rv 3:19). Part of God’s love is His justice; and in His justice, He commands everyone who lives contrary to His laws and commandments to cease what they’re doing and turn and repent. If people fail to repent, then there are consequences; or rather, punishments to be had.

The single greatest consequence, which is reserved for those who fail to repent and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, is spending eternity in hell. Jesus said, “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” (Lk 12:4-5). “Him” is capitalized in the text, referring to God. According to the Bible, God has the power to cast people into hell.

Jerry DeWitt, however, believes there is no hell. Why? Look at what the article states: “He read about universalism,” and after that he sought advice from some neuroscientists. So, rather than turning to the Lord during his crisis of belief, he sought those who would support what he was feeling; and he sought the advice of men over the wisdom of God. DeWitt turned to the results of mankind’s learning, deliberately forfeiting the knowledge of the truth.

We live in an age where knowledge is king; and information can be found in unlimited abundance. The World Wide Web is proof of this fact. So, be careful where you turn for knowledge, and be not “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,” as Paul said in Ephesians 4:14. Elsewhere, Paul said, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness’” (1 Cor 3:19).

One of the problems we’re facing today is that the world’s way of thinking is being subscribed to by many believers and being carried into the church. Peter warned, “There will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed” (2 Pt 2:1-2).

If ever you find yourself confused, just remember that “the way of truth” is found in Jesus, for He declared in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” In John 8:31-32, Jesus stated, “If you abide in My word . . . you shall know the truth,” and in John 17:17, He prayed for His disciples this specific request: Father, “sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” Therefore, if you ever find yourself having a crisis of belief, rather than seeking the advice of men, turn to the Bible, which is the source of truth.

Recalling Our Great Heritage

I was recently asked to pray at the Daughters of the American Revolution “Memorial Day Service” held on May 27, 2013 at the Renaissance Center in downtown Cadiz, Kentucky. I was under the impression that I needed to bring a short devotional; however, I found out later that this was unnecessary. Since I had already written something, I thought I would share it in the “Canton Clarion.” Perhaps someone might find it interesting:

I wish to begin by sharing about a Kentucky hero of the American Revolution. Since we live in Trigg County, I thought we should be made aware of how it was named in honor of Stephen Trigg. He was killed ten months after the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in one of the last battles of the American Revolution, while leading the Lincoln County militia at the Battle of Blue Licks (Wikipedia).

Now, allow me to share about another Kentucky hero of the American Revolution: Simon Kenton, frontiersman and travelling companion to Daniel Boone, was once taken prisoner and carried off to Detroit, Michigan by the Shawnee Indians and Captain Peter Drouillard of the British Army. He eventually escaped and made his way back to Kentucky.

After his escape, “the British and the Indians began an assault on the Kentucky settlements to squash the revolution and end the invasion of the hunting grounds. In response, George Rogers Clark assembled the Kentucky militia to rout the Indian towns along the Little Miami, as well as harass British forts.” Simon Kenton was appointed as Captain in charge of the militia scouts and spies (Ohio State Parks Magazine, Fall-Winter 2003).

The Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution have had more of an impact on our lives and shaping this great nation than many people realize. For example, the website of the Sons of the American Revolution states that as many as one-third of Americans are descended from those who participated in the Revolution. For example, my great, great, great, great grandmother was Jane Kenton, sister to war hero Simon Kenton.

We wouldn’t know our country’s great heritage if it weren’t for genealogical research. I was reading on the Daughters of the American Revolution website that “as one of the most inclusive genealogical societies in the country, DAR boasts 170,000 members in 3,000 chapters across the United States and internationally.” When we look at the Bible it is replete with long genealogical lists, with Matthew chapter one being a prime example; emphasizing the importance of recalling one’s heritage.

Therefore, let’s never forget the sacrifices of those who have gone on before us, and let’s be certain to honor them by continuing in the fight for freedom and justice, and by recognizing our spiritual heritage in the Lord.

Guideline for a Possible Closing Prayer: Father, we thank you for the freedom that we experience in this great country; and this Memorial Day we recognize the sacrifices of those who have made it all possible. We especially wish to thank you for sending your one and only Son, Jesus Christ, who won our spiritual freedom by dying on the cross for our sins. May you bless our time together. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Drive to Be Remembered Forever

Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 2:16, “For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come.” To be forgotten is one of our greatest fears. To some people, the only thing that really matters in life is making their mark; or rather, doing something by which they will be remembered when they are long gone.

The Bible says, for example, that when Joab and his men killed David’s son Absalom, they threw him into a pit in the woods and laid a large heap of stones over the place where his body lay (2 Sm 18:14-17). The text emphasizes what a huge tragedy it would have been for Absalom to have remained in the middle of the woods totally forgotten, without something by which to remember him.

The Scripture makes sure to tell us this information: “Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the King’s Valley. For he said, ‘I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.’ He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument” (2 Sm 18:18).

We all want to be remembered when we’re gone; and some of us secure this legacy by having children; however, Absalom had none. The only one who remembered him when he was gone was his father David, as he cried out, “O my son Absalom; my son, my son Absalom” (2 Sm 18:33). However, the memory of Absalom would eventually fade away with David’s later passing; and we would have no record of his life if it weren’t for the Bible.

There is only one way we can be remembered for all time, and it has nothing to do with gaining worldly recognition. Malachi stated, “So a book of remembrance was written before Him, for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name” (Mal 3:16). If we know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and make Him our life’s pursuit, our name will be forever recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rv 21:27).

Words of Wisdom for Graduates

Solomon concludes the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes with his observations about life; and in his closing remarks in chapter twelve, we find four words of wisdom that can be applied to the common life-experiences of high school graduates.

“Make Sure You Know God While You Are Young”

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them” (12:1).

The first word of wisdom is to make sure that you know God while you are still young. In his book Generation Next, George Barna says, “About three-quarters of all people who have consciously, intentionally and personally chosen to embrace Jesus Christ as their Savior did so before their eighteenth birthday.”

It’s important that you come to know the Lord before you encounter the difficulties of life. Without Jesus by your side, you can easily drown in a sea of hardship. Granted, you may have already endured some challenges; but the truth is that life only gets harder, not easier. However, if you take the Lord with you, then you can better endure what lies ahead.

“Make Sure You Still Know Him When You Are Old”

Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it (12:6-7).

The second word of wisdom is to make sure that you still know the Lord, or have maintained your relationship with Him, even when you are old. As you get out on your own and experience the freedom of making your own decisions, you will be presented with many different life-philosophies that run contrary to the Bible. You will be tempted to choose another path than the one that God has laid out for you.

Just remember what Jesus said: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Be certain that you continue to walk “the straight and narrow” all the days of your life.

“The Most Beneficial Scholarship is from the Lord”

The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright-words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd (12:10-11).

The third word of wisdom is that the most beneficial scholarship is from the Lord. If you plan on attending college, then beware of the assault on the Christian faith. Arthur Serratelli tells about a class exercise that took place at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton in a course called “Intercultural Communications”:

The professor asked the students to write Jesus’ name in big letters on a paper, place the paper on the ground and then stomp on the name of Jesus. Ryan Rotela, a junior, refused. Ryan was polite and sincere. He calmly disagreed with the professor’s request and refused to do the exercise. He paid the consequences for his refusal - suspension. A university supervisor told him not to return to that class.

In college you will encounter a lot of self-proclaimed “scholars” whose primary goal is to refute the Christian faith, claiming they know better; but keep in mind that true scholarship is contained in the Bible by the words of the one true Shepherd and Teacher. Also, don’t forget to stand up for your faith.

“The Most Meaningful Pursuit in This Life is God”

And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all (12:12-13).

The fourth and final word of wisdom is that the most meaningful pursuit in life is God. Upon graduation it’s exciting to get out and pursue your options for the future and your career. It’s also necessary for your financial security and well-being; for without the security of a good job, you will be in no position to influence the world for Christ. However, you need to make sure that your career choice is not the end, but a means to an end; the end being to bring glory to the Lord.

Your job should never become your sole reason for existence; and your career preparation should never distract you from growing in your relationship with Jesus Christ. Be careful to balance your college study and Bible study; and always keep in mind that the most important pursuit above your career is God. Jobs come and go, but your relationship with Jesus is everlasting.

When the Programs Are Stripped Away

In Amos 5:21-24, the Lord expressed how He wanted to see His people practicing true justice and righteousness, rather than going through half-hearted motions of worship. Churches can all too often fall into meaningless worship routines, and the reason why is because they get bogged down in tradition and consumed with meaningless busy-work. Allow me to explain further.

Believers can get so focused on what’s happening in the existing membership and within the church walls, that they become blinded to what’s happening on the outside; and thereby, fall short in carrying out the Great Commission. They can also become so task-oriented that they fail to become God-oriented; and can often grow more concerned about “busy-ness” than true kingdom “business.”

This observation has left me with a question in the back of mind, which is this: “Would we even know how to worship God and do what He expects of us, if all our traditions, music and programs were completely stripped away?” In the praise song “The Heart of Worship,” worship leader Matt Redman expressed this same concern, sharing the following words:

When the music fades, all is stripped away; and I simply come. Longing just to bring, something that’s of worth; that will bless Your heart. I’ll bring You more than a song, for a song in itself; is not what You have required. You search much deeper within, through the way things appear; You’re looking into my heart.

I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about You; it’s all about You, Jesus. I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it, when it’s all about You; it’s all about You, Jesus.

Matt Redman was leading worship at his church called Soul Survivor, which is located in England, whenever he wrote the lyrics to “The Heart of Worship.” Joel Harris shares the story concerning how this well-loved song came to be:

Over the course of several years, Soul Survivor’s worship had made a lot of headway . . . [but] the spark was gone, and the people were going through the motions without really giving their hearts in worship. Eventually they realized that they had become spectators of the worship service, simply an audience, grading it with scores out of ten. They had forgotten the fact that they were all supposed to be performers, performing for an Audience of One.

They had lost sight of the truth that biblical worship involves sacrifice. All of us are called in God’s Word to bring sacrifices in worship, called to offer our bodies as living sacrifices – our spiritual act of worship, and to offer up sacrifices of praise.

Mike [Pilavachi, the pastor], realized something drastic needed to happen. The church needed to be brought back to the place where each person was bringing their own contribution to the worship, not simply to watch the band. They needed to come back to understanding that worship is all about God, not about what we get out of it, or what our personal musical tastes are. So the pastor “Banned the band, and sacked Redman!”

They sat in circles and waited for someone to bring their own sacrifice of praise. At the start, no one did, and they sat in virtual silence! They had to learn not to rely on music, but eventually it began to happen. They had sweet times of worship, as people brought prayers, readings, prophecies, praises and songs. The excitement and passion returned, for they were no longer having church, they were meeting with God.

Having learned their lesson, they brought the band back, and Matt Redman sang the song that he had written out of the experience.

Now, getting back to the plight of Israel; in Isaiah 58:2-3a, the people claimed they wanted to know God and do His will. The Lord stated, “They seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways . . . They take delight in approaching God. ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’” The Lord’s response reveals that their worship and declarations of praise and allegiance to God could not be backed up through deed. Listen closely, as I share the Lord’s reply in Isaiah 58:3b-10:

In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exploit all your laborers. Indeed you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, to make your voice heard on high. Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?

Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness. If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday.

The true fast that God has chosen; or rather, the true worship and actions that God expects us to demonstrate, have nothing to do with coming to church on Sunday and evaluating the performance, or doing a certain style of music and number of songs, or offering a specific amount of programs, or even visiting a set number of church members in their homes.

The true fast and worship that God has chosen involves doing the things that really matter in meeting the needs of the community. When we look out beyond ourselves and our own preferences to share the love of Jesus Christ outside the church walls; then we begin doing things that make an eternal difference, and we begin doing what really pleases the Lord. We also enter a place where ministry becomes something fulfilling and meaningful.

Never Underestimate the Underdog

This month’s newsletter article comprises a devotional I shared in preparation for our Spring Revival, as we anticipated the arrival of our young seminary student and evangelist; who came to bless our hearts as part of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary “Revive this Nation Program.”

What is an underdog? Is it the cartoon character about a superhero dog who wears a cape and flies around fighting crime? No, not quite. Listen as I share an entry from the dictionary. Merriam-Webster defines the word “underdog” as, “a predicted loser in a struggle or contest.” In other words, an underdog is someone who is expected to come in last place, and predicted not to accomplish anything of significance.

You will find people who are seen as the underdog in all walks of life, and in all areas of occupation and service, including the ministry of the gospel. In Matthew 3:1-6, we find the perfect picture of a “perceived” underdog:

“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.’ And John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.”

The Bible describes John the Baptist as a grasshopper-eating caveman (Mt 3:4). People could have steered clear of him, thinking that God would never speak through such a weirdo. John was a strange looking person, to say the least, but if you will notice, people still came to hear his message. They didn’t come because John was attractive; they came because his message was attractive.

John began his ministry in the wilderness, which is a place of “seeming” insignificance; but people “went out to him” (Mt 3:5) where he was. They journeyed to his remote preaching point, because they were hungry and he had spiritual meat that would satisfy. John may have looked rather strange, and perhaps he wasn’t an eloquent speaker either; nevertheless, God used him for His glory. Consider for a moment what the apostle Paul said about one’s calling, in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29:

“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.”

Back in the time of the judges, when the Israelites were selecting their very first king, they chose Saul because he had all the qualities that the world expects to result in greatness. The Bible says he was very handsome and from a wealthy family (1 Sam 9:2-3); but what appeared good on the outside turned out to be rotten on the inside. When Saul was disqualified as king, and Samuel went looking for another candidate among the sons of Jesse, the Lord informed him, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature . . . For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam 16:7).

Psalm 78:70-71, tells us how David was selected as the next king of Israel: “He also chose David His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the ewes that had young He brought him, to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance.” David was just a lowly shepherd, but the Lord described him as “a man after My own heart, who will do all my will” (Acts 13:22).

We have a student arriving from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary to lead our spring revival. There may be some of us who think of students as the underdog, or as individuals lacking significance and influence. Perhaps we’re not expecting much to happen this coming week, as far as a great move of God, genuine revival, and souls being saved; but we must never forget the numerous biblical examples of how God used the underdog for His glory. Therefore, be certain not to underestimate the underdog; but make room in your heart to allow God to great things through whomever He chooses.

Crucifixion and Resurrection Help with Suffering

Jesus’ death and rising wrought the gift of salvation and spiritual life. Something we sometimes fail to recognize is how His crucifixion and resurrection brought victory over injustice, trials, and suffering.

Mark 15:16-37 shares the Passion story. Jesus underwent intense pain and agony as He died for our sins, but why did His death have to be so cruel, and why could He not have died a quick death? A sacrificial lamb was killed quickly, so we wonder why Jesus, the Lamb of God, had to suffer.

One of the great questions in human history is, “Why does the way of the wicked prosper” (Jer. 12:1); and why do the innocent suffer? Of all the reasons given, behind the explanations, God has something to do with suffering. It is often concluded that since God is all-powerful He creates both good and evil; and thus, God causes bad things to happen.

The Bible says that God created everything good in the beginning, and teaches us how human beings, through free will, chose to pervert God’s natural order and commands, and thus evil was born. God wills the best possible good to be achieved in every situation, but does not cause the best to happen. Human choice often dictates the outcome.

Should we blame God that His Son was tortured and crucified? God knew ahead of time what death His Son would die, but He did not create the mode of death or the inventions of torture. The suffering that Jesus endured was the result of evil choices made by the people around Him; and likewise, the pain we experience is often the result of either the choices of others, or simply the evil of an imperfect and fallen world.

Jesus’ crucifixion helps to cope with suffering as we learn of God’s empathy. First of all, God knows what human pain feels like and can identify with ours; for He was present inside Jesus (John 1:1, 14), and therefore felt the pain of the cross. Secondly, God knows what loss feels like. Just as Jesus felt the abandonment of being forsaken by the Father (Matt. 27:46), the Father felt the pain of losing His one and only Son whom He gave for the world (John 3:16); meaning that God knows what we are going through!

Some would say that if God felt the crucifixion when Jesus was nailed to the cross, that God is powerless to overcome evil; or, they might say that if God is powerless to prevent suffering, then there isn’t a God. I can’t understand why people forget the part about the resurrection! Mark 16:1-6 portrays the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The resurrection is the key to finding hope and comfort in times of suffering. God is not powerless when it comes to suffering, and the resurrection is proof of this fact. During the resurrection, Jesus, who was God in the flesh, overcame sin and death. Many see death as the ultimate tragedy, but Jesus won the victory over death! Jesus suffered, bled, and died, but that was not the end of the story! As the stone rolled away, this tragedy was transformed into new life!

“The power of the resurrection works like this. It does not eliminate hopelessness and death by slaying the dragon. It works in and through death as a gentle power to re-create new life” (Tyron Inbody). We may be suffering, but through faith in God, and through the power of the cross, God will make a way! He can take our pain and loss and transform it into something brand new!

The Resurrection Is Central to Christian Belief

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the crux of the Christian faith. On scientific and educational television programming the resurrection is one of the most controversial and highly debated subjects. Redbook Magazine of August 1961 conducted a survey of seminary students who were training to be pastors and found that “fifty-four percent rejected the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.” One must wonder what the rate of unbelief is today.

The apostle Paul said, “If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty” (1 Cor. 15:14); but Paul continued as a die-hard follower of Jesus Christ and never ceased to fervently preach Christ’s resurrection. What motivated Paul to cherish the belief in a seemingly impossible occurrence as the resurrection? The answer is eye-witness sightings and testimony of the resurrected Lord - the most powerful of which was Jesus’ appearance to Paul himself (Acts 9:3-5).

Numerous individuals in the Bible testified to having seen Jesus risen from the dead. One excellent reference is 1 Corinthians 15:5-8, which shares how Jesus was seen by over five-hundred people afterwards. The apostle Peter stated, “We did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Pet. 1:16). Many first century Christians, unlike us, had the benefit of first-hand sightings of Jesus raised from the tomb.

I find it amusing to watch television shows claiming the truth about Jesus’ resurrection; and then watching the “scholars” spend the entire time debunking the “myth.” One major argument used is that Jesus’ disciples removed His body and hid it. This argument is as old as the resurrection itself!

Matthew said the elders gave a large sum of money to the soldiers guarding the tomb, and told them to say to the people, “His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept” (Matt. 28:12, 13). Matthew said, “This saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day” (Matt. 28:15). This argument is reported even until our own time, and it began with the soldiers being paid to spread a falsehood. When you hear this argument used by “scholars,” keep in mind that it is nothing groundbreaking. It is rooted in unbelief and is an attempt to divert one’s attention from the miracle of the resurrection.

The resurrection is about hope - the hope of forgiveness and release from sin. The Bible says sin will be punishable by spiritual death and eternal separation from God (Isaiah 59:2; Rom. 6:23a); and when forgiven, rewarded with eternal life (Rom. 6:23b). When Jesus died and was buried, He took on Himself the punishment for our sins; and in the resurrection, He demonstrated His power over sin and death.

The Bible says that if we believe in His resurrection we will be forgiven of sin and receive eternal life (Rom. 10:9). If we do not believe in the resurrection we are without hope! Paul said, “If Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished” (1 Cor. 15:17, 18). There is no hope of an afterlife without a belief in the resurrection - no hope for ourselves or for our loved ones who have gone before. The key to entering heaven after we die is to believe in Jesus’ resurrection!

Barabbas Released from the Death Penalty

The story of Jesus and Barabbas is one of substitution. Matthew 27:15-26 shares the account. Jesus was arrested and tried before the governor Pontius Pilate. In front of a crowd He was displayed beside the notorious criminal Barabbas. The custom was for a prisoner of the crowd’s choosing to be released. Jesus was the Son of God, and Barabbas was a known criminal. The crowd asked for Barabbas to be released to them - the one truly guilty and deserving of punishment. The innocent man, Jesus, was led away to His cruel death.

Pretend for a moment that you are Barabbas, and imagine how you would feel if you were standing in his sandals. You know you have committed many crimes worthy of death. You are a condemned man without hope, standing next to an innocent man. You know a prisoner is to be released to the crowd, and you know there is no way it will be you. You are certain it will be that innocent man standing beside you; and then the crowd cries out for your release! It’s a miracle, which you cannot explain - and you probably don’t care to explain it - for all you know and care about at the moment is you are free! You are free from the pain and torture of crucifixion. You are free from death, and given another chance at life!

Barabbas represents all humankind. We are all condemned men and women. The Bible says the penalty for sin is death (Rom. 6:23) which, simply stated, is spending all eternity separated from the heavenly Father. Barabbas should have been crucified, for he was guilty of many crimes, and we should be punished for our crimes against God for we are each guilty (Rom. 3:23). Barabbas was not crucified though, because Jesus, an innocent man, was crucified instead; and just as Barabbas was freed from harm’s way, we too can be released from the harmful consequence of sin.

Pilate suspected the crowd would have chosen Jesus over Barabbas, but when they chose Barabbas, Pilate was confused on what to do with Jesus. He asked the crowd, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?” and they cried out “Let Him be crucified!” (Matt. 27:22). The question Pilate asked is one we should all be asking. Jesus died on the cross to assume the penalty for our sin - for each and every one of us. When we behold Him stepping in and taking our place, and being punished for our sins, we should search our heart and ask, “What then shall I do with Jesus?”

The Bible says, “Christ died for the ungodly . . . God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6b, 8). Jesus died for those who are unworthy - like Barabbas, and like you and me - and He didn’t expect us to become perfect first. He died for us where we are in our sins, and He will come to us and save us right where we are.

We don’t have to get our lives straightened up first before we accept Jesus into our heart as Savior. We are to come to Him just as we are, and when we do He will receive us just as we are. Jesus wants to step in and take our place so we can have life - that is eternal life - so we should trust and believe in Him.