hballingerLeave a comment

It is a War

Readings:
Job 29
Job 30
Job 31

I love how Job 29 and 30 are Job’s testimony of what has happened after the conversation between God and Satan in Job 1, but Satan is proved a liarvyet again:

Job 1:10-11 NLT
You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”

Job describes to us what a life of walking in The Way and in communion with God looks like in Job 29 — and he contrasts this with what demonic oppression is like for a faithful, righteous man of God who suffers for the glory of God (not as a normal, consequence of his own sin).

Job is not a different man and is not living any different spiritually in chapter 29 than he is in chapter 30. Yet, his mockers are influenced by the darkness to mock him,  to oppose him, to discourage him, to despise him, to taunt him — all of these things rising up from what Galatians 5 tells us are demonic. It is not just these men that were his “friends” attacking him, they’re were demonic forces attacking him through people all around him, every day.

As a Christian, walking with God and fearing God, and valuing wisdom is going to produce things on our lives that are good. But there is an adversary, and there is an enemy. Now, we don’t need to fear that enemy when it comes to eternity if we fear God and love God. But that enemy is here to test us, to tempt us, to put us through the refining fires. So the book of Job is a great reminder and crash course on Spiritual Warfare. Are we proud enough to mock and criticize Job for how he handled this situation,  as if we would do better ourselves. Be careful, lest God point us out as His faithful servant and the hedge of protection is removed in our lives so that we know and can testify that spiritual warfare and demonic oppression is very real.

I honestly don’t even know whether it is better to hope to be faithful like Job for the glory of God and be humbled greatly — maybe as a warning to others? But I can say from personal experience that any bit of the motivation that I had for becoming “a great man of God” that came from a place of pride was crushed by going through a genuine experience of demonic oppression myself. And it made me realize and appreciate what it truly means to say to God, “Send me” before truly counting the cost.

So I hear you, Job. I can almost see the faces of these demons you are testifying about as you are calling out these things, these spiritual principalities, these thieves after God’s children,  these enemies of God’s Kingdom spreading their destruction. I can almost smell the sulfur and rot and canker of their presence as I hear Job — not complaining against God Himself — but speaking out against those things that are darkness, that are unjust, those things that are being done away with and that will go into the pit.l because they have no place in heaven (or in the New earth).

When we are in this place of attack, we may first assume that it is coquette of some particular sin. We may seek our normal confession and repentance and drawing close to God. But when head to Jacob’s ladder but an army of darkness stands between us (where there was once protection) — we gave the reality that Job is facing here. He can remember and recall clearly what it was like,  and he knows that He must get to the place of mercy and protection he knows in God — yet something stands in the way of the gate!

Jesus calls out the hypocrisy of the religious leaders who stand in the way of the gate by making it more difficult for people to enter into the mercy gate. And that is what the enemy does, and is what they do here through Job’s religiously educated “friends”.

So we shouldn’t be surprised when we find friends, family, respected religious leaders opposing us, faithful servants of God. Repent, turn to God, and if the darkness stands in the way,  put on the full armor of God and do battle. We too will learn how to recognize and call out these enemies by name,  my friends. Amen.

hballingerLeave a comment

Want good outcomes?

Readings:

Genesis 24

Matthew 9

Psalms 8

The story of Jacob’s servant going to find Isaac a wife reminds me of the power of a humble prayer. The servant didn’t pray so that God would do something amazing that would make the servant look good for picking a good wife for his master. No, the servant was concerned that on his own, he might make a foolish decision.

Isn’t it so true that the proud that “know what should be done” and who listen to no one else,  and who definitely don’t ask God are usually do not produce the best outcomes. For example,  a CEO of a ruthless haircare insurance company might know what is best for making himself and those around him rich — by taking advantage of people and not providing the services that they have paid for, but instead keeping more of the money that is fair or just. Yet, his wife and children have no husband anymore, the reputation of his company is that they are murderers, and those he profited fear that the people might rise up and kill then as well. Imagine being rich but living in fear that the people will rise up and murder you,  or having nightmares about all those souls who have died because you denied them care, that is a poor way to live no matter how much money one might have.

But this servant was wise. He asked for counsel from his master. And he asked for help from God. What a great example for us to follow!

hballingerLeave a comment

A Time for War

Readings:

Job 24

Job 25

Job 26

Job 27

Job 28

Job 24:1 NLT
“Why doesn’t the Almighty bring the wicked to judgment? Why must the godly wait for him in vain?

These readings remind me,

Psalms of Lamentation, Job’s words, the cries of the martyrs, and prayers of intercession that require true wrestling with God — these can all sound like grumbling against God or wallowing in one’s feelings. But they serve a very real and very powerful purpose. They rejoice in the holiness, righteousness and justice of God, and don’t just praise Him for His mercy.  When sin and injustice and pain grow to the level that we are at the end of ourselves, our cries call out to the heart of God and He hears us.

Yes, He hears and knows all, but we can see that there is something unique and special and intimate between those who know God so personally that they will enter into His courts with praise about who He is and very heartfelt struggles with why the things related to sin and the enemy have been given room to proliferate. When Hagar’s baby cries out in the wilderness facing death, God hears. When David sings psalms of Lament, God hears. When Christ prays tears of blood in Gethsemane, God hears. Even when the souls of the martyrs in heaven cry out for justice, God hears.

God’s judgement and vengeance is perched and waiting to cleanse this world, and it is not stirred by happy praise and worship from a body of believers content with how the world is in the hands of the “prince and power of the air” and “ruler of this world”. It is intercessory prayer that opposes those principalities and powers and brings our grievances to God to be heard where the wrestling and wrangling of the saints and the martyrs is done, where light is brought into the dark places, and where the Kingdom progresses on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Lord, help us to see clearly the contrast between who you are in holiness, righteousness and vengeance — versus this world, polluted and plundered by sin and your enemies. Help us to care and intercede with our heartfelt cries against the darkness — on behalf of your glory. Help us to carry light into those dark places and for our cries for justice to shake the foundations of what has been built up by the enemies of God. May the dark powers and the demons who oppose you be reminded yet again that their time is short. May hearts and minds and lives be turned away from darkness and death to know you and love you. There is so much beautiful, yet there is so much pain, suffering, wickedness and foolishness in this world. Help us to set our eyes in you alone. Amen.

hballingerLeave a comment

Lord, Open our Eyes

Readings:

Genesis 21

Genesis 22

Genesis 23

Matthew 8

Matthew 9

As I read about God opening the eyes of Hagar at the well in Genesis 21:

Genesis 21:19 NLT
Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.

I am reminded of the fact that the Samaritan woman at the well was Jesus’s first evangelist — the first in the gospel of John to recognize Jesus as Messiah and actively spread the good news about Him to her community. She would have been a marginalized outsider in her community,  in parallel to Hagar who was cast out by Sarah and Abraham’s community.

Both of these women were considered outcasts from the “Jewish” community,  yet these are the women God spoke to directly, and through whom God would grow another community.

As I read about Abraham offering Isaac his son,  I am reminded of how this parallels Christ the son on the cross — and how it parallels the life of the believer. We must die to ourselves daily,  and we mystery gave the refining fires of the trials that we will face as followers of Christ walking through this foreign land.

The Lord has provided the sacrifice (Christ), and he also teaches us to be like Isaac and to be like Jesus, trusting our Father in Heaven to not harm us — even when it may look in the moment like they might slay us. It will sound weird, but I love those moments in my life where I have faced what looked like the end, that seemed as if God had written my ending — yet He makes a way where there was no way. Those moments are intense and not fun in the moment — but how wonderfully they grow our faith and our testimony!

As I read Matthew 8

Matthew 8:27 NLT
The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”

I thought to myself “Who is this man?” — shouldn’t they know by now? They have been walking with Him as his disciples for some time now! But I wonder how often we are in the presence of true,  powerful men and women of God — yet never recognize it because of their humility? We probably expect someone to look powerful with a title and position and plenty of followers so much that we might miss the miracles that follow these believers because they walk with God. We may not see so many of their prayers being answered because they do not pay publicly and loudly like the ones who want to be seen. We may not realize when just the shadow of their presence (which was truly the presence of the Holy Spirit of God) changes the atmosphere and demons scatter and flee from the light. I wonder how many times I have been unaware whole sitting amongst truly powerful ambassadors of Christ because my eyes weren’t adjusted to seeing true riches and true treasures and true power!

And isn’t this the right heart and mind of every Christ follower– not that we would see ourselves as great or powerful — but that we would know our need for our Lord and Savior:

Matthew 9:13 NLT
Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

It is the humble that He protects and the proud that He opposes:

Psalms 7:10 NLT
God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right.

And those with renewed hearts and minds — those walking with their guide, comforter and teacher — those bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit, against this there is no law, and there is no fear of God’s being just even as He is merciful. It is the wicked man that fears the law because he breaks it, not the godly man. And for the wicked man, trying to keep the law can’t save him — because he can’t keep it, and even if he kept the letter of the law, he can’t comprehend the meaning and purpose of the law is to lead him to God (not to just measure his own filthiest).

The law is a mirror to see that we are filthy. If you look in a mirror from far away, but the closer you get and the more you look into the mirror, you will see that you are dirty. But the mirror does not clean you, and neither does trying to keep the letter of the law. Because if your heart is filthy, you only need to look close enough into the mirror and you will see that your life is filthy in some way as well (no matter how hard you might try to hide it, or to look clean, or to justify your filth).

So are we washed by the Blood of the Lamb, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk as a new creation?

If so, we can walk upright and praise God for being just — because He has adjust been merciful:

Psalms 7:17 NLT
I will thank the Lord because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.

But if we cannot praise a just God, is it because we have not truly repented of our sin,  have we clung tightly to some sin that we’ve refused to hand over to God? Are we foolishly presuming upon the kindness and mercy of God and expecting that He will not be Holy, righteous, and just?

Hebrews 10:20-31 NLT
By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. For we know the one who said, “I will take revenge. I will pay them back.” He also said, “The Lord will judge his own people.” It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Lord, open our eyes in your mercy, reveal yourself to us, teach us, guide us, and mold us, so that we can do the good works you have irritated for us. Do not let us get puffed up by the work that you do through us, but let us be humbled that you use someone even like me. Heal our hearts to be like yours, our lives to bear the fruit of your presence, and help us to walk upright and straight so that we love and abide in your justice and your holiness and your righteousness. We cannot get there without your mercy, nor can we take your mercy for granted and love a flawed “idea of mercy” while we love wickedness and sin instead of You. Amen.

hballingerLeave a comment

Do we want a part in God’s ways?

When Job talks about the wicked wanting no part in God’s ways:

Job 21:14 NLT
And yet they say to God, ‘Go away. We want no part of you and your ways.

I’m reminded of Amos 5 where God says He wants no part of the people who are saying they long for the day of the Lord and who are outwardly religious with the hypocrisy and show:

Amos 5:18, 21-23 NLT
What sorrow awaits you who say, “If only the day of the Lord were here!” You have no idea what you are wishing for. That day will bring darkness, not light.
“I hate all your show and pretense— the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps.

And then reminded of Matthew 7:

Matthew 7:21-23 NLT
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

In Job 21, Job speaks truths about how God does allow the wicked to prosper in this life, then Eliohaz makes personal accusations of Job. Job doesn’t have to be a prophet to know that these “friends of his” aren’t there to comfort him but to mock him:

Job 21:2-3 NLT
“Listen closely to what I am saying. That’s one consolation you can give me. Bear with me, and let me speak. After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.

And that’s exactly what happens:

Job 22:4-7 NLT
Is it because you’re so pious that he accuses you and brings judgment against you? No, it’s because of your wickedness! There’s no limit to your sins. “For example, you must have lent money to your friend and demanded clothing as security. Yes, you stripped him to the bone. You must have refused water for the thirsty and food for the hungry.

Accusations and casting stones at a suffering, grieving and devastated man because he isn’t putting on a show of public religion, offerings, and noisy praise but he’s being real about his situation.

What strikes me as fearful in this whole transaction isn’t anything truthful Job has said about God but how Eliahaz makes the mistake of presuming about God by essentially saying “If you do _____, God WILL  do ______.”

Job 22:29 NLT
If people are in trouble and you say, ‘Help them,’ God will save them.

This is such a wrong and frightening perspective and misunderstanding of God. We cannot use the Word of God to pin God into doing what we want — He is not our genie to command. It is not us who command things into existence from nothing. We are not witches, trying to figure out the right combination of words, potions, or actions we can take that will give us our intended results. God does as He pleases.

Psalms 115:3 NLT
Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes.

Job is clearly aware of this truth, even as he seeks an opportunity to wrestle with God who he loves so deadly and has walked with his whole life:

Job 23:12-14 NLT
I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food. But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does. So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny.

You see,  Job knows that even walking close with God does not guarantee that we will not suffer, that we will not grieve,  that we will not face mocking and ridicule. In fact,  Jesus tells us that such things in the Kingdom of God are where the blessings are:

Matthew 5:3-12 NLT
“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. [8] God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

Even a child can answer in their heart whether it would be a better to get that you and love their mother or lose the toy but have mother there to hold them and make it better. If we know this to be true about our earthly mother, we should definitely learn this lesson about our heavenly Father as well.

In all of this Job is not turning his back on God and dying (like his foolish wife suggested he do), but He is seeking God. In fact,  He knows that God’s testing in this life refines us:

Job 23:2-10 NLT
“My complaint today is still a bitter one, and I try hard not to groan aloud. If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court. I would lay out my case and present my arguments. Then I would listen to his reply and understand what he says to me. Would he use his great power to argue with me? No, he would give me a fair hearing. Honest people can reason with him, so I would be forever acquitted by my judge. I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed. “But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.

Isn’t it wild how loud our flesh can scream out at us to avoid the refining fires? Even how strongly Jesus’s flesh cried out to Him in  Gethsemane:

Luke 22:41-44 NLT
He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

When we are at these points of the story,  Job arguing with his friends. Jesus in Gethsemane, a mother burying her dead child, a husband and wife hearing the word “cancer” from a doctor, a person dealing with chronic illness, a person struggling deeply with mental illness — do we seek God to wrestle with Him, or do we curse Him and  die?

Do we wisely want a part in God’s ways, or do we foolishly expect He will play a part in ours?

The only way is surrender, is turning to Him.

hballingerLeave a comment

True Children of Abraham Repent

Readings:

Genesis 19

Genesis 20

Matthew 7

Matthew 8

Psalm 7

How shocking and offensive it must have been for the Israelites who were descendants of Abraham to hear this– especially if they were counting on a guaranteed spot in the Kingdom:

Matthew 8:11-12 NLT
And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

And we see this distinction about “blood descendants of Abraham” clarified in the New Testament:

Galatians 3:6-7 NLT
In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.

Galatians 3:28:
There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus

Romans 9:7-8 NLT
Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too. This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children.

And we see that the evidence of supernatural healing fulfilled prophecy about the Messiah:

Matthew 8:17 NLT
This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, “He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.”

And we see this prophecy about believers that is given in the New Testament:

Mark 16:17-18
These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”

And again this warning even in the New Testament readers who are casting out demons and experiencing supernatural power:

Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

So how will we know true believers? How will we know the true children of Abraham?

John 13:34-35 NLT
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Matthew 7:15-20 NLT
“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

And the fruit of a good disciple:

Galatians 5:16-26 NLT
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

Repentance. The good news isn’t just that we are saved from hell and getting into heaven “some day”. The good news isn’t just that we are called to be disciples and ambassadors of God through which His miraculous work will be accomplished on earth as it is in Heaven. The good news is that all of His mercies are pointing us to repentance,  to holiness,  to love not just freed from punishment, but freed from the bondage and thievery of sin. Hallelujah!

hballingerLeave a comment

Polishing with Suffering and Lament

Readings:

Job 17

Job 18

Job 19

Job 20

In all of Job’s mourning, in his deep suffering — no one would actually listen to him and consider that his words could be true. Not one of them had even considered that God had removed the hedge of protection around Job, or that God might call Satan’s attention to Job to be purified by the refining fires of true, deep suffering.

Look at the examples of so many who walk with God who have faced levels of suffering that would leave those who do not know God saying, “He has sinned and God is punishing him” or similar. But have they not heard Jesus’s preaching from the mount that teaches about what real blessing looks like — do they not hear the call for us to share in the suffering of Christ — so they not know the example Christ and the Apostles and the martyrs have set before us?

Or are everyone’s eyes set upon chasing happiness and fulfillment and being honored in this life?

How often have I foolishly thought easy was best — rather than remembering that broad is the way that leads to real destruction.

I’m grateful for the book of Job and the Psalms of lament like Psalm 6, Psalm 38, Psalm 10, Psalm 42, Psalm 43, and Psalm 130 — and even in Jesus’s words of Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 where He recites the words from Psalm 22: “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?”

We should not be surprised that suffering and lament are tools the potter uses like sand and grit to polish a fine finish on his vessels.

Thank you Jesus.

hballingerLeave a comment

What a Friend we have in Jesus

Readings:

Genesis 17

Genesis 18

Matthew 6

Matthew 7

Proverbs 1

I’m reminded that the Lord is active and at work, that His blessings can come as a child, as healing, as correction, and even as destruction.

I am reminded that all of the Law and the prophets hang on what the world might call “being a good friend and offering friendship to all” — treating others as we would have them test us, loving others and loving God. So how have we been doing as we travel through this foreign land on our way home, my friends? How living have we been in our homes, and in the workplace, and amongst the believers, and amongst the unbelievers?

Like the blind man whose sight was restored and he saw the Lord face to face and celebrated, may we see you clearly with our hearts and minds when we study your Word, our God and our friend. Teach us and overcome us with your spirit, your nature, your wisdom, and your compassion. You are a good good fatherand a wonderful friend, oh Lord our Rock, our shelter, our Redeemer, and the one who sees us. Amen.

hballingerLeave a comment

Recognizing a Fools Errors while Ignoring Their Pain

Readings:

Job 14

Job 15

Job 16

When someone who is hurting lashes out about God or about us, I wonder how often like Job’s friends we are quicker to correct them than to encourage them?

Truly and deeply hurt people are in no position to be argued against — is like the fable of the Tiger arguing with the donkey over something clearly wrong the foolish donkey said. And the Tiger brings his dispute before the Lion king. And the Lion kings punishes the Tiger because he should know better than to argue with a foolish donkey when he is a tiger — not the donkey for being wrong.

I’m reminded of the intense need and deep grief that Job was in. I can not fault him for being genuine and transparent about his pain and his very real suffering.

Isn’t it better to be the man who screams out and curses God in the midst of great pain, than to pour salt in the wounds of hurting man?

Wouldn’t it be better to carry the hurt man however you must, even if it is too cut through a roof to get him to Jesus — rather than argue to prove yourself more right and less wrong than him?

Being able to see and point out the errors of another fool doesn’t make us wise.

Proverbs 9:7-8 ESV

Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

Proverbs 29:9 ESV

If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

In contrast,  the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalms 34:18), He comforts those who mourn (Matthew 54), He gives rest for our weary souls (Matthew 11:28-30). He will wipe every tear from their eyes (Revelation 21:4). We are called to mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15).

hballingerLeave a comment

Be Perfect as God is Perfect: Love Your Enemies

Readings:

Genesis 14

Genesis 15

Genesis 16

Matthew 5

Matthew 6

Psalms 6

Love your enemies — not just your friends and those who treat you well. This is the emphasis of Jesus’s sermon on the mount when He says,

Matthew 5:48 NLT
But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

It’s easy for us to be offensive and petty when we are offended. In fact,  that is probably our default — “you hurt me, so I’ll hurt you” seems to be how our pride and our flesh screams out for what it thinks is “justice”.

But God has a different way. And it isn’t to be a spineless coward either. Mercy and loving our enemy is strength under control. We may have the strength, the ability, the opportunity,  and even the self justified motive for why we might destroy our enemies, but we are told to love them — and to leave Vengeance to the Lord.

Romans 12:19 NLT
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.

This advice in the New Testament builds upon what we see in the Old Testament:

Psalms 94:1 NLT
O Lord, the God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, let your glorious justice shine forth!

Leviticus 19:18 NLT
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

The New Testament goes beyond loving your fellow kinsman and neighbor even to living your enemy. And isn’t this how Good loves us?

Romans 5:6-11 NLT
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

And such a call is beyond the weakness of our flesh and pride. So Lord God our Redeemer and our strength,  you must do this in us and through us. Since this is who you would have us be. Help us to not resist your Holy Spirit and to willingly die to ourselves and be raised to life in you today.  Amen.