Dimensions of Peace

One of the many blessings of Scripture is its offer of peace which has various dimensions. Our readings today touched on several of those dimensions. Consider the following: 1. Peace with God - the first kind of peace we need is peace with our Creator. Our sin has separated us from our God and put us at emnity with Him. To bring us back or to enact reconciliation requires the removal of our sins. That required the death of the spotless lamb of God who gave His all - His life as the ultimate sacrifice. When we identify with that death through faith, our sins are cancelled and our relationship with God restored. We again can enjoy peace with God. The book of Leviticus points to this reality through its veiled signs: the unblemished animal, laying of one's hands on the sacrifice, the offering of the complete sacrifice... Each of these signs points to the peace that was brought to us through the death of Christ. 2. Peace with others - just as we need peace with God we need peace with our brothers and sisters as well. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, the result was not just a broken relationship with God, but also a broken relationship between all mankind. We tend not to love one another, to be self seeking and that leads to all kinds of strife. The answer to this is the same as above. The blood of Christ not only restores peace with God but also procures for us the power to restore peace with others in our world. The book of Proverbs, from the perspective of the fear of God - giving God His rightful place in our life, offers very practical counsel that we can apply through the power of Christ within us. Behaviors like covering an offense (17:9), quickly ending quarrels (17:14), restraining one's words and being cool in spirit (17:27) all contribute in very practical ways to the peace with others that was won by Christ's cross. 3. Peace within ourselves - this final dimension of peace is essential for all. There is so much in our world that can potentially unsettle us. Imagine how unsettling were the events the disciples experienced when they saw the Lord taken, crucified and placed in a tomb. Imagine how unsettling it was when they arrived to the tomb only to find the Lord's body removed. Imagine how unsettling then to see the Lord in His resurrected body and to wonder what was going on. The Lord's offer of peace many times during his resurrection appearances I'm sure was needful for His disciples. Paul also spoke of peace in Philippians. The classic verses found in 4:6-7 have assisted believers throughout the ages. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Later in that same chapter Paul urges the believers to be careful what they think on and how they live, and then assures them that "the God of peace will be with you". It is a joy to know that the Lord who secured our peace with God and with others through the blood of the cross, is the same Lord who can take us through this world of trials and turmoils and give to us in its midst a peace that surpasses understanding. Do you know these wondrous dimensions of peace? I trust the peace of Christ will be with you today and always in fullest measure!

The Supremacy of God's Glory

I am overwhelmed by the deep, deep love of God for mankind. Each glimpse of His glory makes sweeter the knowledge that I am His, and He is mine. Today we first saw God's glory in Exodus 40. How marvelous it is that God's wants to dwell among mankind! How wonderful that He gave command to Moses to build a tabernacle which would be, for a time, the receptacle of His glory! What a great moment it must have been when the tabernacle was erected and then the people saw the glory of the Lord fill that place. Then to live with that glory in your midst, actually in the middle of the camp. To watch it rise up and then to settle down - to be a people that follows the glory of God all the days of your life. How loving is God to be present among His people in this way! But there is another dimension of glory we saw today that is even more remarkable. We saw the Son of God mount a cross - not for anything He had done - but because of His great love for us. He willingly laid down His life (He made that clear to Pilate), took upon Himself human sin, and received the stroke due our rebellion. What love and what glory! We learn so much about God from the cross. So much of His character shines out (glory) from the cross - His hatred for sin, but the depth of His mercy, grace and love. God be praised for these glimpses of His matchless character! That's why I believe when Paul contemplated this glory, he felt the glory of man so inconsequential. He did have a lot of things to glory in - he had a great education, great birth line, and impeccable practice of his religion. But when he compared that glory to the glory of Christ, he thought it unworthy of the comparison. He said that he counts all things that bring him glory, and thus detract from the glory of Christ, to be like horse manure - refuse - garbage. There was only one glory worth knowing and pursing, and it was the glory of Christ. Paul wanted to know this glory - to bask in its light and to be transformed by it. He wanted to be a man who knew only one thing, and it was the glory of Christ crucified. That should be the pursuit of every Christian - pursuing the knowledge of the supreme glory of our great God and His Son, Jesus Christ. May we all this day, lay down human glory, and all that detracts from the knowledge of the Savior, and pursue with our all, the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. As Paul says, Oh to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, sharing in His sufferings, become like Him in His death.

God's Work in God's Way

Do you know what phrase occurred most frequently in Exodus 39? It was "as the Lord had commanded Moses". We see it in verses 1,5,7,21,26,29,31,32,42 and 43 (some with minor variations). And what was done "as the Lord had commanded"? Verse 32 explains: "Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished, and the people of Israel did according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses; so they did." Again in verse 42-43 it is summarized: "According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work. And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so they had done it. Then Moses blessed them." God's work was done in God's way, and when Moses observed that it had been so, his heart was gladdened and was moved to bless the people of Israel. One has to wonder why this phrase is emphasized, that it had been done "just as the Lord commanded". One reason surely is that the things they were making served as copies of heavenly realities. Hebrews 8:5 states, "They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, 'See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.'" Since they were constructing things that serve as shadows or copies of heavenly things, they must not alter the pattern, for to alter the pattern was to alter the truth to which they pointed - ultimately truth about Christ. This gives us an understanding of why it is important to do God's work in God's way. In our passage in the gospels we see someone else doing God's work in God's way - it is Jesus. When confronted in the Garden by those who were ready to take His life Jesus affirmed, "Shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?" Peter was taken back by the mob and sought to fight. He actually sliced off the ear of Malchus, but Jesus told him to put his sword away, for He was committed to doing God's work in God's way. Now Peter and the disciples might have thought there was a better way for God's kingdom to come. Maybe recruiting an army and fighting the Roman oppressors was the way. But man's way would have never accomplished the work that needed to be done on the cross and we would have lost the glimpse of heavenly realities we saw as Jesus hung on that cross. We might have never seen the hideous nature of our own sin, coupled with the fullness of God's grace, mercy and love that met it head on. Doing God's work in God's way is the only way! It is the only way to display heavenly realities in this earthly realm; the only way to display to a watching world what a little bit of heaven looks like in a fallen world. May God help us daily to look to God and seek His direction for the work to which He has called us, and may He gives us the will to do things "just as He commanded."

On Bearing Fruit

From John 15 it is very evident that God wants us to bear fruit. Verse 2 says that "every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away,.." Though that is an acceptable translation, the phrase "he takes away" can also be translated "he lifts up" which actually fits the the practice of vinegrowing better. When a vine grows and starts dragging on the ground, the vinedresser will take that branch and lift it up. This action enables that branch to more readily bear fruit than the one that is growing on the ground.
But the Lord does not just want us just to bear fruit, he wants us to bear "more fruit". That's where the rest of verse 2 takes us. Jesus goes on, "...and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit". This may point to the role that suffering has in our life. As God takes us through the pruning of suffering, removing the dead wood of our life, He is able to bring us to a place of bearing more fruit.
But God wants even more than that. In verse 5 Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he is is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." He also says in verse 8, "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." There it is - do you see the progression? Bear fruit, more fruit, much fruit. And so it is very clear that our Lord is very interested in His disciples / followers bearing much fruit.
But what is this fruit that God wants us to bear and how is it we come to bear it?
First, Jesus is very clear that we will only bear fruit as we abide in Him, as we abide in His word, as we receive the commandment of that word, and make it central to our life. And what is this commandment to which Jesus refers (which is the key to the fruit of which He speaks)? Verse 12-13 clearly states it: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." Later in verse 16 Jesus summarizes: "These things I command you, so that you will love one another."
That is the fruit of which God wants us to bear much of. Love others as Jesus has loved.
This is the same message we found today in Ephesians 5. In verses 1-2 Paul said, "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
It is really that simple. God wants us to bear fruit and that fruit is love, but the bearing of that fruit only comes as we abide in Christ - as we live out of our union with Christ which was bought with the price of His precious life.
Let's us all go out today, abiding in Christ, bearing MUCH fruit of love - to His glory!

Old Principles of Giving

When we think of the Old Testament and the idea of giving we often think about the tithe. We think about a law that says you must give 10% of all God has given to you. And yet when you come to a passage like Exodus 35 it is amazing how "New Testament" it sounds. Look at the principles that can be gleaned from this passage that are surely affirmed in the New Testament.
1. Giving included one's treasure (gold, silver and bronze,...vs 5) but also one's talent and skill (vs 10).
2. Giving was to be from a generous heart (vs. 5).
3. Giving was to enable the "building of the place of God's presence". Today the place of God's presence is the church and may include the building of structures but involves so much more. It includes all that we do to see the church of Christ expand and grow.
4. Giving was to come from those whose hearts were stirred. It was to be generated from the inside as the Spirit moved the person. It was to be from a willing heart. (vs. 21-22)
5. Each person gave what they possessed. If they had yarn they gave yarn. If they had silver they gave silver. The text seems to indicate that not all people had the same to give, but they gave what they had. They gave as the Lord prospered them. (vs. 23-24)
6. The source of all giving is the Lord. As he fills us with a treasure or a talent, we are then released to use it for His glory and the building of His kingdom. (vs 35)
Pretty amazing, tucked in one of the books of the law, we see the real heart of God regarding our giving. May we all be blessed as we generously release to the accomplishment of God's work that with which He has blessed us. And may we be encouraged to live out the Old Testament proverb:
Proverbs 11:24-25 One gives freeely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

Expressions of Love

In John 13:34-35 Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Love is so central to the Christian story and message, and when one comes to faith in Christ this love begins to dominate the life. It begins to be worked out in a myriad of ways. Jesus says this is the way others will know we are followers of Christ. This is the central mark. Perhaps we should make it our life project to see how many ways we can demonstrate that love.
This love can take on so many forms. In our reading we saw the following:
1. In Exodus 34 we saw God giving Israel a second chance - a second set of stone tablets, a re-establishment of the covenant. God was extending forgiveness, grace and mercy and showing Himself to be "The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,..." When we show mercy and grace, even giving others a second chance we demonstrate this Godlike love.
2. In Exodus 34 we also saw the intercession of Moses. He pled for the people that God would forgive them, pardon their iniquities and not abandon them , but rather "go in the midst of them". How loving are the fervent intercessions of God's servants for His people! As you find yourself pleading with God for the souls of others, know that you are demonstrating Christ's love who is our intecessor.
3. In John 13 we saw Jesus taking on the form of a servant and washing the feet of the disciples. Whenever we take the lowest place and serve others we are expressing a Christ-like love.
4. In Ephesians 3 Paul tells the readers (vs. 13) not to lose heart over what he is suffering for them. He tells them that he had received a stewardship of grace on their behalf and that he was only living out the loving purposes of that grace even though it had brought him suffering. Whenever we are willing to suffer so that others may flourish we do reflect, though dimly, the love of our Savior.
5. Even Proverbs offers ways of demonstrating the love of Christ, many of which have to do with the tongue. By keeping quiet and speaking fewer words we can lovingly cover the offenses of others. By extending words of encouragement we can breathe into others loving words of life. The tongue is a powerful tool for good and for evil. As Christians we must dedicate each day to the purposes of God's love.
Oh how deep and rich is the love of God. Let us dwell on it daily, drink it in, and then purpose to pour it out in as many ways as the Lord makes possible!

Glory and Grace

Have you ever seen the connection between the glory of God and the grace of God? In Exodus 32 when Moses boldly asks the Lord, "Please show me Your glory", it is interesting how God answers. He says,"I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name. And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy." I wonder if this is what Moses expected. Maybe he thought God would do something like roll the heavens back...but no...God speaks of His goodness, grace and mercy. Could it be that a big part of God's glory is the display of His goodness, grace and mercy?
Jesus gives us a similar connection in John 12. In verse 27 He says, "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." How would the Father's name be glorified? Again it seems as He reveals His grace and mercy. In this instance Jesus speaks of that ultimate moment of the display of mercy and grace at the cross.
Have you ever thought of God's glory in that way - that perhaps the greatest display of glory took place at the cross, where God's mercy and grace were most powerfully brought to bear on human sin? There is indeed glory in the cross!
Since this is true I think as we hunt for further displays of glory, we need to look in places of mercy and grace. Surely the story of Mary anointing Jesus with the precious ointment is one of those places. As Mary demonstrates the grace of God in her life, by lavishing this love on Christ, we see the glory of God displayed.
We also see the glory of God in the building of the church. The church is a people comprised of people saved by grace. Paul said in Ephesians 2:7f, "...so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that n o one may boast." As the world looks on at the church, as it sees a people saved by grace and living by grace, they are seeing a display of God's glory, a light in the world, which has the ability to draw them into that light to experience themselves the grace of God.
Christians - God's glory is very connected with His grace and mercy. Since that is so, may we all strive to live (of course, by His grace) to demonstrate that grace and mercy to everyone we have contact with, starting at home and moving out into our everyday worlds. That's part of what it means to live to God's glory. May He help us to do so today!

Does God have emotions?

Does God have emotions? Maybe that's not the right question to ask. Maybe a better question is this: is He affected by our behavior and circumstances, or is He rather stoic (unmoved) by it all? Several of our passages today seem to indicate that God is very much affected.
The first is found in Exodus 32. God has just met with the people on the mountain and displayed His glory. The mountain shook, smoke and fire rose to the heavens, God spoke and delivered the Law to His people. It must have been a terribly moving experience for all the people; one that you think would make a lasting impact.
Unfortunately, however, it was not long after this that the people urged Aaron to make some kind of idol, or representation of their God, thereby breaking at least the second commandment. How could this be? And what was God's response? He immediately spoke with Moses declaring to him what was happening "down below" and then revealing His feeling about the whole thing, He said, "I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you." God was most certainly affected by the rebellion of His people and was ready to wipe them out and start over again.
John 11 offers a different kind of movement in God's heart. It is a movement of compassion. This time Jesus is confronted with death. He is confronted with the sorrow of His dear friends Mary and Martha at the loss of their brother. He was confronted with the weeping of their friends as well. Does such a scene move the heart of our Lord or would He go along His way unaffected? The passage is clear. In verse 33 and following it says that "he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.....Jesus wept." Even the Jews observing Jesus could only conclude: "See how he loved him!"
Is it not comforting to know that we have a God and His Son that are moved by our circumstances and our behavior. The book of Hebrews affirms that we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness... God understands our griefs and our sorrows. In the biggest way He identified Himself with them when He came to earth, experienced all that it means to be human (except for sin) and then mounted the cross. Even His wrath is comforting because it shows that God understands how harmful our rebellion is and how much God wants us to walk in His ways which are best. When He sees us walking in harmful ways He will not just sit idly by - in some way He will activate His wrath in order to redirect our path.
Brother and sister in Christ, we have a God who is personal. He is affected by His creatures. May that thought urge you to draw near in obedience and give you confidence in the challenging times that your Lord is near.

From Slave to Son

In John 8:21 Jesus, speaking to the Jews, spoke these memorable words, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Those words took his auditors by surprise. They retorted that they have never been slaves, so how could they become free. Did they really need freedom? Jesus went on to explain, "Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
With these words Jesus confirmed the condition of every person's heart who has not been reconnected to the Father through faith. We are all slaves - slaves to our sinful nature that has taken mastery over us. Since the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve rebelled, the human constitution - its basic nature - has been turned in on itself. It seeks it own, not the will of its Creator. It holds all men in its power until God acts to free it!
That was the testimony of the writer of Proverbs 5:22. He clearly stated, "The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin." That what sin does. It enslaves. It keeps us in a prison of our own making from which we cannot set ourselves free. So what can man do to be set free?
Galatians 4:4-7 offers the answer. "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba, Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."
What man could not do, God in the fullness of time did! He sent His Son who took on human flesh to remove the slavery of guilt and condemnation for sin. This paved the way for the reception of a new spirit - a new human constitution - being placed within the believer. This new spirit, the Holy Spirit, now enables all followers of Christ to live in newness of life. It enables them to walk in freedom, no longer a slave but a son.
Believer, do you know this freedom? Do you know the truth that is centered in Jesus and has it set you free? Remember Jesus affirmed that whom the Lord sets free, they are free indeed. Rejoice in the freedom you have in Christ and as it says later in Galatians - use this freedom to serve and love one another.

It is Life to you!

As I read through Proverbs 4 today I was struck with how many times the author tied the Word and wisdom to life.
In verse 4 we read: Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.
In veres 10 we read: Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many (full).
Again verse 13 confirms: Keep hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.
Finally in verses 20-22 we find: My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ears to my saying. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.
It is impossible to look at these verses, all found in the same chapter, and not see how important the author felt the commandments, teachings, precepts and wisdom of the Law of God really were. In fact, he felt they were so important he associated them with life itself. He seems to suggest that life flows out of embracing them.
Well, you can imagine my confusion then when I read Galatians 3:21b (from McCheynne's 4th column) shortly after. This verse says, "For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed by by the law." This verse seems to suggest that the Law cannot give life. How do I reconcile these two statements which seem to be making opposite truth claims?
Well, as is always the case, a true interpretation must always consider the context, and when we dive into the context of each of these verses a beautiful harmony comes out.
Back in Galatians, if we take the next verse (part of its context) we learn something very important. Verse 22 clearly states, "But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." You see what the Law does so well is condemn us. It shows us our sinfulness. It holds up God's righteous standard, and try as we might, we find that we cannot attain to it. If we are honest with ourselves it leaves us before God in our sin with nothing to hold up in our defense.
But that is where God wants us because from this vantage point the only place to look is at Christ. And when we look at Christ we see someone who is sufficient to remove the barrier of our sin (lawlessness) and to provide us with a cloak of righteousness, for He alone kept the Law without exception, even to the point of submitting His will to the cross. Now those who look to Him in faith will have receive the promised eternal life. So in this way the law does bring us life because it brings us to Christ who is our life.
But there is more as well. Once we have come to Christ through faith, the Law / God's Word takes on a new role. Rather than being something we obey to attain eternal life (which we saw we cannot do), it now becomes of model of life which puts on display the eternal life now in us. It now offers us a picture of the beautiful, wise life God has implanted in us through His Spirit, and as we now seek to order our lives by that model we find that we are really living. We find that there is so much joy in following the wise way of the Word of God.
Has the Law / God's Word brought life to you? Has it first brought you to see your sinfulness and absolute need of Christ? If so, is the Law now spurring you on to order you life in a way that will put on display the wonders of the eternal life to which you now possess? Pursue the Word - it is life to you!

Humanity at its best

Have you ever wondered what humans were meant to be? Sometimes when you look at our world and you see what humans do to one another, even to the planet you wonder.... Yet we do not need to wonder because we have been shown exactly what a human is to be.
Just as God gave Moses a pattern for the tabernacle and told him to see to it that he follows it exactly, so we have a pattern of humanity that we are to follow exactly. And as the pattern Moses was to follow was of heavenly origins, so is our pattern of human living.
Of course, the pattern I am talking about is the pattern left for us by the Lord Jesus Christ. He showed us exactly what humans were destined to be. In fact, in our reading in John 5 we learn some crucial points about that pattern. Consider the following verses:
John 5 :19 "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of His own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
John 5:30 "I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not My own will but the will of Him who sent Me."
What was the key to Jesus' perfect humanity? He lost His will in the will of the Father. So much in love with the Father was He that all He wanted to do was serve the Father's purposes, to do the works He knew were central to the outworking of the Father's purposes in this world. That's it - very simple - but not easy to live out - at least by ourselves.
So how do we begin to approach living out this "humanity at its best"? I think Paul's statement in Galatians 1:15 tells us what we need to know. He said, "But when He who set me apart before I was born, and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me, in order that I might preach Him among the Gentiles,...
It all begins with God. He sets us apart before we were born for living a life in conformity to Christ. Then in time He calls us to Himself by His grace. This grace - this calling us to newness of life through the cleansing of our hearts and the implanting of the Spirit - enables us to begin to live life as Christ lived so that Christ might "be revealed" in each of us. This grace enables us to lay down our will as Christ did, and in love to passionately pursue the Father's will, only wanting to do the works that are in concert with the benevolent purposes He has for this world.
That's humanity at its best - living as Christ lived - wholly given to Father. And it is all possible by the Father's workings in our life. This world needs to see more and more humans whose lives are shining out what humanity was meant to be in the first place. God help each of us to be such an example today!

The Thread of God's Dwelling Among Us

If you have ever tried to read the Bible cover to cover you probably began to have trouble around Exodus 25. Up until now the storyline has been very engaging. Creation, Fall, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, bondage in Egypt, Moses, deliverance, meeting God at the mountain - it doesn't get better than this.
But when you arrive at Exodus 25 you encounter 15 chapters of instuction regarding the building of some kind of tent structure. And if that wasn't enough, it is followed by the book of Leviticus which has numerous chapters on sacrifices and offerings that can be a little tedious to read. So what do we make of all of this? Why has God used up so many chapters in His precious book for this?
These are important questions whose answers are vital for us to understand. So what do we make of it? First of all, Exodus 25-40 is all about God wanting to dwell among man. God says over and over "I will be your God, you will be my people, I will make my dwelling among you." Wow - God wants to live among man. That fact should blow us away. The Creator of the universe, who has all He needs in Himself, for some reason wants to make His dwelling among man.
So very earlier in this storyline God devotes 16 chapters describing in greatest detail the place of His dwelling. We call it the tabernacle, for it was a mobile residence for God who would be dwelling among a people on the move, at least for the near future. Later in the Scriptures the tabernacle is replaced with a more permanent residence we call the temple. We will see again that God gives this considerable detail. But that is not the end of the line.
The next in the series of residences for God is none other than Jesus Christ. John 1:14 states that "the Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us, and we have seen his glory,..." You see in the arrival of God's very own Son how committed God is to dwell among men. But as we all know God did receive Jesus back into heaven. What about His presence now?
The answer was hinted at in 2 Cor 13. As Paul is exhorting the Corinthians to test themselves to see if indeed they are in the faith, he asks a very important question? He asks, "Or do you not realize this about yourself, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" Thus, God continues to dwell among mankind, now not in a tabernacle, but in humans by His Spirit. This is a very important thread that ties the Scriptures together.
But what about Leviticus? Well, if it is the intention of a holy God to live among a sinful people, how possibly can that happen? Leviticus begins to answer that question. There needs to be a death, actually a covering for sin, an atonement....which ultimately points us to Christ's death on the cross.
In John 4 Jesus engages a woman from Samaria. He offers her living water, which is actually the presence of God through the Spirit. But before she is ready to receive such a gift she has to be confronted with her sin. The sin question has to be dealt with. Fortunately that is exactly what Jesus would do for her and has done for us. At the cross Jesus took upon Himself our sin and the punishment our sin deserved. Now those who come to Him in faith have their hearts cleansed and they become a suitable vessel for the very presence of God through the Spirit. Every human who has come to Christ for this cleansing (forgiveness of sin) now has the Spirit of God living in them. That's the test of which Paul was speaking!
So examine yourself! Do you pass the test? Is the Spirit of Christ living in you causing you to live as He lived, love as He loved? And if you pass the test, rejoice in the kindness of God whose plan has always been to "dwell among man".
Footnote: The true end of the story about God dwelling among us is found in Revelation 21:3. " And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God."

It's all His

Forgive me if I cheat a little bit today. I want to take a verse from yesterday's reading and a verse from today's. Hopefully that won't offend you.....
The first verse is from Job 41:11. As God brings the book to a crescendo He makes this statement, "Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine."
That about says it all! God is never in our debt. We don't give anything to Him that He hasn't already given to us. There is not a thing under the heavens, or on the earth, in fact, even in the heavens that is not His. He made it all. As Creator He has ownership of all. He also has the right to require that all things are used for His purposes. If he wants to take those things away He can do it and it is right for Him to do it. He does not have to explain to us why He does what He does with what He owns.
The second verse is found is John 3:27. John has been baptizing and in doing so had been drawing some crowds. But now that Jesus was around, the crowds seemed to be leaving John and going to Jesus. When asked what he thought about this John aptly replied, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven." Which is to say, even the crowds that follow me, are sent from heaven, and if God decides to remove them, they are His to remove. That is a very biblical way of viewing life!
Think about it: everything - let me say that again - everything you have is God's and is given to you by His choice. Your intellect, your family, your home, your financial resources, your time, your abilities,.....everything is given to you by God and is to be used for God. In giving them to you or in removing them he does not need to give a defense for His actions. All things are His and as He sees fit He shares them with His creatures who are to receive them as stewards - merely caring for them and using them to benefit the Lord's glory and kingdom as long as the Lord sees fit.
Take a moment now and reflect. Do you see all that you have as given from heaven and are you seeking to use all you have to further the interests of the One who gave them to you and is their rightful owner? How you answer this question will make a dramatic difference how you respond to affliction in your life and likely how much joy you will experience.

Come and See

I love the simple answer that Philip gives to the skeptical Nathaniel in John 1. Philip has just declared to Nathaniel that he has just found the One of whom Moses and the Law and the prophets spoke. In his prejudice Nathaniel scowls, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Unflustered Philip merely says, "Come and see". Three simple words, but such a great response. Come and see! Come and see the One to whom all of Scripture speaks.
And what is this One like to whom we want others to come and see. Look at what just one chapter in the Bible, John 1, tells us.
1. He is the Word - the communication of God vs. 1
2. He was with God vs 1
3. He is God vs 1
4. He was in the beginning with God vs 2
5. He made all things vs 3, 10
6. In Him is life and that life is the light of men vs 4
7. As the true light He enlightens everyone vs 9
8. He is Messiah - the One sent into the world vs 9, 41
9. He grants the right to become sons of God vs 12
10. He became flesh and dwelt among us vs 14
11. He is full of grace and truth - the display of His glory vs 14
12. He is at the Father's side and makes Him known vs 18
13. The greatest prophet is not worthy to untie the sandal of This One vs 27
14. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world vs 29, 36
15. He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit vs. 33
16. He is the Son of God vs 34, 49
17. He is Rabbi - teacher vs 49
That's just one chapter. There is so much more to come and see.
Let's continue our investigation of this Christ as we read His Word daily, and let's be faithful to call others to "come and see". Seek everyday to share all you know of Christ with those in your world and invite them to come and join the search of the unsearchable riches of Christ!

The Cult of the Pierced Ear

Are you a member of the cult of the pierced ear? I am referring, of course, to the Old Testament practice of piercing the ear of a slave with an awl (that must have hurt...). According to Exodus 21: 5 and following, if a slave who had earned his freedom so loved his master that he did not want to leave him but instead serve him all the days of his life. the Master would take the slave to a door or doorpost, and "bore his ear through with an awl". This signified that the slave will forfeit his freedom and serve his master all the days of his life.
Did you know that this rite is the foundation for the New Testament concept of being a "bondservant". The Apostle Paul called himself the bondservant of Christ, by this saying that he had relinquished all rights to freedom - to being on his own - in order to serve His Lord all the days of his life. Paul so loved the Lord Jesus Christ that he could not conceive of living one day apart from the Lord. In a spiritual sense he was a member of the cult of the pierced ear.
What about you? Has God brought you to the point in life that you want to relinquish all freedom and give your every breath to the service of Christ? Have you come to Christ in repentance and faith, offering Him your ear to be "born through" with Christ's awl? If you have then you are a bondservant of Christ. You have joined the cult of the pierced ear.
If you are part of the cult, what might it mean for your life? Sticking closely to the readings for today might I suggest a couple of things?
From Luke 24 Jesus lays out what life is to be for His bondservants. He said in verses 46 and following: Thus, it is written that Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you." First and foremost for the bondservant of Christ is, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to be a witness of Christ to all the nations. Life is to be about proclaiming the gospel every day in every place.
Related to this is Paul's counsel in 2 Corinthians 9. Life is to be about sowing seeds in order to reap a harvest of righteousness. It is to be about taking all the resources God has given to us (time, talent and treasure) and leveraging them for the Kingdom of God. It is about pouring out on others what Christ has poured into us every day in every place.
That's the life of a bondservant, but it couldn't be more freeing of spirit, mind and soul, for when we bind ourselves to Christ it frees us from bondage to sin and sets us free to more fully love others.
Today when you look in the mirror...check your ear lobe to see if you are a member of the cult of the pierced ear.

The Law Leads us to Christ

The Law of God, expressed so well in the Ten Commandments, is a remarkable piece of "legislation". Consider the following:
1. The Law reflects the lawgiver's character. When the law speaks of not giving false testimony it speaks of the lawgiver's truthfulness. When it speaks of not committing murder it points to the lawgiver's life giving, life promoting character.
2. To obey the Law would result in reflecting the character of the lawgiver. It would be to bring glory to the lawgiver, or put His character on display.
3. The first four commandments have to do with the love of God. The last six have to do with loving others. Thus, as Jesus Himself summed up, the Law is all about loving God and loving others.
4. The transitional commandment (the 5th) is about family. When humans break the first four commandments (regarding loving God) it most always affects the family leading to its deterioration. Then when the family deteriorates, society deteriorates and is marked by the consequences of the breaking of commandments 6-10. There seems to be a logical sequence in these commandments.
5. According to Galatians the Law was put in charge to show us our sinfulness (all of us are law breakers) and to lead us to Christ.
Fast forward now from Exodus 20 to Luke 23. Over and over in this chapter we hear men proclaiming that Jesus is innocent. Pilate said several times as did the centurion that he found no fault in this man. That is an important theme, because what man could not do (keep the commandments and thus be innocent) Jesus did. Actually the cross was His final act of obedience and righteousness. He carried out His Father's will even to the degree of taking upon Himself the sins (lawbreaking) of mankind and the punishment that lawbreaking deserved. I thnk this is what Paul means in 2 Corinthians 8:9 when he says that Jesus became poor, so that by His poverty we might become rich.
And rich we have become. By Jesus' sacrifice on the cross - by His taking all of our lawbreaking upon Himself - by receiving the stroke due the rebellion to our Creator, He has paved the way for the cleansing of our hearts. And not only that, His righteous, innocent life, even to the point of obedience on the cross, has provided us with a "coat" of righteousness in which He wraps all those who would come to Him in repentance and faith.
Has the Law performed its diagnosis upon your heart? Has it exposed your sinfulness - your lawbreaking - your heart tendency to want your own will and not the Father's? And has that revelation led you to look to the only One who can make it all right - who can bring you back to the Father through the blood of His cross.
Today is the day of salvation! If you have never made your way to Christ, today is the day. You will find Him a gentle Savior, and you will find unbelievable healing as He cleanses your heart and wraps you with His righteousness.

Two Sides of God

In today's readings we were treated to scenes that were in such stark contrast to each other. In Exodus 19 we saw a holy God coming down upon the mountain to meet with His people. His appearance was accompanied by thunder and lighting, a thick cloud and very loud trumpet blasts. God descended upon the mountain wrapped in smoke, with fire shooting up into the heavens, causing not only the mountain to tremble but also the people. This was a demonstration of the holiness of God which was designed to cause the people to fear the Lord and to walk in His ways.
In contrast we have the scene of Jesus eating the passover with His disciples. He tells them that He has earnestly desired to eat this meal with them. He passes the cup, and He breaks bread, reminding them that He must suffer for them, and that He will not drink the fruit of the vine again until the kingdom comes. It is a sweet moment between the Lord and His group of learners.
Then Jesus goes out with his disciples and tries to prepare them for what is coming. He corrects their thinking about greatness, prepares Peter for his fall, prays regarding the cup He is about to partake of, then offers Himself to the religious rulers who would take Him and nail Him to a tree. It is interesting that the One who has power to shake the mountains, meekly allows Himself to be taken to His death. What a different demonstration of God's holy presence, yet I think its design is the same - to encourage the people to fear the Lord and walk in His ways.
In 2 Corinthains 7 Paul, referring back to the promise of God to dwell among man, to make them His people and to be their God, concludes that the proper response is to "cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bring holiness to completion in the fear of God." The fact that a holy, but incomprehensibly loving God wants to make His dwelling among us, should encourage us to live, by His grace, in a way that reflects and befits His holy nature.
May the God who said he wants to make us His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (something Peter applies to Christians today) grant us all grace to fear the Lord and out of love for God to walk in His ways.

Life as Witness

How do you view your life and the things that happen to you? The answer to this question couldn't be more important. I'd like to suggest that a good way to consider your life and its events must center in witness.
Moses had been part of God's miracle workings. Think about it: the burning bush, the 10 plagues including the Passover, walking through the Red Sea, the manna, water from the rock,... And how does Moses use these events? When his father-in-law comes around he gives testimony to them. In 18:8 and following he shares "all that the Lord had done to Pharoah and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the Lord had delivered them." And what was the result? Jethro comes to acknowledge the Lord. He says, "Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharoah and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods..." After that Jethro offers sacrifice to the Lord.
Now it is not just the good or miraculous things to which we give witness. In Luke 21:10 and following Jesus shares that in the later days there will be many difficulties. Beyond the trembling of the earth, men will take believers and persecute them, delivering them up to the synagogue and prisons, bringing them before kings and governors. And how does the Lord view these "negative events'? He says, "This will be your opportunity to bear witness." Can you believe this, that even in the midst of severe affliction Jesus intends for us to think of this as an opportunity to bear witness?
Is that the way we typically look at life? In good times and bad, life and all of its events are a stage for giving witness to our Lord. At the end of 2 Corinthians 6 Paul reminds us we are the temple of the Lord. God Himself dwells in believers. In this way God intends to be a Father to us, and that means we are declared to be His sons and daughters. Now as sons and daughters it is imporant in all circumstances to bear the family resemblance. It is vital that we display the character of the One who indwells us.
Thus, the next time something wonderful happens, or even if you are struck with the greatest of difficulties, make it a habit of asking the question, "How can I bear witness to my Lord and Father in this situation?" Don't begin with grumbling and complaining (assuming the difficult happening). No - that will not glorify your Father, nor make you feel better. Instead seek to put on display the character of your God. In doing this you will be honoring your Father and you will find peace in the midst of your turmoil and a deeper sweetness in your joys.

The Human Condition

In our reading today in Luke we saw many groups coming to Jesus trying to trip him up. One of those groups was the Saducees. They had a very clever question regarding a woman who was married to seven brothers one after the other, each dying without bearing a child. They wanted to know whose husband would she be in the resurrection. Of course, they really didn't want to know the answer because they didn't believe much in the supernatural and thought their question would be the one that showed Jesus as a fraud.
But, in His perfect manner, Jesus not only answers the question, but gets to the essence of why the Saducees even asked it. In a parellel passage to the one we read today, Jesus clearly says that the Saducees' problem was that "they neither know the Scriptures nor the power of God".
As I recalled that insightful statement I wondered if this might be a key to unlocking the mystery of the human condition. Is our biggest problem that we don't know the Scriptures nor the power of God?
The people of Israel seem to manifest at least part of those symptoms. They have just seen God open the Red Sea and walk them through, and at the same time destroying the army of Pharoah. Yet now as they walk through the desert and experience thirst, instead of looking to their majestic God they begin grumbling against their human leader. Could this situation have looked differently had the people looked to the power of God? And yet over and over again the people of Israel showed their lack of trust in a God who daily showed Himself to be an able provider (remember the manna?).
In light of this, a good question to ask is, "Am I evidencing the traits of the human condtion? Am I showing a lack of knowledge of the Word and belief in the power of God?"
As I read through Paul's great passage in 2 Corinthians 5 today I saw wonderful truths that spoke to the power of God as well. These bodies of ours are decaying. Paul says they are groaning, but one day the Lord will exert His power and transform these bodies. We will put on our heavenly bodies. The mortal will be swallowed up with immortality. (What a demonstration of the power of God!) Accompanying these future realities, Paul says, is the truth of a coming judgment when the Lord will award to us our due.
Now I must ask myself "Am I living in light of these realities?" Paul was. He said these truths compelled Him to no longer live for himself but for the One (Christ) who died for him. He said he now lives compelled by the love of Christ, seeking at all times to live out His calling as an ambassador of Christ. If I know these things and if I believe in the power of God to not only transform our physical bodies, but also our very lives, will I not live as Paul lived? Will I not by the power of Christ within me, no longer live for myself but for Christ? Will I not warn others of their need to be reconciled through Christ to God? And will I not approach aging and death with a fearless perspective?
Your answer to the above questions will give you insight into how much the human condition still exercises sway in your life. If you see that it does more than you would like don't resort to that insight by redoubling your efforts,... Instead keep yourself saturated in the Word believing in God's power to lift you above the human condition. The Word tells us that He is powerful to do so! Let us all look to that power today!

The Ear of God

As I read this morning, especially in Luke 18 I was struck with who had the ear of God. First was the tax collector. All he did is cry out, "Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner." Of course, the religious ruler standing next to him thought his prayers were more likely to reach the ear of God because of His good deeds and his avoidance of sins of which this tax collector obviously wallowed in. But at the end of the story Jesus makes it very clear whose prayers entered the ear of God.
Next, we see that children had the ear of God. While others were pushing the children away, suggesting that they were not worthy of God's attention, Jesus was gathering them to Himself. He said, "Let the children come to Me and hinder them not, for to such belongs the Kingdom of God.
Then there was the blind beggar. He, too, was crying out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." Again there were those who were trying to hush him up. Does Jesus really want to listen to the cry of a blind beggar? The surprising answer to many that day was "yes" that is exactly who has the ear of God.
When you look at these three stories and contrast them with the story of the rich young ruler, you begin to see that those who are weak, or needy, or lacking, or sinful or thought unworthy by the world are those who have the ear of God. Those who recognize they have need to be filled, not those who think they are filled either with their riches or their righteousness, are the ones to whom Christ gives His attention.
Since this is so - since God has His ear open toward those who are needy, why is it that when trouble comes and we are in need, we don't first lift our voice to God? Why is it that we, like Israel in the wilderness, begin to murmur and complain? We complain to our colleague at work? We share our dissatisfaction with our spouse. We talk to everybody but the One who can really do something about our situation, who may in fact be orchestrating the events in our life, to make us more aware of our need to be filled - our need to look to Christ to find in Him alone the fullness our souls desire.
What's your MO? In difficult times are your first words sent up to the One with whom "nothing is impossible" (Luke 18:27)? Or do you resort, like Israel, to murmuring and complaining? Remember this day that the Lord's ear is turned toward the needy who call to Him in faith. Try this on for size. You will find life so much sweeter and you will be bringing more glory to your Savior.

Passing through Judgment

Exodus 14 has to be one of those landmark chapters in the Bible. It recounts one of the greatest events in salvation history and has much to teach about theology and life.
From the beginning of the chapter (vs. 4) God makes it very clear what His purpose is in orchestrating this event. He says, "I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his hosts, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord." God was doing something spectacular as a display of His glory - as an out shining of His true essence - and those who saw it would come away knowing that He alone was Lord.
To set up this event God placed Israel in a difficult position. Having just escaped Egypt they were now trapped by the Red Sea on one side, and a pursuing Egyptian army on the other. This is so like our God to display His glory in the midst of our trying times. In fact, when we are experiencing challenges or situations which highlight our weakness we ought to look at them as opportunities for God to display his strength to His glory.
This is exactly what happens in this story. Unable to do anything to save themselves, Israel is thrust on the mercies of God. Moses, their leader, cries out to the Lord and the Lord acts on their behalf, and acts in such a way so as to display His majesty. He causes a wind to blow and part the sea and dry up the ground. This allows Israel to pass through the waters unharmed. Then God compels the Egyptians to follow them in, leading to their quick and devastating demise. The response of the people to this display of God's power was fear and belief. God was glorified and shown to be Lord just as He intended.
But I think there is something more in this account than history. I think this event foreshadows what the Lord would do for His church. Like Israel we all helpless before God. We are deserving of perishing in the waters of judgment. We are hounded by our bondage to sin. But God in His mercy acts on our behalf to display His glory. Because of our connection to Christ we are able to pass through judgment and arrive safely into newness of life, while at the same time our old self is being crucified or put to death. That is the symbolism of this event as well as the symbolism of the rite of baptism. We pass through the waters of judgment into the newness of life while our old self is crucified with Christ. And when God does such a work in our midst He is again glorified and seen as Lord.
Have you experienced the mercies of God in this way? Have you passed through the waters of judgment into newness of life in Christ? If you have exult in those mercies and seek to live in light of His Lordship. If you have not, today is the day of salvation. Look to the Lord Jesus Christ who is a strong deliverer and glorious Lord.

In God we Trust

In God we trust...not as easy a proposition for us humans who are so prone to trust in other things especially our wealth and riches. Even those who claim to trust in the Lord may find themselves drifting into the trust of other things. We know that has happened by our anxious response when confronted with the prospect of losing those things in which we tend to trust. The man who crumbles when he loses his job begins to understand that his trust may have been displaced.
This has always been a temptation for man. Job 31:24-28 speaks of this. Job says, "If I have made gold my trust, or called fine gold my confidence, if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much,....this also would be an iniquity to be punished by judges for I would have been false to God above." Job knew very clearly of this temptation and sought to avoid slipping into it.
Jesus (Luke 16) tells a parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man trusted in his riches, but how foolish that was. This inappropriate trust blinded him to his real poverty and landed him in the eternal flame. He had learned too late that the riches in which he trusted were not true riches at all. Lazarus, poor on this earth, had found true riches only in the Lord.
Since trusting in riches is so common to man and has such drastic consequences, how can we avoid such a misplaced trust? Actually, God in His mercies and grace, is always working to direct our trust to Him. In 2 Corinthians 1 Paul makes this amazing statement. He says, "For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead." You see what God does is He presses in on us. He brings difficulty into our life, so much so that we begin to see that nothing we have - no riches or wealth or intellect or whatever - is sufficient to get us through. At those moments God has our attention and we begin to really place our trust in Him, and Him alone.
It is interesting to note that in Exodus 13:17 it says that "God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, 'Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.'" In other words God did not lead the people directly into the promised land from Egypt though that would have been the most direct route. Instead, he led them into the wilderness. And why did He do this? Because at this point in their journey they were not yet trusting in the Lord. If they had been confronted with the enemies awaiting them they would have looked to their own resources and then in fear sought to return to Egypt. God needed to take them through the wilderness and teach them that He is trustworthy. This lesson in the desert took over 40 years, but when their trust was transferred from self to God, they went on to possess what the Lord intended for them.
The same is true for us. God may need to bring affliction in our lives to convince us that nothing we have - not riches or wealth or status or knowledge - is worthy of our trust. In fact these things can blind us to the poverty of our soul. Once convinced of this, we can then be ready in full confidence to declare, "In God we trust". May God so work in our lives to show us any false trusts we might have and teach us that He alone is worthy of our trust.

Why is it I lack compassion?

In Job 30:25 Job says, "Did not I weep for him whose day was hard? Was not my soul grieved for the needy?" Job spoke these words in the midst of his severe affliction. He remembered the time when he was extremely blessed and how he still had an eye for the needy. This was a demonstration of his righteousness, his reflecting the Heavenly Father. But now it seemed that there was no one who had compassion on him.
Our God truly is a God of compassion; One who has an eye for the needy. In our reading in Exodus 12 today we see the culmination of God's compassion. We see, after Israel's 400 years of bondage and crying out to the Lord, the Lord sets in motion His deliverance of the people. He had heard their cry. He had seen their distress, and now moved with love He brings about a great deliverance.
We see the same compassion in Luke 15. Each parable tells of something lost (a coin, a sheep, a son) and how someone diligently sought them out until they were found. In each case heaven's joy is ignited as the lost becomes found. Perhaps the most poignant picture comes in the third parable when the Father takes off running to his returning son, embraces him, kisses him, and calls for a celebration. Truly our Lord is a compassionate God.
Since that is the case, why is it that sometimes we Christians do not have compassion for the lost and needy? Why is it that we can live our lives and not see and respond to the needs all around us? That apparently was true among the "religious" leaders of Jesus' day. In fact, this lack of compassion was what led Jesus to share these three parables. So, what is it that keeps us from an active love like the Father's?
Well, in the case of the religious rulers of Jesus' day, they had not really come to grips with their own neediness. They were on what I call a "self-salvation" project; they were trying to save themselves by their own good works, and they felt they were doing a pretty good job. But that lie was blinding them to the unloving realities in their own lives. When Luke tells us that they were grumbling because Jesus was receiving sinners and eating with them, we have to say something is gravely wrong with their "faith".
I think the principle spoken by Jesus in another passage is in operation here: He who is forgiven little, loves little; he who is forgiven much, loves much. That is to say the religious rulers who thought well of themselves, who thought quite frankly that they were better than others, had in their mind little to be forgiven. As a result, they loved little. But those of us who know our heart, or who have allowed the Lord to reveal to us the true nature of our heart, know that we have much need of forgiveness. We know true neediness. And those who have known the depths of their own neediness tend, by God's grace, to be more loving, more compassionate for other needy people.
This brings a very important application to mind. Why is it we fight so hard to cover our own sinfulness? Why is it we strive to want to look good before others? When we do that we are really cheating ourselves of the depths of God's grace and forgiveness in our own lives, and making it more difficult, and less likely, that we will be lovers, like our God, of the needy. May the Lord enable us all to freely let Him shine His light on our hearts, and may that revelation lead us to experience and then display the fullness of compassion of our Father.