Connecting Points

by Allan Knapp

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. ~ Hebrews 11:39–40

The familiar Hebrews chapter 11 is the “Hall of Faith,” describing great heroes of the Old Testament who believed in the One True God, knew that He would keep His promises, and made decisions and acted accordingly. Verse 1 defines faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Further explanations of faith are given in Verse 6: “Believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him,” and Verse 8, where Abraham is commended for following God, even when he did not see the path ahead.

In my recent study of Hebrews (guided by the recommended devotional Tabletalk), I was intrigued by the faith of Joseph. He is famous for his declaration of the sovereignty of God: “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good. (Exodus 50:20)” But his faith is commended in Hebrews 11:22 for remembering and believing in God’s promised land for His people, and asking his relatives to take his bones along when they go back.

Joseph could not have envisioned the twists and turns of history that would happen between his death and the Israelites crossing the Jordan – slavery, infanticide, plagues, miracles, wilderness journey – but he KNEW God would give His people Canaan. The Israelites must also have had some faith that such a thing would happen, because they kept track of a dead man’s bones for 400 years so they could haul them along as they exited Egypt and then bury them when they arrived.

Joseph’s story and the admonition to proceed even though unsure of the path ahead should influence our planning and our prayers. For planning, Proverbs 16:9 says “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” Make your plans in accordance with God’s Word. When the twists and turns of life make decisions questionable and short- and long-term goals seem further away, pray, asking for wisdom for any needed adjustments. Exercise your faith by trusting that God is still with you.

Our prayers can be enriched by looking and asking for future outcomes for current situations. “O, Lord, we pray that six months from now, our brother will be through the surgery and back to work.” “Father, keep us strong in our faith and unity in you for the next several rocky months.” “Holy Spirit, we look forward to hearing of the many conversions you have been doing during this trying time.”

Being on this side of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we now know much more about the promised heavenly city that Abraham was looking forward to (Hebrews 11:10). John 14:2 tells us that Jesus has prepared for us rooms within the house in that city God has designed and built! The resurrection assures us of eternal glorious life with Jesus. We don’t know when it will happen, but we do know Jesus will return at just the right time. We can pray, “Oh LORD Jesus, please delay returning so that your mercy may be extended to all of your redeemed, but please Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus.”

 

by Gerry Gothro

     When I was growing up, my mother would often say to me, “Don’t slouch!” It didn’t make any difference what I was doing — watching television or reading or chatting with friends or, most often, eating dinner. Not slouching, I came to understand, was very important in maintaining good posture, and it took lots and lots and lots of practice.

     During a particular rough patch in life, I came across 2 Chronicles 20 in my daily Bible reading. You know the story. The Ammonites, the Moabites, and the Meunites were marching toward Jerusalem to do battle against Judah and Jehoshaphat. Calling all of Judah together, Jehoshaphat offered up a prayer for help, concluding it with the words “we do not know what to do but our eyes are on you.” The Spirit of the Lord then spoke to Jehoshaphat through Jahaziel assuring him in 2 Chron 20:17 that “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem.” This was a powerful word for me at the time, and it still is! My job is to take up my position (good posture) and to stand firm.

     These days standing firm seems to be somewhat of a moving target. From lockdown to zoom meetings to google classrooms to limits on gatherings to more relaxed limits on gatherings to phase 3 to phase 4 to phase 10 (oh wait, that’s a card game) to….shifting sands seem to be the norm here.

     Recently, my Bible reading plan led me through the letter to the Philippians, and I came across some other stand firm commands. Philippians 1:27 says “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I am with you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.” For Paul, it’s always about the gospel, both preaching it and living it. In chapter 3 Paul encourages the Christians in Philippi to keep straining toward the goal, the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

     In Philippians 4:1 Paul says, “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.” It’s the ‘thus’ (or ‘take up your position’) that’s important here. In that little word Paul says I’m going to tell you how to stand firm. In Phil 4:2-9 Paul exhorts us to: 

• (v 2,3) get along in the Lord (see also Phil 1:27 above) 
• (v 4) rejoice always
• (v 5) be reasonable in everything
• (v 6) don’t be anxious but humbly pray with thanksgiving 

These exhortations then receive the promise of verse 7 that “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” 

     But Paul is not finished exhorting us on how to stand firm. In verses 8 and 9 he says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

     What do we do with ‘extra’ time these days? For starters, we don’t slouch! We practice, practice, practice! We practice the good posture of standing firm that Paul has laid out for us.

By Peeter Lukas

1 Timothy 3:1 reads, “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer he desires a noble task.” And most Christians are familiar with the passages 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-16, both of which describe the qualifications of an elder. 

Calvin observes that “those things which are excellent (noble), are also arduous and difficult.” And consider Saint Peter’s Principle (the title of a recently published book by Peter Lillback, president of Westminster Seminary). According to this principle, we “never outgrow our inherent inadequacy for the duties that are incumbent upon us as we lead others in the ever changing challenges of leadership”. And it asks, “…have we authentically seen our flaws, our failures, and our weaknesses that interpenetrate even our greatest strengths and our most notable successes?” 

Note the tension implied in these things: a man is chosen because of actual, recognizable godliness, but those strengths will eventually not be what carries the day. Why not?

Those of us who have sat around the Session’s conference table have been in the company of a “merry band of brothers.” And then the exposure, inadequacy, flaws, and weaknesses begin to surface — along with the wisdom, fortitude, and gospel love. Dearly held thoughts are graciously disagreed with, sometimes very swiftly. There are no “free passes” on URC’s Session. It’s “us”, the URC body, not “me” and my opinion. You leave meetings feeling impoverished by your own lack of thought, but with a bag of newfound gold nuggets of wisdom. Are you a people pleaser? Or a Law thumper? Have you become “too smart too quickly”? You’re shamed at the awareness that these wise and discerning men – those whom you most respect – now know who you really are, but grateful that they can pray intelligently for your sins and flaws. You come to an end of yourself when you sit on a good Session like ours.

A man can, at times, feel exposed, ashamed, undone as an elder. What’s the remedy? One definition of the word ashamed is to be “reluctant to do something through fear of embarrassment or humiliation.” Honest elders see the “nobility” of their task and wonder how “noble” they really are, naked for all to see. They can become reluctant to “just do something.”

How does Paul solve this problem? He speaks plainly, but paradoxically: That’s right, you have spent yourself to the last penny, so that you’ll now drink richly of Christ and the Gospel…

2 Cor. 3:5 – “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God…”

2 Cor. 12:9 – “…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 

2 Cor. 4:7 – “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” 

Power in weakness — it’s not merely a belief in Christ and the gospel. Paul is convinced of its reality for himself and others and has thrown himself entirely into God’s care, and therefore, the care of others.

Dear brethren of URC, pray for our younger elder nominees: Zane Meibeyer, Josh Puuri, Nick Setterington, and Chris Spencer. Paul wrote, in Galatians 4:19, “…my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!” Curious words for a life-long bachelor. Paul knew no better words to illustrate the “noble task” that he had undertaken. 

It isn’t arrogance to want to be an elder. There’s no grander task. Pray that these men would continue to be good Gospel men, who aren’t “reluctant” to entrust themselves, both body and soul, to Christ. Pray that, like Timothy, they would “follow the pattern of the sound words…” and “guard the good deposit entrusted” to them (2 Timothy 1:13,14).

by Ben Preiser

The end of Matthew 6 contains a well-known passage about anxiety:

“Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?…your heavenly Father knows what you need. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

There’s an abundance of peace in these verses, but there’s an exhortation here too. It’s a comforting command but a command nonetheless: “do not be enslaved to your anxiety and fear.” And this command is clarified when we consider the section that immediately precedes this one.

In Matthew 6:24, Jesus points out that it is impossible to serve two masters. The example he gives is of God and money. But then verse 25 begins with “therefore”, and the following verses describe the conflict between a heart that seeks to control life through anxiety and a heart that seeks God’s kingdom.

Here’s the connection between Matthew 6:24 and 6:25-33. We should remember that God knows what we need and loves to bless us as his children. And that comfort should drive us to admit that we cannot serve both God and anxiety.

It seems that in pointing out the Father’s care for us, Jesus is counseling each of us to choose our master well. Anxiety is a harsh taskmaster that will leave you with nothing to show for all the hours, tears, and sighs you dedicate to it. A life of serving your own worry will not bring the security and provision you crave. But the Father is a much worthier Master. He knows how to provide well for his servants. In seeking his kingdom, you not only swear fealty to a much kinder Lord, but you leave behind slavish devotion to anxiety and its disappointingly empty promises.

by Dan Lohrmann

Life often seems like a roller coaster ride, and 2020 has delivered more twists and turns and ups and downs than most years – and we’re only half-way through!

From tracking the spread of Covid-19 to watching the economy to trying to make sense of the latest protests to even knowing what stores are open, it’s hard to keep up with the latest…. anything.  

Closer to home, I have a great devotional time but emerge to hear previously happy kids in a new fight. Or, a loving spouse is upset about car problems. Or, burnt toast ruins breakfast. Or…. 

And suddenly, I realize I’m the one with a bad attitude. 

Help!

When we pause and think, we know our help comes from the Lord, but how does that work in our day-to-day struggles? One surprising model comes from Psalm 42, but get ready for another roller-coaster ride. 

What shocks me about this Psalm is the self-talk, which seems as if two very different people are talking at different times. Person one says, “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” But person two retorts, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” Going further, person two continues later, “As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, ‘Where is your God?’”

So how can these differences be reconciled? Will the real David please stand up? 

As I think through what’s happening (and read helpful Bible commentaries), I realize that these two competing voices are sounding a lot like my own self-talk. Can you also relate? One moment I am enjoying sweet communion with the living God, longing to be in public worship or for joyful fellowship with other believers. At other times, while focusing on the words and actions of non-believers or troubling situations in this world, my soul is cast down and feeling alone and even doubting God. What can be done? 

An answer comes in verse 6: “My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.”        

Charles Spurgeon offers this commentary on the verse: “Blessed downcasting which drives us to so sure a rock of refuge as thee, O Lord. He recalls his seasons of choice communion by the river and among the hills… It is great wisdom to store up in memory our choice occasions of converse with heaven; we may want them another day, when the Lord is slow in bringing back his banished ones, and our soul is aching with fear.”     

In other words, it is helpful to remember. All of us can recall the blessed gospel, that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Tim Keller says, “The minute you decide to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord, the power of the Holy Spirit comes into your life. It’s the power of the resurrection—the same thing that raised Jesus from the dead.” We can also call to mind and even write down answered prayers, seasons of blessing, and times of close communion with God. 

As the Psalm concludes, the difficult challenge is repeated. But this time, the author preaches hope to his soul: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

Psalm 42
To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah.
1  As a deer pants for flowing streams,
   so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God,
   for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food
      day and night,
   while they say to me all the day long,
      “Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember,
      as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
      and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
      a multitude keeping festival.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
      and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
      my salvation and my God.
6 My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
      from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
      at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
      have gone over me.
8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
      and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God, my rock:
      “Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
     because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a deadly wound in my bones,
     my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
     “Where is your God?”
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
      and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
      my salvation and my God.

by Jeff McAlvey

Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.
~ Psalm 25:4-5

Scripture, especially the Psalms, tells us often to “wait on the Lord” (Psalm 25, 27, 31, 33, 37, 38, 40 52, 62 and 130; I’m sure I missed a few). Waiting is something that is hard for us. We are people of action. We solve problems ourselves. We Google solutions. But God’s Word is clear in our Christian life: we are called to wait on Him. And the benefits are clear: those who wait for the Lord will not be put to shame (Ps 25), will experience him as their help and shield (Ps 33), will find hope in Him (Ps 39), will experience his salvation and hope (Ps 62), are blessed (Isa 30), and will have their strength renewed (Isa 40).

Andrew Murray, the South African pastor and author who wrote so many great devotional works in the late 19th Century, speaks of the believer’s need to learn to wait on God in his book The Believers Secret of Waiting on God. Murray writes, “In all our Christian life, personal and public, we need more of God…to cultivate a deeper sense of His presence…of entire dependence on Him.”

What does waiting on the Lord look like? There are many layers, and as you practice waiting on Him, you’ll learn and understand more. However, it all begins with spending time with Him, reading his Word, asking for understanding, pouring out your heart, and being silent before him with patience. Again, quoting Andrew Murray, “When first you begin waiting on God, it is with frequent intermission and frequent failure. But remember to believe God is watching over you in love and secretly strengthening you in it.” So, we should wait expectantly, “more than the watchman waits for the morning” (Ps 130:6). The watchman doesn’t wait nervously hoping morning will come. He absolutely knows light will dawn and the darkness will disappear. Even more, brothers and sisters, we that know our faithful God, who loves us more than we can ever understand, will give us counsel, comfort, understanding, and much more.

What are you waiting for (forgive the pun)? Start today, begin spending a few minutes of your quiet time, just waiting, listening.

But as for me, I will look to the Lord: I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. ~ Micah 7:7

by Allan Knapp

Romans 5:6

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Galatians 4:4–5

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 

Why was the First Century “the fullness of time”, “the right time” for Jesus to come and die for us? The New Testament tells a good part of the story. Historians fill in some. There is still much we don’t know, but we can marvel at the glorious workings of God’s plan that He has made known to us.

Centuries earlier, God kept his Deuteronomy 26 negative promises to the Israelites by exiling them to foreign countries because they profaned His law and His name. This turned out to be part of the plan. The Diaspora sent Jews all over the world. The books of Daniel and Esther tell how Jews had become integrated in other cultures and even held leadership positions. Wise men were alert to Old Testament prophecies. The Jews with their synagogues were in place, and a monotheistic worldview was introduced in many countries. 

The Greeks had been dominant long enough that the Greek language was spoken by most people around the Mediterranean Sea, even if Greek was not their native tongue. The ability to communicate was in place.

The Romans had conquered. They had a strong military presence and had been busy building sturdy roads all around the Mediterranean. Brutal Roman law enforcement limited the incidence of robbers and brigands on the roads and shipping lanes. Safe ways to travel were in place.

The emperor ordered a census so that Jesus could be born in Bethlehem, the Wise men from the East alerted Herod to the birth of a king, Herod ordered infanticide and Jesus’ family fled to Egypt. All of this was to fulfill prophecies in Micah 5:2, Jeremiah 31:15, and Hosea 11.1. 

After the resurrection, the believers in Jerusalem learned to do church: spiritual leaders who teach and pray, a diaconate that helped everyone to serve one another, the practice of church discipline (see Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5) and the sacraments. When persecution after Stephen’s martyrdom forced those believers out of the city and into Judea and Samaria, they took their knowledge and zeal for Christ and the church with them. 

The book of Acts tells us that Paul spread the gospel even further. Paul’s habit upon entering a new city was to seek the synagogue (Acts 17:2). He preached the gospel to the Jews first, and then to Gentiles when the more stiff-necked Jews kicked him out. Sources outside the Bible tell us the other Apostles preached and planted churches as far away as Africa, Bulgaria, Afghanistan and India. At least nine of the Apostles were martyred for their faith.

We know from all of church history since that first century that conflict, suffering, and persecution have often awaited believers, but Christ continues to grow his church. We can take comfort that He promised to be with us always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28.20). It will be interesting to see how God’s plan unfolds during the rest of this year and the next, and the rest of this decade and the next…. Even so, come Lord Jesus.

by Scott Lawton

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification.”  ~1 Thessalonians 4:3

“And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  ~1 Thessalonians 5:14-18

“What is God’s will for me?” I suspect all of us have asked that question at some point in our lives (probably at multiple points). Often, it was probably in the context of some major life decision: Where should I go to college? What should I study? What job should I take? Who should I marry (or should I get married)? Where should I live? Or it could have been in any number of other situations. But usually when we ask that question, we are concerned with what we should choose or do in some set of circumstances. We are looking for some secret, hidden plan that we think God has for us, and we don’t want to make the “wrong” choice. Or perhaps you can remember a time when someone came up to you and said something like, “I think it is God’s will for you to do” such and such.

But that is not how the Bible speaks of God’s will. Twice in 1 Thessalonians, Paul tells the Thessalonians what God’s will is for them. But he doesn’t tell them where they should live or what job they should have. Rather, he focuses on what sort of people they should be. In other words, God’s will, according to Paul, has more to do with our character than our circumstances. God’s will for his people is that we would be sanctified, that we would be set apart and conformed to the likeness of Christ. So Paul is not concerned with people working at a certain kind of job, but that we are not idle or lazy. He cares about how we treat others. And most of all, he cares about how we relate to God. He wants us to be joyful, prayerful, thankful people.

Does that mean that God doesn’t care about our job or our spouse or any of the other myriad decisions we have to make in our lives? Well, yes and no. God cares about these decisions, insofar as they reflect or influence our hearts. So God may not care if you work as a doctor or teacher or factory worker, but he does care if you choose a particular job out of a love of money or desire to be honored by men, or if you accept a job that will require you to compromise your faith and obedience to the Lord. He doesn’t care how tall the person you marry is, or what color hair they have, but he does care about whether he or she will lead you toward or away from Jesus.

So what is God’s will for you, brothers and sisters? That you love the Lord with all of your heart, love your neighbor as yourself, seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness, give thanks to him, and worship him in spirit and truth. Paul ends his letter by reminding us that this is all God’s work on our behalf, and so we can have confidence that he will help us to do his will. 

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thes. 5:23-24)