Atheist Activist Becomes Christian After Believers Show Him Compassion
Atheist Activist Becomes Christian After Believers Show Him Compassion.
How Much of the Bible is Enough? — Matthew 4:4
Are you connecting with Christ? (Painting: Prayer by Mark Dachille, mark.thewildhoods.com)
I’ll never forget when my mother announced she was going to start running. She’s a tiny woman, 5’2″, with a pretty and youthful appearance. When she’d visit me in college my friends sometimes asked if she was a friend of mine from home. She is also very bookish and education oriented, today she has a Masters in International Studies and a PhD in Education. So it surprised me when she made this proclamation because I never saw her run before. I was home from college for spring break when she said she would start by jogging to get the mail — the mailbox was a half a block from the house.
“Mom,” I said, “you can’t start a running regimen by jogging to the mailbox. You’ll never progress that way.”
“We’ll see,” she replied.
A few days later I headed back to school where I studied, played sports, pursued girls — the usual college scene. When I came home for the summer, my mom asked if I’d like to accompany her on a run in Moraine Hills State Park just a few miles from our house in Island Lake, Illinois.
“How far will we be going?” I asked.
“Oh, seven miles.”
Yea, sure, I thought to myself. From a jog to the mailbox to seven miles. Not likely. I agreed to go, so we drove to Moraine Hills, found the trail head, and began our run.
After a couple of miles mom showed no signs of slowing or fading, and I was kind of wishing she would, because although I was only twenty, I hadn’t been doing much beyond an occasional basketball game. After four miles I asked to take a short break. By the end of the seven miles I had asked for two more breaks and was hanging on for dear life! When we arrived back home I collapsed into bed and took a two hour nap. I was buried on a seven mile run — by my mom!
I asked mom how she went from jogging to the mail box to someone who might qualify for the Boston Marathon, and she said she simply made a point to run a little bit each day. Little by little she was able to increase her distance and speed until she was capable of embarrassing her twenty year old son on the trails of Moraine Hills State Park.
This is a great illustration of the power available to you found in doing something daily, even if it’s just a little bit at a time. Combining this principal with reading the scriptures is a key to your relationship with Christ.
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness He made the statement, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Jesus quotes scripture here in a manner that declares God’s written word as the ultimate authority. And during this time in the wilderness, he quotes two more scriptures in like fashion, “It is written…” Any honest evaluation of Jesus’ life reveals His regard for God’s word as completely authentic. But beyond that, Jesus is quoting here from Deuteronomy 8:3, the full verse of which reads, “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”
Here’s what I see for your future should you decide not to pursue investing time in God’s word. Because He cares for your eternal condition more than your current comfort, because He will always do what He knows to be best for you, because of His great love for you, because He’s not content for you to remain the person you are today but desires to grow you, God will certainly allow you to be humbled, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. We human beings often seem to require a good drubbing before we move our relationship with Christ to the forefront of our lives. I am as bad as anyone. We learn from experience but it doesn’t have to be our own experience, we can learn from someone else’s. Why then do I seem to need to learn the hard way, I don’t understand. I suppose it’s just my innate human appetite for doing it my own way without interference from God. I remember times when I held back from going deeper in my relationship with Christ because I was afraid it would take away from my career, or my retirement investments, or my entertainment, or my recreation. It wasn’t until the Lord allowed me to be humbled, in a variety of ways, that I fully surrendered myself to Him. And even now at times the old kurt creeps in, so I have to continually surrender. I have to surrender daily.
My advice to you — don’t wait for God to bring humbling experiences into your life to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Read God’s word, just a little bit each day. It’s easy to do. You can even subscribe to a Bible Gateway daily reading plan if you want to. Don’t even worry about reading everything they send you, just read a little from the Old Testament and New Testaments, even if it’s one verse each. The key is to do it each day, every day. It’s not a question of how much of the Bible you read each day but how often. And when you do, as you feel like it, pause and pray to God as you’re reading — make it a conversation. Ask Him questions, make requests. After a couple of months evaluate your life and see if you don’t notice a difference.
If you really want to become a disciple of Christ’s, if you really want to know the truth about God and your own life, then come and see what a little time each day in God’s word will do.
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
–Jesus Christ John 8:31-32
Serious questions about how God does things — John 1:40-42
Peter Denying Jesus by Mark Dachille (http://mark.thewildhoods.com)
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
John 1:40-42
I have serious questions about how God does things:
Here in John chapter 1 we see Andrew bring Simon to Jesus and Jesus accepts him as one of his disciples. He even renames him “Cephas” (which, translated, is Peter) which means Rock. Imagine with me what that would have been like. You’re brother or sister brings you to the Messiah and as you’re meeting him for the first time He renames you “Rock.” Peter, formerly known as Simon, must have been completely blown away.
But Jesus’ acceptance of Peter raises serious questions. Knowing, as he surely did, Peter would put his foot in his mouth to the point where Jesus would call him Satan, knowing Peter would impulsively whip out a sword and cut off a servant’s ear, knowing Peter would disown Him twice at the courtyard of the high priest, even calling down curses in the process, knowing Peter’s impulsive and emotional nature, why on earth would Jesus accept this man as His disciple? (Matthew 16:21-23, John 18:10, Matthew 26:69-75)
And Jesus not only accepted Peter with all his faults and frailties, he also endorsed the other disciples, who would bicker among themselves about who would be greatest in heaven, and even seek to call down fire on an entire village. (Luke 9:46, Luke 9:54)
The Organic God:
Butterflies are amazing creatures. I’ll never forget a certain bike ride I went on one beautiful spring day. I started up a five mile road that climbs toward the top of Talabox Mountain. The views of the Applegate Valley are spectacular, but, the beauty of the views is exceeded by the steepness of the grade, which ranges from 6-16%. I hadn’t ridden that route for a few years and by the time I neared the top, my lungs were raw and my legs were so weary they felt like someone had infused them with cold fudge. During the final mile or so I lost the shelter of the mountain and was fighting a very chilly 5-10 mph headwind on top of the unrelenting steep grade. Even though I was wondering to myself, “Could I walk up this mountain faster than I’m riding right now?” I was still feeling pretty good about “conquering” Talabox Mountain. Then, out of nowhere, a butterfly appeared right next to me, at eye level, not more than two feet to my left. As I labored at my painstakingly slow pace I watched the butterfly, flying against the same headwind, pass me on the way up the mountain. “How is that even possible?” I cried out loud. You know, I could almost hear the hissing sound from the escaping air of my deflating ego.
Butterflies are amazing creatures, and God is an amazing God. Do you remember how He wrote the ten commandments in His own hand on two slabs of rock? Do you remember how He wrote on the palace wall, in His own hand, when He passed judgement on Belshazzar of Babylon. (Exodus 31:18, Daniel chapter 5) If He chose to, He could have written out His entire plan, in His own hand, perfectly displayed on a cliff face somewhere in the Israeli desert, for all to see. But instead He did things organically. (I use the word as defined in the Urban Dictionary: An analogy in the creative process, used to describe a work such as a novel or movie script made in such a way that the various parts developed as they were written/painted/whatever, one from another, rather than sticking rigidly to a preconceived plan.) God used Moses the meek and the Israeli nation attempted to rebel against Moses more times than I can remember. He used David the adulterous murderer. He used Jonah the prophet who ran away. He used many others who would fall and fail. When He sent Christ into the world to do His redemptive work, He could have left Him here, on earth, for the rest of eternity, to run the world with perfection. But instead He had Jesus mentor eleven very flawed disciples, then after only three years He took Jesus away, and turned the whole thing over to them, the eleven. And now, today, He chooses to use the pastor who exaggerates facts during his sermon, and the missionary who sometimes counsels amiss, and the elder who can be rude, and the Bible teacher who’s overbearing. He could have done things so much more cleanly, so much more neatly, without the mess that comes from doing His work through human beings, without the mess from doing things organically. He could have done things Himself. But that’s not His way.
Butterflies are amazing creatures. The Monarch can fly up to 12 mph and even faster for short periods. They’re one of the few insects capable of flying across the Atlantic Ocean. Their metamorphisis from a slow crawling lowly caterpillar to a beautiful creature capable of flying over one thousand miles is one of the most amazing transformations found in nature. The process of breaking out of their cocoon, or chrysalis, is particularly interesting. It’s a struggle. There are long pauses when nothing is happening. The efforts of the emerging butterfly are clumsy. The efforts of the emerging butterfly are awkward. It would be so easy for a human being to just take a razor and slice open the chrysalis so the butterfly could escape without having to undergo such distress. The only problem is, in most instances, if the butterfly receives assistance, if he doesn’t struggle to escape, he’ll live, but he won’t be able to fly. (see How to Help a Butterfly Out of Cocoon)
I sure don’t know why God does things the way He does. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than your ways and my ways, and His thoughts than your thoughts and mine. (Isaiah 55:9) But knowing how gracious He is, knowing how loving He is, knowing His propensity to do what He knows to be best for us, in spite of ourselves, knowing He loves us so much He sacrificed His own Son to save us, I’m guessing it has something to do with His desire to transform us.
To transform us into a creature who can fly one thousand miles.
May He have His way.
References:
Esau, the father of the Edomites — Genesis 36
While she was pregnant with the twins Jacob and Esau, God said to Rebekah, “Two nations are in your womb…” (Genesis 25:23) Of course the nation of Israel came from Jacob. And here in chapter 36 we see Esau’s family growing into the nation of Edom. Chapter 36 in its entirety is here for you to read, followed by a few insights about Esau as he represents our selfish, flesh focused nature.
Genesis 36:
This is the account of the family line of Esau (that is, Edom).
Esau took his wives from the women of Canaan: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite— also Basemath daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth.
Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, Basemath bore Reuel, and Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam and Korah. These were the sons of Esau, who were born to him in Canaan.
Esau took his wives and sons and daughters and all the members of his household, as well as his livestock and all his other animals and all the goods he had acquired in Canaan, and moved to a land some distance from his brother Jacob. Their possessions were too great for them to remain together; the land where they were staying could not support them both because of their livestock. So Esau (that is, Edom) settled in the hill country of Seir.
This is the account of the family line of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir.
These are the names of Esau’s sons:
Eliphaz, the son of Esau’s wife Adah, and Reuel, the son of Esau’s wife Basemath.
The sons of Eliphaz:
Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam and Kenaz.
Esau’s son Eliphaz also had a concubine named Timna, who bore him Amalek. These were grandsons of Esau’s wife Adah.
The sons of Reuel:
Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These were grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.
The sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon, whom she bore to Esau:
Jeush, Jalam and Korah.
These were the chiefs among Esau’s descendants:
The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau:
Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, Korah, Gatam and Amalek. These were the chiefs descended from Eliphaz in Edom; they were grandsons of Adah.
The sons of Esau’s son Reuel:
Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. These were the chiefs descended from Reuel in Edom; they were grandsons of Esau’s wife Basemath.
The sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah:
Chiefs Jeush, Jalam and Korah. These were the chiefs descended from Esau’s wife Oholibamah daughter of Anah.
These were the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these were their chiefs.
These were the sons of Seir the Horite, who were living in the region:
Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. These sons of Seir in Edom were Horite chiefs.
The sons of Lotan:
Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan’s sister.
The sons of Shobal:
Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho and Onam.
The sons of Zibeon:
Aiah and Anah. This is the Anah who discovered the hot springs in the desert while he was grazing the donkeys of his father Zibeon.
The children of Anah:
Dishon and Oholibamah daughter of Anah.
The sons of Dishon:
Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran and Keran.
The sons of Ezer:
Bilhan, Zaavan and Akan.
The sons of Dishan:
Uz and Aran.
These were the Horite chiefs:
Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. These were the Horite chiefs, according to their divisions, in the land of Seir.
The Rulers of Edom
These were the kings who reigned in Edom before any Israelite king reigned:
Bela son of Beor became king of Edom. His city was named Dinhabah.
When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah succeeded him as king.
When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites succeeded him as king.
When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, succeeded him as king. His city was named Avith.
When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him as king.
When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the river succeeded him as king.
When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Akbor succeeded him as king.
When Baal-Hanan son of Akbor died, Hadad succeeded him as king. His city was named Pau, and his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-Zahab.
These were the chiefs descended from Esau, by name, according to their clans and regions:
Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 43 Magdiel and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlements in the land they occupied.
This is the family line of Esau, the father of the Edomites.
Esau and our selfish nature:
Esau, because he was hungry, sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. He also took wives from the land of Canaan, causing his parents grief. He and his descendants lived by the sword, that is, they sustained themselves at the expense of others’ lives. He was a man focused on feeding his flesh rather than focused on his God, and though he experienced success materially and politically, he goes down in scripture as someone who lived a life without God. (Hebrews 12:16) He represents our selfish nature. That creature who lives inside of every single one of us who wants to eat whatever she wants, drink whatever he wants, marry whoever she wants, get up whenever he wants, watch whatever movie, play whatever game, look at whatever website. That part of you and me that says, “Just back off and let me do what I want to do.” As we see in Esau, if your or my desire to disregard God’s ways is allowed control, we can wake up one morning to find ourselves living a life without God.
We see from Genesis 36, Esau and his descendants settle in Seir and his family grows into a nation as God prophesied. It’s interesting to see the contrast in the two peoples early in their histories. We see kings and rulers included in the list of Esau’s descendants. While Israel was dwelling in Egypt enslaved, Esau was dwelling in Seir as a successful nation. But centuries later Edom comes to nothing and Israel, not only enters into the promised land, but remains a nation to this day. (Malachi 1:3) Likewise, we may be tempted to envy those outside of our Lord’s family who are reigning materially, or politically, or in fame, or in their careers. There can even be a temptation in some to chuck it all, to unload our belief in Christ and in God’s word, thus enabling us to go the way of the rest of the world, and perhaps experience gain in these areas. But, we do well to remember, ultimately, we go to that place Jesus prepares for us. (John 14:2-3) Others may reign in this life, while you may feel as though you’re enslaved, but it’s only for a short while. If you have Christ, you have eternity after this brief life on earth. Or as Matthew Henry puts it, “…all things considered, it is better to have Canaan in promise than mount Seir in possession.”
Bottom line:
What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
–Jesus Christ Mark 8:36
References:
Love Like Jesus–Isolation vs. Engagement: John 1:37-39
When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.
John 1:37-39
How Jesus Loved People:
In this passage we see Jesus loving people by engaging with them. The two following don’t say a word, so Jesus turns around and initiates conversation, “What do you want?” He asks.
“Where are you staying?” They ask back.
Then, rather than answering directly, Jesus answers in a way that will draw them in, “Come, and you will see.”
These two, the first two disciples of Jesus, follow Him and spend the day with Him. Later we’ll see all twelve of Christ’s disciples traveling with Him and living with Him on the road.
Love Like Jesus
Love requires engagement. I suppose, at the opposite end of the spectrum from engagement we find isolation. Isolation is unhealthy on several different levels that we won’t go into here but one thing I know with absolute certainty: isolation kills relationships. I know this with complete certainty because I have a tendency to isolate myself. One of the great pleasures I enjoy in life is that of immersing myself in the creative process. I believe it’s a good thing to do because I believe God designed me this way. However, when I’m immersed too deep for too long, it’s very hard on relationships. It’s just impossible to communicate love to people when you’re isolated. It’s that simple. (for more on isolation see previous post: It is not good for the man to be alone)
I know of a county sheriff in the Southeastern part of the U.S. who provides an interesting illustration of the importance of engagement and the problem of isolation. He’s a first class person, this sheriff. He’s conscientious, hard working, of great integrity, smart, and he treats people very well. A few years ago, as the end of his term approached and election time neared, not surprisingly, everyone who worked in headquarters supported him. They were raving fans. They told everyone they knew to vote for the guy. But unfortunately, as good as he was, he had the habit of working at headquarters, focused on problem solving. This was done at the expense of spending time with his deputies out in the field. The result was his deputies didn’t just not support him, but many hated him. As enthusiastic as the headquarters people who saw him every day were for his reelection, his deputies who he rarely spent time with were equally enthusiastic for him to lose. They wanted him out.
Love requires engagement.
Of course Jesus was a master at this. He engaged to the point that He lived with His disciples for three years. His engagement with His followers was (and is) amazing. He delivered Holy Spirit inspired teachings, He touched people, He healed people, He loved people.
In my own life there were times when I did well in this area of engagement and times when I did not. The difference in my relationships was dramatic. The trap, for some of us, is to feel as though engaging with others is not a productive use of time. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Love requires engagement.
And without love we’re nothing.
Engage people.
“…if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:2
[Image via jared moran – Creative Commons]
Meditate on it day and night — Joshua 1:8
Daily (Photo credit Chris Plunkett)
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
Joshua 1:8
When I was a Captain on the fire department we had a class where the instructor shared this stat: 93% of what a person does during the course of a typical day is done out of habit. That leaves only 7% of your actions that require a decision. So what does that say about living a successful life? Your habits are everything! 93% of what you do is based on your habits! Aristotle said it well when he stated: “We are what we repeatedly do.”
In the book of John, speaking of Jesus, the very first verse tells us, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. So what John is saying here is Jesus is the Word of God incarnate! (John actually states Jesus is God’s Word twice in this passage. And here is where he also recognizes Jesus as the Creator. See John 1:1-14) This is huge! This means when you spend time in God’s word you’re spending time with Christ Himself! It reminds me of that old question everyone asks, “If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be?” Well, you could choose to have dinner with, say, a great musician, but why would you do that when you could have dinner with the One Who created the musician in the first place, even all music for that matter, even all matter for that matter. The point is, the opportunity to spend time in God’s Word is an opportunity to spend time with the Creator of the universe. Recognizing this, it’s not surprising then how dramatically a life is changed when the habit of prayerfully reading through the Bible is inserted into that life. I’ve seen it in others who developed this habit and have experienced it myself. The habit of prayerfully reading through the scriptures every day is one of the most powerful habits you can develop because you’ll be spending time with the most powerful Being in the universe.
It will change your life.
It has changed mine.
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed”
John 8:31 (KJV)
Come back to God
Rembrandt’s Prodigal Son
We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
2 Corinthians 5:20
“Idol worship is building your life and meaning on anything, even a very good thing, more than on God. Whatever we build our life on will drive us and enslave us. When you’re looking to your career, or your marriage, or your romance, or your friends to give you everything you should be looking for in God, you’re looking to idols. Making these good things into ultimate things is a misappropriation of your love. Love your uncreated God designed for you to devote to Him, is given instead to these created things. And the ultimate result is undue anxiety, drivenness, obsessiveness, envy of others, and resentment. It happens this way every time.” (excerpts from Keller)
Make your love for your Creator, Who is Himself uncreated, your first priority, for just a few months, and see what happens to your life.
You’ll be glad you did.
“Come back to God!”
2 Corinthians 5:20
Get rid of all your idols — Genesis Chapter 35
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” -C.S. Lewis (photo credit: UK Heaven Live)
Read Genesis 35
Where we last left Jacob: After raping Jacob’s daughter Dinah, the young prince Shechem, went with his father to Jacob, to ask for her hand in marriage. Dinah’s big brothers pretended to enter into an agreement with Shechem but then retaliated in a horrific and murderous manner. They were chastised for it by their father Jacob afterwards, but, surprisingly, they remained a part of God’s plan. In Levi’s case, his descendants were even assigned to minister unto God as His priests. We learned from this example, four reasons why God will choose to use you as a part of His plan for the world. (see previous post on Genesis 34) Today we’ll read of Jacob’s conflict and controversy during his travels. Then we’ll answer one of the most important questions that can be asked: “What is the object of your love?”
Genesis 35:
Now, on the heels of this massacre by his sons, Jacob hears from God: Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.
So Jacob says to his entire household, Get rid of any foreign gods you have with you, purify yourselves, change your clothes. We’re going up to Bethel where I’ll build an altar to God — He answered me in the day of my distress and He’s been with me wherever I have gone. So they give Jacob all the foreign gods they have and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buries them under an oak tree at Shechem. Then they start on their journey to Bethel, and the terror of God falls on the towns all around them, so no one pursues them to avenge the massacre they had committed.
Jacob and all who are with him come to Bethel in the land of Canaan. He builds an altar there as the Lord instructed, and he calls the place El Bethel which means, God of Bethel. It was there God revealed Himself to Jacob when he was fleeing from his brother Esau.
Afterwards, Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, dies and so they bury her under the oak outside of Bethel. As Rebekah was Jacob’s mother, Deborah, her nurse, would have been the one who helped raise Jacob. She also would have been a valuable mentor and leader to the women in Jacob’s household. She was obviously well loved for they name the oak tree under which she was buried Allon Bakuth, which means oak of weeping.
After Jacob came back from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him. God said, “Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel.”
And God also said to him, “I am God Almighty, be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants. The land I gave Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.” Then God went up from him.
So Jacob sets up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he pours out a drink offering on it; he also pours oil on it. Jacob calls the place where God had talked with him Bethel.
So they leave Bethel and head for Ephrath. While they’re traveling Rachel begins to give birth but she has difficulty. As she’s struggling in childbirth, the midwife says to her, Cheer up, you’re having another son. But it’s such a difficult birth Rachel is dying, and as she breaths her last she names her son Ben-Oni, which means son of my trouble. But Jacob graciously spares the child from the burden of such a name and names him Benjamin, which means son of my right hand.
So Rachel dies and they bury her on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Over her tomb Jacob sets up a pillar, and to this day (to the time of the writing of the scripture by Moses, some 400 years after these events) that pillar marks Rachel’s tomb.
Israel moves on from there and pitches his tent beyond Migdal Eder. While Israel is living in that area, his oldest son Reuben goes in and sleeps with Israel’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel hears about it.
Jacob’s twelve sons:
The sons of Leah:
Reuben the firstborn of Jacob,
Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun.
The sons of Rachel:
Joseph and Benjamin.
The sons of Rachel’s servant Bilhah:
Dan and Naphtali.
The sons of Leah’s servant Zilpah:
Gad and Asher.
These were the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.
Jacob eventually comes home to his father Isaac in Mamre, near Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. Isaac lives a hundred and eighty years. He breathes his last and dies and is gathered to his people, old and full of years. Esau and Jacob, his sons, come together to bury him.
What is the object of your love?
We see in our story Jacob, in response to this tragedy his sons instigated against the entire city of Shechem, institutes a renewal of faith. He tells everyone in his household and every person with him to give up their idols and he buries them. It is truly amazing how during times of prosperity we drift away from what’s important and the idols creep in. Our focus, our time, and our energy become devoted to things other than God. We become distracted. This is what happened to Jacob’s household. We see they have accumulated quite a collection of idols.
In the Bible we see idols defined, not just as the making of little statues depicting strange gods, but also the making of good things into ultimate things. Idol worship is building your life and meaning on anything, even a very good thing, more than on God. Whatever we build our life on will drive us and enslave us. When you’re looking to your career, or your marriage, or your romance, or your friends to give you everything you should be looking for in God, you’re looking to idols. Making these good things into ultimate things is a misappropriation of your love. Love your uncreated God designed for you to devote to Him, is given instead to these created things. And the ultimate result is undue anxiety, drivenness, obsessiveness, envy of others, and resentment. It happens this way every time. (excerpts from Keller)
Why put yourself through the emotional instability that comes from directing your love toward those things which are created instead of your God? Do you know that the infidelity of a Reuben or Bilhah might possibly come into your life? Or death, no one escapes the death of loved ones. The death of a Deborah or a Rachel is, with absolute certainty, going to take place in your life. No life escapes death’s touch. Jacob’s father Isaac died and so will yours. In the world, you will have trouble. When these storms come, and they will come, if you’re looking to your career, or marriage, or friends to provide you with strength to stand, you’re in for a disappointment. Instead, have your feet planted solidly in a deep and rich relationship with Christ when these troubles come your way.
There is no replacement for God.
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”
Matthew 22:37
References:
Led into the wilderness to be tempted
The Temptation Trap (Photo Credit: Zazzle)
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Matthew 4:1-11
How Jesus loved people:
Jesus kept himself available to love people by resisting temptation. Can you imagine how the path God had in mind for him would have been impacted had he succumbed to the tempter? Swamped with the demands of leading the governments of the world, he would have been distracted from his calling which was to live humbly, simply, and to engage with people directly, in love.
How you can too:
Never before in the history of humankind has there been a time when people are inundated by entertainment and recreation such as we are today. It’s an amazing time to be alive but it’s also a time when we’re bombarded by distraction and temptation. Twenty-three year old Chen Rong-yu was looking for entertainment when he decided to head out to his local internet cafe to play League of Legends. He found himself so engrossed in his game that he made it a marathon session, playing for some twenty-three hours straight. But because of his prolonged lack of movement, and a previous medical condition, it appears that blood clots formed in his system resulting in his death. He was found with his hands stretched out over the keyboard, as though he was still playing. The thirty other gamers in the cafe were similarly absorbed and didn’t notice that he was deceased until nine hours after his passing. (see Daily Mail article by Rob Cooper)
When it comes to temptations, you and I have the same decisions to make as Jesus. If I succumb to a marathon gaming session, while I probably won’t die, I’m as good as dead to the people I love and care about while I’m consumed by that game. If you succumb to watching an entire season of Downton Abbey in one sitting, during that time, you’re not available to show others Christ’s love. If I’m consumed by the latest on Whitney Houston’s death, or the NCAA tournament, or The Hunger Games, then I’ll be distracted from what God has in mind for me.
The bottom line: If you want to love people the way Jesus did, keep it simple like Jesus did. Resist the temptation to immerse yourself in entertainment, or sports, or recreation. These things are’t bad if experienced in reasonable doses, but they’ll completely derail your life, if allowed to consume too much of your time, mind, heart, and soul.
Resist temptation.
Keep life simple enough to leave room for Christ and what He has in mind for you.
References:
Growing Up
Photo credit: Lakeland Baptist Church
If you’re older: Are you equipping others to live for Christ?
If you’re younger: Are you seeking out wisdom from those who are older, wiser, and more godly than you are? Or, and be honest with yourself, are you tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind, or by every story that comes across the internet?
Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-15
Live for Christ first, then watch the rest of your hopes and dreams follow. (Matthew 6:33)
Church
Inside the Synagogue, Budapest, Hungary. Photo by Hachbach
Ever wonder why Jesus taught us to pray, “Our father… Give us this day our… Forgive us our… as we forgive our… Lead us not unto… deliver us…”
Notice there is nary an I, me, or my to be found anywhere, only us, our, and we.
Ever wonder why Jesus, the Son of God Himself, no matter where He was geographically, was in the habit of attending the local place of worship regularly? (Luke 4:16, Matthew 4:3, Matthew 9:35, Matthew 13:54)
It’s His desire for us to worship together. It’s His desire for us to go to church together.
Joel J. Miller said it well when he wrote:
We live and worship God in community because we can’t see enough of him on our own. Christians who isolate themselves from the body are consigning themselves to a peculiarly distorted and limited view of God.
The Christian faith isn’t about Jesus and me. By necessity it’s about Jesus and us.
“…and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.”
Luke 4:16
Unemployed
The following is a true story.
Back in Chicago they both had good jobs. Back in Chicago they lived in a nice apartment. But that was six months ago. Now he’s twenty-three years old and living in an 8’x21′ travel trailer in the mountains outside of Talent, Oregon. His wife is seven months pregnant with their first child. Their trailer is so small that, in her pregnant condition, if she drops the soap in the shower she has to step out of the shower to pick it up. The only place for the refrigerator is on the front porch. His boss at the cabinet shop where he works tells him that the economy is bad and getting worse — the work is drying up. He has to cut his hours back to eight per week.
He is not a believer, but it’s been said that there are no unbelievers in fox holes, and he is in a financial fox hole. In desperation he walks out into the beautiful woods of Southern Oregon, kneels down and prays. He says, Lord, please, I have a baby on the way, my hours are down to almost nothing, we can’t afford to pay the rent on our little trailer, we’re broke. I need a job.
Friends and family tell him to apply for unemployment. But partly out of his foolish pride, and partly out of his own integrity, he won’t. Unemployment is not for able bodied men, he answers. With no job, my job is to find a job, he says. So he applies everywhere: wood mills, factories, Taco Bell, McDonalds, Burger King, everywhere. But nobody’s hiring.
Things get desperate. The baby is due soon and his pregnant wife is ready to move back to Chicago, where her family is, and where the jobs are. Where she can live in a decent place instead of a tiny travel trailer. During one tearful argument she has her bags packed and is at the front door. Just until the end of the month, he says. If I don’t find work by the end of the month, we’ll head back home.
He’s spending more and more time out in the woods, on his knees, praying. One time he prays something that even surprises him. He starts with the usual desperate plea, Lord, please, the rent, the baby, the bills, my wife has had it. I need your help. Please. And then, this unbeliever, prays something surprising. These words come out of his mouth: Lord please give me a job, and give me a job where there are Christians.
He and his wife are looking at help wanted sites when he finds a firefighter position advertised. Good salary, good schedule, it sounds too good to be true. Unlike many young men, he’s never dreamed of becoming a firefighter, in fact, it’s never even crossed his mind. I’m not sure about this one, he says. It really does sound too good to be true.
You’re applying, she says.
So he does. He applies. They give him a three hundred page binder to study, for a written exam.
Just a few days after he turns in his application, the baby is born. He learns something about what it means to love someone, in truth, he didn’t know he could love anybody as much as he loves his little boy. They pay part of the hospital bill with money borrowed from family. The rest they promise to pay on a little each month.
He’s in the woods again, on his knees. More desperate than ever. Lord, now on top of everything else, I have this baby to provide for! Help me to do that Lord.
The baby is five days old the night before the firefighter test. He crams all through the night then shows up, sleep deprived, at the local high school cafeteria where the test is being given. He walks through the door to find three hundred other applicants seated and waiting for the tests to be passed out. Look at them all, he thinks to himself. He almost walks out but decides, as long as he’s come this far…
The guy on his left seems to be acquainted with the guy on his right. Did you hear there’s a firefighter from Portland who came down to take this test? The guy on his left says. The guy on his right replies, No, but did you hear there’s a Captain from Phoenix, Arizona who’s taking this test?
Wow, he thinks. What chance do I have. But I’m here. What else is there for me to do but to go ahead and take this exam.
A week later the phone rings. It’s the fire department. They want to do an interview. A week after that he’s in front of the Fire Chief and two Battalion Chiefs. He answers everything as best he can. A few days after that they offer him the job.
On day one, in the middle of his first full shift as a firefighter, one of his crew says, Hey, we usually take a little time to do a Bible study in the evenings. Why don’t you join us?
That unemployed twenty-three year old was me. And as you can see, I have found Jesus’ words to be true. You will too.
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
–Luke 18:1-8
