Gourmet Food for Thought

OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE!!!

A few years ago I was coming back from northern Arizona with my sister and brother-in-law. The fires on the outskirts of Phoenix were horrendous that year. We could see the smoke for miles, but when we came around the bend of the highway, we had to stop and get pictures. Although we were a considerable distance from the inferno, the sight before us caused a respectful fear. It gave us a small taste of what the Israelites must have experienced when God came down on Mt. Sinai! This week we encounter the God of consuming fire.


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ICE SCULPTURE - On the Orient Queen Cruise liner on Journeys of Paul cruise



SAND ART - Beach in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Can you imagine the time and talent that goes in to making these kinds of masterpieces? The only problem is that when things start getting hot or the tide shifts, these beautiful works of art will be gone without leaving a trace behind! This week we've seen a few of these. Uzziah, Hezekiah and Josiah were certainly display kings. But, in time, each one, in one way or the other, succumbed to the elements in their lives.

Uzziah couldn't stand the heat of success and decided to light his own fire! His pride melted away his earlier values and respect for God-given positions. The priesthood was not something one gained by success, but by appointment. It was not that Uzziah didn't have the ability to light a fire and burn incense in the Temple, it was that he didn't have the authority! Pride has a way of clouding good judgment! And bad judgment is a sure cause for rebellion. The American Heritage dictionary tells us that, "Rebellion is an act of violent or open resistance to an established government or rule." Uzziah's arrogant charade of a priest was not against man, but against God who had established the priesthood. The sad part is, he took on the appearance of being so spiritual. After all, who could fault the king for wanting to personally offer God the sacred gift of sacrificing incense in the holy place? It may have looked noble to some, but it was a sham to God!

It is equally important for us to know our position and purpose in the body of Christ. If we understand these things, it will help us define our realms of authority. Learning to submit to one another is only possible when we are able to acknowledge God's choices and rule.

The sad thing is that Uzziah's pride in trying to become something he was not, caused him to lose out on what he was. The leprosy God inflicted on him, kept him from being able to sit on the throne and cut him off from the people. Although Uzziah was still alive, his son Jotham took his place on the throne. Some sins cause breakage that can be mended; others melt away the substance of what was until it is no more!

Hezekiah is like a breath of fresh air. It says that he served God and obeyed His Law with all his heart. What excites me about his reign and enthusiasm is that it didn't stop in the palace, it spread to the people! We've heard about other kings that turned the tables of the sinful nation and brought righteous change, but Hezekiah's reform was different. At other times we were told that the king tore down the high places and broke down the altars of false gods, but during Hezekiah's time, it says that the people took the initiative to bring change!!! Look at how many times the people are mentioned. The people came near. The people brought sacrifices. The people rejoiced. The people who walked far from God in the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh repented and came back to God in Jerusalem. The people tore down the high places. The people kept the Passover. The people gave so that the priests could devote themselves to the work of the Lord. But once again, when the blaze of success rose high, the fire of pride ignited in Hezekiah's heart and began to melt the beautiful image!

What was it that Hezekiah did that was so wrong? Unlike Uzziah, whose pride led him to overrule God-given authority, Hezekiah's great sin was a sin of omission. He prayed, God answered, and Hezekiah treated God's response as though it was owed to him. We are told that he "gave no return for the benefit he had received." How often do we ask God for things, and when He answers, we don't take the time to even say thank you, let alone bring a gift?!? God's rebuke to Uzziah was an open display of His displeasure. God's dealing with Hezekiah, although more subtle, is just as severe. It says, "God left him alone only to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart."

The last king we meet this week is Josiah. Once again we see a king who is cleaning up the mess left by a ruler who had turned his back on God's ways. Following the pattern of other kings who served God with their whole heart, Josiah begins the tasks of tearing down the high places, reinstating the Passover, restoring the Word of God in the hearts of the people, and setting the priesthood in order. But like sand castles on the beach, it only took one large wave to wash it away.

What brought Josiah's demise? He was unable to hear the voice of God because, in his mind, it didn't come through the right vessel. What could the king of Egypt know? Certainly God wouldn't speak through him! How often do we fail to hear God's voice because we reject the person who is speaking? I can't tell you how many times in my life I've had to say to God, "I don't like them and I certainly don't like what they are saying, but if there is a shred of truth in their words, give me the ability to hear it." I also can't count the times that I've just shirked people's words off, just because of who they were. Pardon my crassness, but I'd like to remind us (myself included) that, in times past, God has spoken through an ass. His word to us should not be rejected in the future if he chooses to speak through one with two legs instead of four! Hearing the word of God is like a levee that will keep the waves of destruction from washing over us.

Pride is a fire! Disobedience is a wave of destruction. As much as our society reaches for success and glory, we should be warned by those who have achieved it and allowed it to change their hearts. We'd be wise to pay attention!




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The II Chronicles roller coaster! Hop on and let's go for a ride! Hang on with anticipation as we climb to great heights, then scream out in fear as we quickly plummet to the lowest depths. Some hills are smaller than others with only a slight dip in between. But it's those great heights followed by the extreem free falls that really get you! I don't think man has created a roller coaster that compares with the highs, lows, twists and turns that we experience on the Chronicles Coaster.

Our ride starts with the greatest high Israel would ever experience. Solomon's kingdom would not have and equal for the rest of its existence. Nor would it experience such a horrendous fall as it did immediately following his death. How can these things happen? There are a couple of reoccuring circumstances throughout our ride that we would do well to pay attention.

1. Be careful what you allow yourself to be "married" to - Solomon's downfall was a direct result of his love for foreign women and their affect on him when he got older. When we look at his son Rehoboam's life, we find that he also makes some pretty bad choices. Rehoboam had 18 wives and 16 concubines, but the Scriptures only give us the name of two of his wives. Both of them were his cousins. The first one was Mahalath. She was the daughter of another of David's son's, Jerimoth, who was a half brother of Solomon's. We know very little about Jerimoth, other than who his mother was. Even that doesn't give us much information since we know very little about Abihail. But then we are given the name of Rehoboam's second wife, Maacah. We are told that she was the daughter of Absalom. That little bit of information ought to send up all kinds of warnings!!! Maacah would certainly have been aware of her father's rebellion against his father David. We are also given a closer look at her relationship with Rehoboam. We are told that he loved her more that all his other wives. As a result, you can be sure she had greater influence on him. Could it be that Maacah felt that her status was vindication for what happened to her father? Whatever the case, the Bible makes sure we know who she was and that it Rehoboam set things in order for her son to become king.

Abijah's three year reign is summarized by his contention and war with the tribes under Jeroboam's rule. Not much of a legacy! The kingdom seems to have some semblence of trust in God through the next three kings, but with each one, you watch it deteriorating. Then we come to the reign of Jehoshaphat. Although Jehoshaphat has faith in Jehovah God, we see that he opens the door for disaster. We are told that he made a marriage alliance with Ahab, the king of the northern kingdom Israel. You remember Ahab? He's the one who married Jezebel!!! This alliance begins a downhill free fall to the southern kingdom of Judah.

Pay close attention to what happens after Jehoshaphat dies and his son Jehoram sits on the throne in his place. Once again we are given the clues for the coming fall.

And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab did (for Ahab's daughter was his wife), and he did evil in the sight of the Lord. (II Chronicles 21:6)

I do believe God is making it pretty clear that wives have a great influence on even the greatest kings!!!

(more to come) - (or maybe not!)

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Take a walk with me. Let's just take a moment to look out over the fields where the land seems to just roll on forever. It kind of reminds me of what we are reading this week. On Monday we heard Hosea speak his last words to the people of Judah as he pleads with them to change their ways. If there is one thing that Hosea understood, it was the law of sowing and reaping. Last week we heard him say that they "sow the wind and they reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; it yields no grain." This week he talks to them again about their lousy farming practices.

"You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice, you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your way, in your numerous warriors, therefore, a tumult will arise among your people..."

It's not that these people have sat around and done nothing. They have plowed, and planted, and reaped. Unfortunately, they plowed the wrong field, they sowed the wrong seed, and as a result, they have reaped a miserable harvest and, worse yet, have eaten it. We are told that they plowed wickedness and reaped injustice. A quick word study will reveal that wickedness encompasses actions that are contrary to the laws of God. This is why the word "wickedness" also has the meaning of being "guilty." When one acts outside God's precepts and standards, God sees it as wickedness. It is not wonder that the fruit of their planting is injustice. God's law is that we are to love Him with all our hearts, our minds and our souls, and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Man's law is that I'm to love myself!!!!! Period!!! End of story!!!Notice that it says, "You have trusted in YOUR way, in YOUR strength." (my paraphrase) Right now America seems to be leading the way in reaping the fruit of their unrighteous planting. Greed and pride caused those in the real estate market to over inflate home prices to obtain larger loans. Their concern was not for those they were securing the monies for, it was for themselves. Somehow they failed to see that all their efforts were a matter of sowing. The reaping would come later. 

I remember when we sold our home three and a half years ago. When I said that possibly we should wait another year, Greg said, "Shirley, we don't know that the market will hold for another year." Little did we understand that the crop which was about to come in, would be so devastating. If you sow it, sooner or later WILL reap it.

God has given us a great agricultural farming manual through Hosea's words.

1. Break up your fallow ground - How? By seeking the Lord!

2. Sow with a view to righteousness - Righteousness is the opposite of wickedness. Righteous means "not guilty!" In other words, the Word of God which has within it the thoughts and heart of God is a must! But some people just love to use the word to beat you up with. If we look at the harvest, we will gain the understanding of the nature of the seed that we are to plant.

3. Reap in accordance with kindness - The seed with a view to righteousness has loving-kindness at its core. God told them in the next chapter that He "led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love." In spite of how angry His children made Him, in spite of how unfaithful they were, He still loved them. He loved them enough to do something about their unrighteous and unfaithful ways. It was not peace at all cost, sloppy agape, doormat mentality. It was the kind of love that grieved Him to the core when He reached out His hand to wound them. But He loved them enough to do what had to be done!

Hosea sums the word of the Lord up by saying,

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right and the righteous will walk in them, but transgressors will stumble in them.

As we leave the field Hosea has taken us to, we start a new phase of our journey through the Word. And yet there is a connection between Hosea and II Chronicles. Over the next  few weeks we will watch the rise and fall of the Temple. Our time in this field begins with listening to Solomon as he starts to build the house of God that his father longed to erect. What a glorious beginning! Hopefully you noticed the piece of ground on which the Temple was erected. Check out II Chronicles 3:1:

Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Let's pitch a tent here for a short time and get a good look at the ground this Temple was laid on. There is much to glean!!!

1. This was the place where God stayed His hand from further destruction of the people because of David's sin of counting the people.

2. It is built on a threshing floor. The place where mature grain is brought to be crushed and separated from the worthless chaff.

3. It is on Mt. Moriah, the place where Abraham took Isaac to be sacrificed.

Hmmmm! Do you think there may be some truths to consider? Feel free to tell us what you see. I know I've got tons of thoughts. I'm sure many of you do too!!!

 

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Last week we left off with Paul writing to the Thessalonians. We heard his apostles heart and the concern he carried for those he had brought into the fold. This week we open as second letter Paul has written to th Thessalonicans. His apostle's heart is concerned with the the false teachers and he informs them of what will take place in the last days so they will not be misled.

Our stack of mail continues as we open the letters from Peter and John. Peter's second letter to the saints shows us the true heart of a pastor. This man who had once failed to walk in "agapao" love for Jesus, being more concerned for himself than giving his life for his Friend, now encourages believers to walk in that love. His words of encouragement come from a heart of experience. His formula for attaining "agape" (Christian love) comes with a guarantee for success. He is quick to point out that diligence must accompany our faith. This diligence does not fit into the realm of the words, "Try God!" Rather, it is a wholehearted, constant, steady, urgent effort to see the task completed. Peter knows that faith is merely the beginning of the journey toward this self-sacrificing love. He knows because he certainly had faith that Jesus was the Messiah he had longed for and had put his trust in when he betrayed Him. Peter goes on to tell us that we are to supply moral excellence, that ability to distinguish right from wrong. In our moral excellence we are to supply knowledge, the kind of knowledge that comes from study. As we study, we must supply self-control. It is not enough to simply gain knowledge, we need to apply what we learn. In our self-control, there must be perseverance. We are reminded that perseverance is linked to trials and testing. We can be sure God will allow the tests to come to see if what we have learned is reality in us or just information. When the trials of faith prove our faith, we are then to supply godliness. Godliness is found in our devotion to God, not to ministry. When I am correctly devoted to God, He will define the ministry He has for me. Only through my devotion to Him am I able to fulfill the last two virtues, brotherly kindness and Christian love. In my devotion to Him, I see people from His heart and through His eyes. It is then that I am able to love people that I would not normally be attracted to and be willing to sacrifice for them. The beginning of this formula begins with my faith and ends with agapae love. At this point, we need to be reminded that God IS agape! We are told that all these things are ours through the "true knowledge" of the One who called us. Unlike the word "knowledge" that we just looked at in our recipe for success, this is not the abstract knowledge that comes from reading books or listening to teachings. This is the kind of knowledge that comes from experience. To know about Christ is not knowing Him. Knowing someone comes from walking with them and knowing their heart, not just their words. Peter knows that just loving Jesus as a friend is not enough. Loving Him with the kind of love He loves us with will keep us from stumbling. I am so grateful that the promise of steadfastness is not given to those who have become perfected in these things, but to those who practice them and are increasing in them.  

Like Paul, Peter is concerned with the false teachers that are circulating their lies amongst the believers. And once again, his concern if especially for us in this generation. As we watch the events of these day we live in, we are aware that if we are not in the last of the "last days," we are very close! When we are aware of what the Bible has to say about these days, we find comfort in spite of the frightening headlines of newspapers and TV news reports.

John's letter to Gaius will help in the realm of prayer. His prayer for Gauis is that he would "prosper and be in good health, even as his soul prospers." How often do we see people receive money or riches, only to find that within a few years, their wealth or success has been their ruin? Why does this happen so frequently? Because the strength of character, their soul, was not equal to their financial prosperity or success. John is more concerned that our blessings are in proportion to our spiritual growth. 

Both Peter and John speak from the heart of true pastors. Their heart is for the flock and its well-being. John exposes Diotrephes, a man who does not have a heart for the church. He is more concerned that people are not deceived, than his concern that people would say he is being judgmental. 

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, we get a glimpse into another kind of heart, the heart of a prophet. Joel and Hosea are two very different men who were required by God to approach prophecy differently. In both of their prophecies, we are told of God's great love, patience and longsuffering, BUT both prophets know that there is a time when God says, "ENOUGH!" As we look at current events, we can only wonder how close we are to God's patience running out! As I sat and watched the end of the democratic convention when Pastor Joel Hunter from Florida closed in prayer and invited everyone at the convention to close the prayer in whatever words they would use when praying to whomever they pray, I could only wonder how much longer God's tolerance will continue. God's word to me was, "I will not share My glory with another!" For the first time I am aware of, this political convention was offered up to all gods!!! We would do well to pay close attention to the heart of the prophets as they speak to a nation that turned their back on their God! God is the same yesterday, today and forever. May we heed Joel's words when he tells the people to HEAR!!! AND LISTEN!!! 

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This week we get a glimpse into an apostle's heart as we read over the shoulders of some young believers. They just got a letter from our friend and mentor, Paul. Times continue to get darker as the persecution of the church continues to grow. What an amazing love for the church dwells in the heart of this precious father in the faith. It doesn't matter if he was the one to introduce them to Christ, or whether it was through someone else, Paul's only concern is that they know Him.

Unlike the old man in Ecclesiastes who struggles to find the true meaning of life and existence on this earth, Paul focuses on the Kingdom of God. When others would question and complain because of persecution and imprisonment, Paul sees it as an opportunity for the gospel. He lives for two purposes: (1) to know Christ and (2) to help others to know Christ. Paul is determined to live in such a way that if he lives or dies, Christ will be glorified. How often in the western world does our list of desires look more like:

1. want a new car

2. want a better house

3. want nicer clothes

4. want the kitchen remodeled

I am as guilty as anyone! But Paul's wish list is quite different.

1. I want to know Him

2. I want to have the same resurrection power  Christ had

3. I want to understand

4. I want to share in His sufferings

5. I want to be like Him in His death

6. I want to be like Him in His resurrection

7. I want to win the prize of the upward calling!

Here Paul is, struggling to win the prize, while Christians today often feel that if they prayed the sinner's prayer, they've arrived! Paul told the saints to live as he lives. How many Christians today would ask, "Why would I want to do that? I'm a Christian and we Christians are to have the easiest paths and most prosperous lives." Yet Paul encourages us that whether we live in a palace or a prison, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

As we proceed through the week with Paul, we are given his prayer list for the saints. We might do well to write down all the things he says he prays. Let me get you started:

Paul's prayer concerning the Philippians:

1. that they faithfully spread the good news

2. that they grow in love

3. that they grow in wisdom and understanding

4. that they remain true to their commitment to Christ and walk blameless

5. that they are filled with fruit and righteousness

What are some of the things on his list when he writes the letter to the Colossians?

Paul is not only faithful to pray for all the saints, he makes sure they know how to pray for him. Look at his requests:

1. Pray that God will open doors

2. Pray that we will have the words that will bring understanding

In these letters, we hear the heartbeat of a real man, a real apostle with real needs and with real feelings. We hear what makes him happy, what makes him sad, what makes him anxious and what makes him determined to carry on. I pray that you will get to know the heart of this man. As Christ poured out His life for him, he was determined to pour out his life for Christ and reach others. It's people like Paul that God uses to insure the gospel gets to those who need to hear it. Paul's instruction that we live as he lives is still as relevant to us today, as it was to the saints in Philippi, Colossae or Thessalonika. And I'm sure his message to Archippus is still to be embraced as wholeheartedly today as in Archippus' life. Be sure to hear it when you get to it!

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ECCLESIASTES
This ship was once a sea worthy vessel. It began as an idea in someone's mind. The plans were drawn, the ship was built, it journeyed over the waters just as it had been made to do. But the day came when all the wisdom and efforts of man could no longer keep it afloat. Through years of deterioration, not much more than a memory is left.

Thas is basically the message of Ecclesiates in a nutshell. It doesn't matter what status you have in life, it doesn't matter how much money you've earned, how smart you are, what a fool you've been, or if you've spent your years in a palace or prison, someday it will all end. Our degrees and diplomas, our positions or power, our bank accounts or or savings bonds will not keep death from finding our door. Every man is going to die. What a cheery thought - NOT!!!

Ecclesiastes means "a member of an assembly." The writer of Ecclesiastes recognizes that his life will find the same end as every other member of the assembly. "Vanity, all is vanity," seems to be the conclusion of all his musing of the meaning of life. The Hebrew word for "vanity" actually means a "fleeting breath"; something that is here one minute and gone the next. The message can seem a bit disheartening. What is the sense in trying so hard to be good, to be smart, to be rich, to succeed? Life is over quickly and when it is, what do you have to show for it. "Naked we came into the world, and naked we will leave!"

As I look at this foreboding path, I realize that Solomon is looking at life from a human earthly perspective. If life on earth is all there is, it is pretty empty. No matter how great your achievements, you won't be here to reap anything from them. Who knows whether you will be remembered or not? And most likely you won't. Without God and eternity, we are no better off than animals. We live, we eat, we procreate and we die. But it is the fact that God made us eternal beings with an eternal purpose that sets us apart. If we live for this life alone, it has little value. Only when we realize that we are eternal beings will we find purpose.

I was traveling on a plane one day and got talking to the young man next to me. When I asked him about his relationship with God, he told me that he was a runner and that when he ran, he was able to get in touch with his thoughts and feelings and this is where he found strength to get him through. My response to him was, "That will help you get through this life, but it is only in knowing God that you will be prepared for eternal life." Someday that young man's body will get old - whether he wants it to or not. If he is fortunate enough to live to a ripe old age, he will discover that the ability to run long distances means very little to an 80 year old man. Whether you have a happy or contented life or a miserable existence, at the end of life, you realize that there has got to be something more.

In all his searchings, Solomon found that there are a few things in life that bring satisfaction to this earthly stay. As you find them, why don't we share together. We can start the list in the comment portion of this entry.

The concluding statement of Ecclesiastes puts everything in perspective.

The Conclusion, when all has been heard, is; fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. Because God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

Solomon recognized that there is coming a judgment where each man will give an account to God for what he did with the days He gave him on the earth. If there is no eternity, there would be no need for a judgment. Why raise us up to judge us all and just have us go back to a non-existent state? Why judge lives if there is no punishment or reward, if all are going to end up the same, no matter what?

So the conclusion of Ecclesiastes is truly that life find its true meaning ONLY when it is seen in the light of eternity and eternal life only comes through the work of Christ!

Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!

PHILEMON
This week we get another letter from Paul. He's writing to Philemon who is the pastor of a church. He also wants to make sure that a few other people read the letter; the people in the church that Philemon meets with, Apphia, a woman who is mentioned as a leader in the church,  and Archippus, who is a soldier.

As you read the letter to Philemon, what do you think Paul is really asking Philemon to do? You may want to read the letter a couple times before you answer that.  I'd like to you hear some of your thoughts before I give you mine.

Look forward to hearing what you think!

PS - If you didn't read the conclusion of last week's entry which I just added before I did this entry, you may want to take a moment to check it out.



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