Christianity

Unclean

/ RedeemedInGrace / Leave a comment

Matthew 15:1-28; Ephesians 4:29-32

 

Jesus’ definition of “unclean” and the Pharisees idea of uncleanliness were different. As always, the Lord goes much deeper than outward reform- He aims for the heart. Jesus says our heart response in life, our thoughts, come out in the way we speak.

Even if we speak appropriately in public and have all the right answers, the Lord knows the inner man. He knows are thought life. Sooner or later what is suppressed will burst out in angry speech, low grumbling, or something else with devastating consequences. The longer we go unchecked in our attitude, we lose sensitivity to the Holy Spirit leading us. The heart calcifies under such conditions.

925A2739-A84E-4B73-93DA-88E70AB7F488513578D7-4D3B-4670-88E3-B1C8EE3B88B3B2C33734-8BE8-4BDD-A2C6-06FCA3D44773B03CA329-ACAC-441F-8566-927705368386

Our hearts and speech are so intertwined that James writes special caution concerning the power of the tongue (James 3). It can be a means of great poison or great healing but it begins with the diagnosis of our hearts. Jesus unveils the hypocrisy of the Pharisees by mercifully teaching them, His disciples, and also us, the real meaning of “unclean”. We are all unclean, in need of the Savior to wash us through. God gives us time now to repent and come to Him. Are you washed with the blood of Christ or left unclean?

 

Grace upon grace,

April

Unchanging God

/ RedeemedInGrace / Leave a comment

Genesis 44-45; Psalm 18:37-50; Matthew 14:13-36

 

God works in many ways to display His Power. He faithfully fulfills the dreams given to Joseph as a teenager with his brothers and father now bowing before him. What Joseph’s brothers meant for evil the Lord uses for good. He not only avenges Joseph but preserves a remnant of Israel during the famine. The sons of Jacob are shown mercy and forgiveness.

Jesus demonstrates His Power through miracles as well as healing the sick and demon-possessed. He does this with a touch, just a word, and sometimes by using created things like making mud (John 9:1-12). There is no formula for how the Lord operates. What is consistent is His character: compassionate, merciful, faithful, and good. In this way God does not change.

FullSizeRender-2

 

0DD0D878-1262-4D93-BC18-4D66B086A19FIMG_0602

In C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Lucy asks Mr. Beaver about Aslan to which he replies,

“He’ll be coming and going. One day you’ll see him and another you won’t. He doesn’t like being tied down – and of course he has other countries to attend to. It’s quite all right. He’ll often drop in. Only you mustn’t press him. He’s wild you know. Not like a tame lion.“

Lewis translates the character of Aslan as a Christ figure in his children’s story. We may not be able to predict God’s ways but it doesn’t mean who He is ever changes (Hebrews 13:8).

The prophet Isaiah also writes the Lord’s ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). The Lord IS infinite wisdom. We simply must trust in His Sovereign plan for our lives and what happens in the world. Even when tragedies seem senseless, and nothing makes sense to our logic, we can rest in the character of God because of what we know to be true- that will never change.

 

Grace upon grace,

April

God’s Justice

/ RedeemedInGrace / Leave a comment

Genesis 42:18-43:14; Psalm 18:16-36; Matthew 14:1-12

 

Joseph concealed his identity from his brothers, testing them in their integrity. God providentially used Joseph to carry out the consequences of his brothers’ former actions when they sold him as a slave. Joseph had done nothing wrong but continued to rely on the Lord for wisdom and favor. God avenges Joseph as he hides his identity until the right time.

John the Baptist was also a righteous servant yet his life is taken as he is beheaded. God’s justice for John’s blood did not happen in this life. The Lord will avenge him and all evil done against His children, but it will be in His way and in His time.

lightstock_35237_download_medium_april_box_img_4784

Psalm 18 promises the Lord will faithfully avenge, but man must learn to trust Him fully and not seek revenge themselves. God used Joseph as a means to bring about immediate justice. Interestingly, Joseph also demonstrates profound forgiveness for what his brothers did to him. As a Christ figure, he beautifully illustrates what we deserve in our sin (judgment) but what Jesus also offers all who trust in His salvific work (forgiveness and redemption).

Sometimes we won’t see God’s perfect justice executed here on earth. His promise of restoring all that has been lost and wickedness that seems to go unpunished will come to fruition on Judgement Day. So we trust in His infinite wisdom and deep love for us knowing our Father will do what is best. The Lord is on your side and will fight for you. In Christ, we’ve already won.

 

Grace upon grace,

April

Deliverance

/ RedeemedInGrace / Leave a comment

Genesis 41:17-42:17; Psalm 18:1-15; Matthew 13:24-46

 

After Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream he is placed in charge over the whole land of Egypt. Joseph oversees the provision for the country anticipating the seven years of famine. He is second in command. God delivers Israel (Jacob’s family) and Egypt through the wisdom of Joseph.

Joseph parallels a type of Christ operating under the power of only one with authority over him- Pharaoh. Jesus is equal to the Father yet obediently submits under His authority. Jesus delivers His people, the Church, on the grand stage of redemption. On a smaller scale yet still providential, Joseph saves his people from famine. Israel is preserved, even Gentile Egyptians, from certain death if Joseph were not placed in charge to provide food for those in need. The people were starving and went to Joseph to be fed.

9FC7C3C1-E73C-4EEF-B2D8-D645530DD933F12C5420-4494-4203-8963-1259C78B998F

Humanity starves for spiritual food only Christ can give. God made a way for us to come to Him by sending His Son to the cross. Our Father most assuredly does not lose any He has chosen to save. He has fought for you and will keep you as the apple of His eye. We need only look to Jesus for our deliverance.

 

Grace upon grace,

April

Joseph’s heart

/ RedeemedInGrace / Leave a comment

Genesis 39:1-41:16; Psalm 17; Proverbs 3:33-35; Matthew 12:46-13:23

 

When Potiphar’s wife repeatedly seeks Joseph out to sleep with him, the Bible records how he avoided her, then finally runs away from her presence. He explains why he won’t commit adultery, out of respect for Potiphar, his master who honored him by placing Joseph in charge over his entire estate. Joseph also adds that he will not sin against God this way.

Instead of being rewarded for his integrity, Joseph is falsely accused and put in prison. Even this injustice does not cause him to turn away from God (Remember how his brothers faked his murder and sold him as a slave?). The Scriptures show how the Lord God was with him still. He never left Joseph alone in his trials.

IMG_4491lightstock_319896_download_medium_april_box_

Joseph chooses reliance on God through all the ways he is mistreated by others. Psalm 17 written by King David hundreds of years later, could have been echoed by Joseph too in his situation. Wherever he served, the Lord blessed Joseph by setting him apart so that his authorities took notice.

Joseph demonstrates wisdom in interpreting dreams from the cupbearer, baker, and Pharaoh. He plainly tells these men that God is the interpreter of dreams, not him. Joseph is humble. He sees himself as a vessel to be used by God however the Lord sees fit. This is a heart God honors. This is what grace overflowing looks like. Joseph’s life is an example of growing deeper into the good soil as a faithful servant.

One who trusts God even when the circumstances are bleak.

One who relies on God’s perfect justice, in His infinite wisdom, according to His Divine Plan.

This is a heart that reflects Christ.

 

Grace upon grace,

April

Jesus Is Greater

/ RedeemedInGrace / Leave a comment

Genesis 38; Psalm 16; Proverbs 3:27-32; Matthew 12:22-45

 

Jesus is among His Creation as a man. He condescends Himself by taking on our humanity, identifying with us, teaching the people by speaking in a language they understand. Christ used everyday objects like bread, water, and sheep to relate deeper spiritual truths. What great love is this that the Master identifies with us so that we can identify with Him?

God shows us that we can rest in His Sovereignty, His plan, even using our failures for His Glory. He chose Judah, the 4th son of Jacob to carry the line of Christ through the sinful act of sleeping with his daughter-in-law Tamar. She deceived Judah into going to bed with her in hopes of producing a child, which she did- twins! It’s good to keep in mind that these actions are descriptive and not prescriptive. Why? Because the Bible overwhelmingly tells us to not behave like the wicked, but seek to do good to others, reflecting the Lord’s merciful and compassionate nature.

 

D0CEF994-7F19-4ADF-8AFE-856A54B6F3AFIMG_0606

God can work through our sin but it isn’t a license to abuse grace either. Jesus died for us to be free from our sinful life. We are made righteous because Jesus is greater than any prophet, priest or king who has lived. Jesus tells the Pharisees He is greater than Jonah, greater than Solomon. He is fully God and fully man, not hiding His identity from the people. Many still rejected His claims because we see what we want to see. God must open our eyes to accept truth even when we can’t fully comprehend the mystery of it all.

But we know this to be true:

God is trustworthy.

God is faithful.

God pursues wayward people like Judah, Tamar, me and you. He loves us in spite of knowing how sinful we are, because God also knows what we are in Christ. The Lord is Greater, and has never given up on His Beloved Bride. This is the good news to rest in. Jesus is greater than our sin and it will not consume us.

 

Grace upon grace,

April

Portrait of the godly

/ RedeemedInGrace / Leave a comment

Genesis 35; Psalm 15; Proverbs 3:21-26; Matthew 12:1-21

 

Jacob has a heart revival and leads his family to do the same: get rid of foreign gods, actively follow God, obey His commands. Jacob’s desire is to worship and remember the Lord who blessed him when he first ran from Esau. Jacob returns home to his earthly father Issac, but more importantly renews his relationship with his Heavenly Father.

When we abide with the Lord operating within the boundaries of His commands, there is peace. External circumstances still cause us trials but the righteous take the long view, an eternal perspective on life. Our confidence in the Lord remains. He can be trusted even when we don’t understand everything- especially when we can’t understand everything.

A4F5A6E4-6B6D-4838-968D-B1E987660FF010737695-70FC-424C-BC65-5C7F8856AF8E

The godly seek discernment and sound judgement as they pilgrim through this world. Jesus is our best example of godly character. He exemplified what it means to be human and still remain in God’s will. He too interacted with all kinds of people- those who loved Him, those who only wanted what He could give them, those who hated Him, plotting to take His life. Jesus was bold in confronting hypocrites, compassionate toward the needy, forgiving to sinners.

God’s commands for us today follow this same principle- imitate Christ. We can’t live this way on our own. So how is this relevant or even possible? Micah 6:8 gives us a good framework to start with: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  Through faith and the power of His Spirit we mirror our Savior, abiding in Christ.

 

Grace upon grace,

April

 

Portrait of the godless

/ RedeemedInGrace / Leave a comment

Genesis 33:1-34:31; Psalm 14, Matthew 11:7-30

 

When we forget God or do not fear Him we regress to our flesh. We see an example of this with Jacob’s sons taking revenge on a whole town after their sister is defiled. Not relying on God’s wisdom leads to sin. Two wrongs never make a right.

img_0176

lightstock_226842_download_medium_april_box_

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus pronounces “Woes” on the cities where He performed miracles and the people did not respond with repentance. Only the fool says in his heart, “There is no God”. Yet Jesus calls us to follow Him– His way is what it means to be truly human. Apart from Christ we can do no good thing and have no rest. Left to our own devices we are helpless and hopeless in sin. This was never meant to be God’s design for us. He is Lord of the living, not the dead. The spiritually dead cannot live in the power of the Spirit. All of us were once godless rebels. Those who recognize their need for God’s righteousness are washed in His limitless grace through the blood of Christ. Forgiven. Free. Righteous.

This is the transformative power of God.

 

Grace upon grace,

April

Wrestling with God

/ RedeemedInGrace / Leave a comment

Genesis 31:17-32:32; Psalm 13

“Blessed in the man who does not fall away on account of me.” -Matthew 11:6

 

Jacob wrestles with the angel of the Lord. His life choices are questionable at times. But here’s the good news: God still uses imperfect people to glorify Himself and He blesses them. The Lord intervenes to protect Jacob and his family from Laban, then Jacob pleads for God to intervene in his encounter with Esau. He has not fallen away from the God of his fathers but actively seeks an audience with the Lord in prayer. Jacob acknowledges God by honoring His presence and holiness (Genesis 32:30).

2EE95FC9-F40E-4684-AD25-D6EC43D52CC4438D628D-5BE3-4230-9614-B47246499D57

God invites us to come to Him and cry out like David in Psalm 13, “How long, O Lord?” We wrestle with our fears, sorrows, sinful habits, and situations beyond our control. Through these valleys our Father blesses us with His Presence in the form of Scripture, prayer, the Holy Spirit and our family in Christ. He equips us so we can go to Him honestly with our struggles, while professing belief in His Sovereign Goodness with the next breath. We can say “this is hard, but I trust you anyway”.

God teaches us in our weakness demonstrating His power, goodness and faithfulness. He will use your circumstances to encourage and refine your spirit. Wait on Him, lean on His strength for today.

“But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” -2 Corinthians 12:9

Grace upon grace,

April

 

A Hostile Environment

/ RedeemedInGrace / Leave a comment

Genesis 30:1- 31:16; Psalm 12; Proverbs 3:13-15; Matthew 10:1-23

“The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.” Psalm 12:8

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16

2134A304-E906-40DC-BEDE-9DE7C5E85188

Hostility is as old as time. Jealousy over one another’s blessings; resentment of the righteous. Human relationships are messy because we are sinners. We see the competition between Leah and Rachel in the baby race. My heart aches for both of them because neither had everything they wanted- a loving husband and a house full of children.

In this same passage Laban attempts to diminish God’s blessings on Jacob. The wicked freely strut about as the righteous are mistreated.

Jesus warns His disciples what to expect when He sends them out in His Name. Expect hardship. Rebels of God will not welcome His friends.

Christians live in this world with eyes wide open to the evil around us but also with hearts wide open to sharing the Gospel. We offer full hope even in the face of hostility. The hope-filled are not deterred because God’s promises remain true since the beginning of Time. God is with us and He is for His people. We are simply to be obedient with what we have been given and what we are called to do.

Grace upon grace,

April