Winners And Losers

“Aaron Burr is an example of a man who allowed the desire for revenge to destroy him. Burr was a bitter political rival of Alexander Hamilton. When Burr and Thomas Jefferson were deadlocked in the House of Representatives for the Presidency, Hamilton’s influence led to Burr’s defeat. Later, when Burr was running for Governor of New York, Hamilton’s influence again contributed to his defeat. In his hatred for Hamilton, Burr determined to destroy his enemy. Burr eventually killed Hamilton in a duel — but the same pistol shot that ended Hamilton’s life also ended Burr’s political career. Years later, Burr confessed he would have been far wiser to have acknowledged that the world was big enough for both Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. Revenge has a way of destroying the one seeking it as well as the target of that revenge” (Clarence Macartney; preaching.com).

“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves” (Confucius). Bitter animosity is a deadly game. Revenge and retribution have a way of backfiring on the perpetrator. One would think that followers of Jesus would avoid such behavior at any cost. But, sadly, even brothers and sisters in Christ fall into the same deadly trap of mistreating each other. Paul dealt with this very problem in his letter to the churches of Galatia. In the latter part of the writing, the apostle strongly affirms the principle of Christian freedom (5:1). But a bit later in the same chapter, he reminds his readers that Christian freedom does have some limits. Our freedom in Christ doesn’t give us license to mistreat each other (5:13-14). Notice how Paul describes the aftermath of being ugly with fellow believers: “But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another” (5:15).

Burr may have won the duel Hamilton but he destroyed his own career in the process. There are no winners in church duels as well. When we bite and devour each other, the only winner is the devil.

God loves you!

Mike

Flights Of Fancy

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is certainly the primary focus of the Bible. But some students go astray in their efforts to find Him on every page. I ran across this recent example as I prepared a lesson on Genesis 14.

Jeremy Myers shares how “...certain teachers of the past have twisted Genesis 14:14 to get it to be a reference to Jesus Christ. This teacher noticed that the consonants of Abram’s name add up to 318. Then he took the number 318 and converted it into the Greek alphabet, kind of like Roman numerals. The Greek letter tau stands for 300, the iota for 10 and the epsilon for 8. And then they say, “Oh wow! The tau looks like the cross, and the iota and epsilon are the first two letters of Jesus’ name in Greek, Iesus, and so here in Genesis 14:14, we have a prophecy that Christ will die on the cross. The man who taught this wrote, God “...knows that I never taught to anyone a more certain truth.””

He goes on to warn that we must guard “...ourselves against all such forms of Scripture twisting and treating the Bible like a magical incantation book full of secret codes and magical formulas. It is not a book of Christian horoscopes. The Bible is not to be treated like Tarot Cards.”*

I whole-heartedly agree. Numbers did occasionally have significance in both the Hebrew and Greek languages. But sometimes (perhaps more often than not) a number was just that -- a number. When we go assigning a meaning to a number when that meaning isn’t revealed in Scripture, we are in uncharted and untethered territory. When we head down that road, we can end up wherever we want. The illustration above proves it. The 318 fighters in Abram’s army suddenly becomes a prophecy that Christ will die on the cross. Something not clearly taught in the Bible suddenly becomes a “certain truth.” Imagine that! 

God loves you!

Mike

*https://redeeminggod.com/sermons/genesis/genesis_14/

Freedom Isn't Free

“Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans of the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with holidays in several countries, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, which also occur on the anniversary of the end of World War I. Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. At the urging of major U.S. veteran organizations, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954” (wikipedia.com). This holiday, along with Memorial Day, is an annual reminder that freedom is not free. We are brought face to face with the fact that there has been, and continues to be, a great cost associated with the securing and maintaining our civil and national freedom.

This reminds me also of the great cost linked to our spiritual freedom. God just didn’t snap His fingers and it was done. No, making us free from sin came with great sacrifice. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The Son of God went to war with Satan, who had the power of death, and defeated him. But it cost Him his life. “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil…” (Hebrews 2:14).

Every Sunday, as we share in the Lord’s Supper, we memorialize the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who fought and won the greatest battle of all time. It’s a war that will never have to be fought again because it secured eternal freedom for those who put their faith in Christ. “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). Praise God!

God loves you!

Mike

Weakness And Strength

“Our God does not need noble characters, as the ground-work of His masterpieces. He can raise up stones as children. He can turn thorns into fir trees, briars into myrtle trees. He can take fishermen from their nets, and publicans from their toll-booths, making them into evangelists, apostles, and martyrs. We are not much by nature -- wild, bad blood may be flowing in our veins; but God will be the more magnified, if from such stones He can raise up children unto Abraham. The miracle of His grace and power will bring more conspicuous glory to His holy Name, in proportion to the unpromising character of the materials on which He works” (F.B. Meyer, Abraham or The Obedience Of Faith).

As Meyer penned these words, perhaps the words which the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church so long ago were in the back of his mind. There was a time in his life when Paul felt particularly weak and useless. He doesn’t give us the specifics of the problem but he describes it as “a thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7). He prayed three times, asking the Lord to take it from him. But each time, the Lord said “No.” The lesson for the apostle was that true strength is found in weakness. Why? Because when we are weak, God’s strength is most clearly seen.

Here is how Paul describes it: “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

(2 Corinthians 12:9–10).

Some of God’s mightiest works are accomplished through weak and flawed people. Feeling weak and useless? Great! You are in the perfect position to bring glory to God. He specializes in using imperfect people. Frankly, it’s all He has to work with.

God loves you!

Mike

Platforms

In the midst of all the discussion of party platforms in this election cycle, I thought it would be good to reflect on the platform which guided Jesus as He “campaigned” and which He encouraged His followers to adopt. We call it “The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-12):

• Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

• Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

• Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

• Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

• Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

• Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

• Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

• Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

• Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Modern political platforms are noticeably different, aren’t they? The reason for that is because modern politicians in our country could never be elected by pushing these points. But that says more about us as a country than it does about Jesus’ platform. Modern politicians and platforms are designed to appeal to the party base and, hopefully, to attract other voters. They make grand promises that are often easily ignored once the winner takes office. Maybe I’m jaded, but that seems to be the way the system works (or doesn’t work, depending on your perspective).

The platform of Jesus provides a remarkable contrast. Instead of focusing on things that appeal to me, it challenges me to be who I should be. And if you and I are guided by Jesus’ principles, then many of the moral and social issues that fill today’s political platforms become yesterday’s news. I think I will vote for Jesus!

God loves you!

Mike