Everest: The Gorgeous Day

On May 31, 1934, Maurice Wilson's last journal entry read,
"Off again, gorgeous day. "

In the winter of that same year Wilson, an eccentric Englishman with no mountaineering or aviation experience, took off to conquer Mt. Everest.  With reckless abandon Wilson's plan involved crashing his small plane onto the slopes of Tibet.  From there, he would proceed to climb Everest.

(Should your strategic plan ever involve "crashing a plane", please reevaluate)

Hopes soared for this eager adventurer but as fate would have it Wilson's hopes eventually soured. Everest proved cruel and unforgiving as that 'gorgeous day' turned tragic.

Save Maurice Wilson, no one wanders upon Everest lightly.  Quite the opposite, with great intention mountaineers of all stripes have planned and executed the ascent.  With great care and preparation people from all walks of life have successfully made the climb.  

Much the same with church unity.  

A gorgeous ideal can quickly turn into a muddled, spiritually morbid experience.  Even so, with great preparation, commitment, and care gospel-centered unity is possible.  We can ascend this Everest.  In fact, we are commanded to do so.  As churches are comprised of people of all stripes, she is charged to unite as the body of our risen Lord.

Toward this glorious end, Paul gives would be climbers certain footholds in 
I Corinthians 1-4.  

Paul’s Starting Point: Unite in the power of Christ’s cross

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God

I Corinthians 1:18

The contrast is anything but static:

The path to destruction holds no wanderers.

Slumbering in darkness and actively intent on their rebellion,

the living are truly dead.

 

The path to salvation holds no wanderers.

Awakened by divine power and actively intent on the Spirit,

the living are truly alive. 

For one the cross is incomprehensible, for the other indescribable.

For one the gospel is folly, for the other it is sheer glory. 

For one daily death, the other daily life. 

Paul’s Proposal: There are only TWO types of people 

Paul invites the various Corinthian factions to consider an undeniable truth.  On any given day, on any given continent there are only two types of people: those actively oriented toward death and those actively oriented toward life.  So, of which group do you belong? 

Effectually Paul asks, do you seriously want to raise factious banners to Apollos, Paul, and Cephas when - in fact - you are all the same?  

Please recognize that Paul carefully dismantles any opportunity for the staunch, critical, overbearing spirit that creates “otherness” among the body of Christ.  Rather than the “otherness” naturally generated by our flesh and perpetuated throughout lesser forms of unity, Paul draws the universal church together by reminding her of our “oneness” in Christ.   

Paul’s Persuasion: Beware the divisive nature of pride

Putting pride in the crosshairs, Paul continues to challenge divisions within the church.  Note the outline below. I Corinthians systematically deconstructs the foundation of human pride: first by subverting human striving (1:19-25) and then by inviting readers to consider their own experience (1:26-2:5).

• Unable to grasp Truth, human postulating is frustrated (1:19-21)
• Unable to find Truth, human seeking is frustrated (1:22-25)
• Consider your status, nobodies saved in Christ (1:26-31)
• Consider my ministry, a nobody used by Christ (2:1-5)

Paul reinforces a unifying reality: 

apart from the cross, no man generates New Life.

Indeed, God himself has literally put us in Christ (1:30).  Jesus Christ is our wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification, and our redemption.  In this overarching reality, all flesh is silenced for no man can boast (1:29, 31).  

The cross brings unchecked pride to its knees.  

The cross curtails all manner of factions and lesser forms of unity.  

The cross bridges our differences, placing us in one family, the family of God.

The cross whispers into our souls, inviting us into something much larger.   

The cross causes the church to teem with anticipation and opportunity. 

The cross causes the church to brim with possibility rather than negativity.

As we ascend Everest, let our unity in the Lord Jesus Christ be where the church, the very people of God, begin not where we end.  May what separate the Body of Christ theologically or culturally be embraced and understood within the context of "oneness in Christ" not "otherness in our flesh".  And until the risen Lord return, may we be found faithfully working for the unity that will be manifested in glory for this, and this alone, will be most glorious.  

Grace and Peace 

Everest: The Ascent Toward Unity

I appeal to you brothers by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ 

that all of you agree, that there be no divisions among you, 

but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.    

I Corinthians 1:10

Have you ever considered the vast differences that potentially exist between us on any given Sunday? 

How we were reared with our innate values and fears.

How we are hardwired with our nuanced personalities, quirks, and passions. 

From different socio-economic levels to political ideologies, we’re different. 

From educational backgrounds to theological ideologies, we’re different. 

From personal convictions and opinions to personal tastes, we’re different. 

Some carry unfathomable life tragedy, others seem unscathed.  

Some are infants in Christ, others are more mature.

While the possibilities of what differentiates us are endless our aim is singular.  Gospel-centered, Christ exalting, interpersonal unity is the divinely established standard.  And while the church faces many trials and challenges, there is but one Everest: we are to unite.  

Gratefully, in I Corinthians 1-4 Paul provides solid footing for our ascent:

1. Unite in the power of Christ’s cross (1:18-2:5)
2. Unite in the depth of Christ’s mind (2:6-3:23)
3. Unite under the authority of Christ’s apostles (4:1-21)

Truthfully.  The climb toward unity is daunting and the temptation to settle for lesser expressions is great.  After all, why climb the mountain when we can simply snap selfies at it's base and grab souvenirs from the gift shop?  Why invest all the emotional energy and spiritual discipline necessary when easier substitutes exist?

Indeed, alternatives to God-honoring unity abound.  Think about it.  As the Spirit seeks to cultivate supernatural unity in the church, be assured the enemy has created knock-offs.  

Utilizing the psychosocial phenomena of large groups, the Spirit works to form collective identity, meaning, and belonging.  Through the regular preaching of God's word, the administration of the ordinances, and the offering of public praise and worship, the Spirit moves throughout the collective whole.  In the end, this unity exemplifies trinitarian doctrine and function - as Jesus prayed we are to be united as the Father and Son! (John 17:20-23) 

Similarly, the enemy can take the exact same phenomena and create substitutes.  Alternatives to biblical unity that feel authentic but ultimately lack the depth of God’s design.  These substitutes are shallow and susceptible to splintering and fragmentation.  Often rather than doing the hard work of uniting, these choose uniformity rather than genuine, biblical unity.  In fact, as we’ll see below, the Corinthians succumbed to the cultural practices of their day and settled for an unfortunate alternative (1:10-17).  

In the days ahead, we'll explore the three aforementioned footholds but for the moment I'd encourage us to exercise biblical discernment as we consider the possibility of counterfeits.  Simply put, what are potential alternatives to the Christ-exalting congregational unity set forth in I Corinthians 1:10?    

While this is list certainly isn't exhaustive, I'd offer the following:  

We unite around figureheads.  These bonds are built upon a particular preacher’s charisma and/or skill set (1:11-12).  A core threat to the “cult of personality” is reflective questioning.  The system, or more grievous the leader, discourages such inquiries often perceiving them as ungrounded challenges. 

We unite around preferential norms.  These bonds are built upon common cultural faith experiences and expressions.  A culture’s nuances provide a familiar sense of sanctity to those within the system.  A core threat is the idea of change.

We unite around nuanced doctrinal statements.  These bonds are primarily built upon particular systems of theology rather than the gospel.  A core threat is the theological diversity reflected in the universal body of Christ.    

We unite around excitement.  These bonds are built upon that which is either new and/or captivating.  Whether upbeat worship, the newest and largest building project, creative marketing, or the latest ministry fad this manner of unity craves anticipation and stimulation.  A core threat is the perceived monotony of daily church life.  

We unite around busyness.  These bonds are built upon cluttered calendars and accomplished tasks.  Consider Martha serving in the kitchen, what holds these bonds together is the achievement gleaned from “doing the Lord’s work.”  This degree of unity is susceptible to being defined by productivity, what “we do” is more important than who “we are”.  The one who rests is often seen as slacking.  Accordingly a core threat is the necessary “no”.   

Biblical discernment is crucial.
Substitutes do provide something but they're lacking.
Be honest about our bonds, much is at stake.
Paul gave us distinct pathways to tread.
Let's get ready to climb!

Grace and Peace  

Waiting Well

530 years.

Five centuries is difficult to quantify:

530 years ago Johann Gutenberg completed the first Bible.

The Turks conquered Constantinople.  

Columbus sailed on the Santa Maria.  

Ivan the Great became the first czar.  

By the year 2306 our nation will be 530 years old.  

No matter who you look at it, 530 years is a long time to wait.  

By roughly 530 BC, Israel's 70 year captivity was finally over.  The Persian king Cyrus had secured the nation's physical redemption and now the faithful Jews anticipated that a Servant-King would rise and restore the Golden Age of Israel (Isaiah 2:1-4; 9:1-7; 10:20-12:6; 24:1-27:13; 34:1-35:10; 52:1-12; 54:1-17). 

Nationalistic expectations understandably soared.  The prophet Isaiah had textually woven together the destinies of Cyrus and the Servant-King.  Chapters 40-54 build upon one another in that Persian king would allow the exiles to gain their land and then the Jewish Servant-King would liberate the nation from sin.  One would bring physical redemption, the other spiritual.

While textually these two men are intertwined, would the unfolding of history have them chronologically linked?  Would the Jewish King immediately follow the Persian king?

Eventually reality set in.
Cyrus had come but where was this Servant-King?
Where was this Immanuel Child?
Where were the restored fortunes of Zion?

For 530 years the nation waited, carrying questions and crafting solutions.
Intending to establish the kingdom, certain ideologies took root.

The Pharisees stressed renewal through personal righteousness.
The Zealots stressed renewal through militancy.
The Essences stressed renewal through extreme isolation.
The Sadducees stressed renewal through political positioning.

Unbeknownst to most, things had already changed.
The Servant-King had entered our world.

But on that particular day, he would go public.
On that particular Sabbath, during the normal routine,
the created order was turned upside down.
An unassuming man took the Isaiah scroll and began to read:

The Spirit of God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, he has sent me to bing up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (61:1-3; Luke 4:16-30).     

Rolling up the document he turned to those in attendance:

“Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing”

The Servant-King slipped unto the scene as the answer to 530 years of questions, struggle, and disillusionment.  Please sit with this.  We simply turn a few pages in our Bibles, from Isaiah to Luke, and five centuries of Jewish angst is quickly alleviated when we see Jesus.  May we not be so quick to short-circuit the 530 years in which the post-exilic faithful waited and wrestled.  May we slow down and appreciate those who refused to allow nagging questions to dampen their faith.    

To those who seek to wait well, Isaiah cultivates a gritty mindset built upon three distinct messages that are woven throughout 56:1-66:24:  

Persevere in obedience, find delight in the Lord

“Keep justice and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come and my deliverance be revealed.  Blessed is the man who does this and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil” (56:1-2)

“If you turn back your foot on the Sabbath from doing your pleasure on my holy day…then you shall take delight in the Lord and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father”  (58:13-14)

"But you who forsake the lord, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune, and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter because when I called you did not answer; when I spoke you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my eyes and chose what I did not delight in.  Therefore says the Lord God: behold my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; behold my servants shall drink but you shall be thirsty; behold my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be put to shame; behold my servants shall sing for gladness of heart, but you shall cry out for pain of heart and shall wait for breaking spirits.  You shall leave your name to my chosen for a curse and the Lord God will put you to death, but his servants he will call by another name.  (65:11-15) 

Persevere in truth, God has promised to act

The day will come when...

God will establish Mount Zion for all nations:  

Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, the Lord will surely separate me from his people...I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters, I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off...these I will bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer...for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.  (56:3-8)

The nations respond to Israel's revelation: 

For behold darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples but the lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.  And the nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.  (60:1-14) 

The Servant-King announces liberation:  

The Lord has anointed me to bring goo news to the poor...to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor...to grant those who mourn in Zion - to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes (61:1-4) 

All things are made new: 

For behold I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or com into mind.  But be glad a rejoice forever in that which I create for behold I create Jerusalem to be a joy and her people to be a gladness.  I will rejoice in Jerusalem... (65:17-25) 

Persevere in prayer, seek the fulfillment of God's promise  

“On your walls I have put watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent.  You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth”    (62:6-7)

As in the 6^th century BC so the 21^st century AD: the faithful wait.  We wait, we hope, we endure. Waiting for the return of the Servant-King, let us delight in the Lord and discern between good and evil, let us hold fast to truth, let us pray fervently for the kingdom to come.

The Servant-King left to prepare a place for us, we need not pine as those who have no hope.  Indeed we will forever be united and reigning with our King.  And though the trials mount, we understand that all things work toward the good of God’s children and that suffering will produce in us an unfading hope (John 14:1-3; I Thess 4:13-18; 2 Timothy 2:12; Romans 8:28; 5:1-6).

In the words of the apostle John, “Come Lord Jesus.”

May we be found faithful on that day. 

“From the new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me.  And they will go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me.  For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh”  Isaiah 66:23-24

Great Read

Great Content.  Textually Sound.  Easy to Read.

While the article's focus is chiefly on multi-ethnic churches the principles easily apply to multi-generational churches as well.

I'd encourage you to take the time, read the piece, and consider the commonly accepted practice of multiple service styles.  Contemporary, traditional, blended, liturgical - the list could be endless but have we stopped to consider the gospel implications for providing worship services built around personal preference?  Is this really the best practice leadership can provide our people?  I sense not.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgcworship/2014/02/26/the-graveyard-of-multi-ethnic-worship-why-her-velcro-sneakers-kill-me/

Curious of your thoughts!

The Servant Knows

I loved the Bo Knows campaign. 

Nike nailed it with this cross-trainer ad.
From baseball to hockey, from MJ to McEnroe - Bo knows.

Recently I was struck with something incredible:
The Servant knows. Above all, He knows obedience.

And far too often I don't know diddley.  

Note the Servant’s words in Isaiah 50:4-5:

The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pullout the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.

The Servant knows obedience.

In my estimation no other OT passage captures the fullness of Christ’s absolute surrender quite like Isaiah 50:4-9. From the monotonous grind of daily existence to the peek of human suffering, Isaiah skillfully portrays the Servant as mastering the art of submission.  

The monotonous grind. Morning by morning, day-in-day-out the Servant is seen as having his ear awakened, to hear as those who are taught. The Christ would assume a daily posture of receptivity, combining information with implementation. His ear not dull, the Servant would grow in experiential submission to God’s will and ways.   

I like how Eugene Peterson describes this manner of rugged, disciplined surrender. He references it as ‘long obedience in the same direction’. No short cuts, no excuses.  The Servant methodically approaches this daily obedience with lunchpail in hand.  Ready to work.  Sunup, sundown. Morning by morning, not my will but yours be done.

The peek of suffering. With spittle dripping down his swollen face, the Servant would learn a different sort of obedience.  Beard plucked and back gapping, His ear would be opened to a new degree of surrender. Through gut wrenching interpersonal abandonment, incomprehensible physical trauma, and emotional torment the Christ would experience an untold degree of submission. 

Hebrews tells us that Christ learned obedience through the things he suffered (5:7-8). Isaiah captures this same idea, the Messiah would die as a result of his undeterred obedience.  

The Servant knows obedience.  

From daily minutia to the depths of misfortune, He knows.
In fact, He has mastered the art of obedience.
There would was no legitimate accusation levied, no one to accuse (8-9).

In times self-pity I’ve lamented that the Christ knows nothing of my struggle. How could He?  He's God.  Passages such as Hebrews 4:14-16 make good Sunday morning sound bites but deep down I held them in deep suspicion.

How is the Christ, our high priest, able to sympathize with our weakness?
How was He tempted in every respect as we are yet without sin?

Deep down I assumed the Christ had an 'Easy Button' from Staples.
A bit of temptation coming his way?  No worries, push the 'Deity Button' and all manner of cravings or threats would cease.  Crisis diverted.     

Yet Scripture teaches otherwise, the Servant would learn obedience.  We read of him wrestling to submit His will to the Father.  We see him facing unheard temptation straight from Satan's hand.  Yet in all of this, He stood tall.  No compromise.  Exercising reliance on the Father, scripture, prayer, and grit the Servant chose obedience using the same human faculties afforded to all of Adam's children. 

Whatever the contours of your temptation, He knows.

Whatever the nuances of your circumstance, He knows. 

Whatever might be raging within, He knows.   

He knows and He will offer aide.  

In our ongoing effort to work out our salvation may we find perspective and strength from our Lord and Savior for He alone is our champion. Listen deeply to Isaiah 50.  With the same tenacity as Christ look for the way out of temptation.  Do not cave.  Do not regress.

While the old patterns might feel so ingrained and familiar, they lead to nothing but chaos and brokenness.  Deep down we know this.  Deep down we know that only He can grant grace, grace that will abound to you so that having sufficiency in all things at all times we may abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).  

Blessings.

Just for kicks, check out the commercial...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjpSH8qJ7c4

Look Who's Coming For Dinner

If people are coming over, we typically try to clean house.  

This routine is often an odd mix of both chaos and calm.  

But it usually works for us.  

Houseguests typically provide motivation.  

    

In Exodus the nation of Israel is preparing for company.  As we spoke about Sunday, the entirety of chapters 25-40 deal with the nation preparing to host her King.  God was actually making plans to move down from Mt. Sinai and take residence among His people.1  

Imagine Martha Stewart moving in.  Only multiply that by 10,000.  

Even still, the diva of decor and fine dining doesn't quite cut it.  

God was literally moving into the camp.  But there was a slight problem.

The nation grew impatient and did something incredibly shortsighted and reckless.  While waiting on Moses to return, Israel created an idol and adopted it as their patron deity.  They diverted their worship away from the One who had redeemed them and began to worship a golden calf.  

Certainly God's plan was to dwell among His people yet from the very beginning we see the nation wrestling with idolatry.  This threat, the danger of worshipping lesser things, was the single greatest challenge to Israel experiencing God's unparalleled blessing.  In many ways, our path is no different.  If we are to experience the fullness of God's indwelling then we must be attentive to the allure of idols (2 Corinthians 6:15-18).  

Along this line, I'd like to make a few observations from Exodus 32.

Read between the lines of verse 1: He is still on that blasted mountain!  When God is not operating according to our agenda or timetable we get antsy.  This impatience reveals a syncretic heart: a will desperately attempting to blend the worship of two gods.  Timothy Keller talks about our hearts being idol factories, I tend to agree with him. 

Of course all of this occurs below the surface, under my Sunday best.  It isn't until the supreme God doesn't cooperate with my lesser gods that I react.  In my idolatry, I grow demanding.   

This demanding spirit is easily detect within Israel.  Note 32:1, "Up!"  The people come to Aaron and emphatically issue a demand.  There was no waiting.  No movement to still the heart.  Instead of prayer and patience there is the singular drive to secure that which is most desperately craved.

Nothing, save the grace of God, will get between the idol and it's disciple.

Perpetuating this demanding spirit is the underlying issue of twisted thinking.  Throughout the narrative of Exodus the people make some of the most ridiculous statements but note 32:4.

"These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt"

Seriously? "These are your gods..."  

The calf forged from your nose ring delivered you from slavery? 

Vain, sinful imaginings tend to warp our thought process.
We lose sight of God's splendor and majesty.
We mistaken attribute supreme standing to whichever idol we pursue.
"This" is your god.  "This" is my god.        

"This" has bought your freedom. 

"This" is worthy of your sacrifice. 

"This" will secure your worth and future status. 

"This" will bring deep, lasting meaning and fulfillment.

The more twisted our thinking becomes, the stronger the idols grow and the more susceptible we are to self-deception and ruin.  Pay attention to Aaron's general attitude when Moses' confronts him (32:21-24).

Indicative of idolatry is the ingrained ability to blame shift and deceive.

Moses, those people are unbelievable, you know how stubborn they are!
Blame shifting.      

I took their gold rings, threw them into the fire, and out came this calf!
Deceit.  

Maybe the best question isn't "if" I have idols but what are they?  I John concludes with a very brief yet fitting admonition, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols."  Be careful of the lesser things, those desires that can creep in and become idolatrous demands.

Invariably God will mess with our idols.  When He does, we'll likely grow impatient.  Pay attention to these moments, be careful of the twisted thoughts that detract from the truths of God's word.  Receive the word that is able to save your soul.

Submit to God and He will lift you up.  Continued pursuit of idols will lead to squirming, shifty behavior and thoughts.  Blame shifting and deceit happen to be common but there are many ways we deflect and keep from sitting under the light of truth.

Wherever we might be may we embrace God's presence for we are the temple of the living God:

"I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Therefore go out from their midst and be separate from them says the Lord...then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you and you shall be sons and saughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."  2 Corinthians 6:16-18

God Bless!

1.  The Plans for God’s Presence (Exodus 24:12-31:18)

     The Challenge to God’s Presence (32:1-34:35)

     The Gift of God’s Presence (36:1-40:38)

Look But Don't Touch

With four boys it often feels like we descend upon establishments.

Sure, I believe them to be good boys but they are boys.
Toys-R-Us or Chucky Cheese? No problem.
Pottery Barn or Michaels?  Not so much.  These places invite disaster.    
They are a minefield of horrors, filled with fascinating breakables.
Feel free to look but do not touch.

On Sinai, God’s presence literally descended upon the mountain.
Lighting, seismic tremors, and billowing smoke made it a sight to behold.
The customary trumpet blast signified that Israel's King had arrived. 
This was not Oz.  No mortal wizard was behind the curtain, pulling levers.
Indeed, God was present.  And He invited Israel close but not too close.    
Feel free to look but do not touch.

Meet and Greet with God. God had determined to bring Israel out of Egypt so that they might experience His character and person firsthand.1  Note Exodus 20:20:

Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to you to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin”

Whatever else could be said about Exodus 19-24, it’s essence involves Israel actually meeting their divine benefactor. The people are given the unique opportunity to both hear and see the One who redeemed them from Egypt (Exodus 19:9-20; Deuteronomy 5:24).

Fear God. The sum purpose of Mount Sinai was for Israel to meet her God so that she would learn to fear Him: "Do not fear, for God has come to you to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin”

Often when defining the fear of God we rightly inject words such as ‘reverence’ and ‘awe’. A condition or posture of the heart that manifests submissive obedience to God’s will. We do not cower beneath a Tyrant’s hand but rather find comfort and rest in the benevolent care of our King.

A Healthy Tension.  Living in the fear of God invites tension.  On Sinai God vividly portrayed Himself as equally accessible and unapproachable. He was divinely present and personable yet dangerously distinct. In response, Israel was encouraged to draw near to the mountain and experience God but they dare not overlook the divine stipulations or defy the barrier.  Feel free to look but do not touch.

So it is with God. He is a loving Father yet He is also a Consuming Fire2.

On one side there is immeasurable freedom in God’s family.  Freedom to rest in His tender mercies, freedom to approach God’s throne with boldness, and freedom to trust that the Father is aware of every hair that falls.

On the other there is a weighty charge amongst God’s ranks.  We are to be unwavering in our duty.  We are ambassadors of a kingdom that is not our own.  We are subordinates in a battle in which we are not the Commander.  We are under the Almighty God and our service requires a strict regime of obedience.  We are slaves to righteousness.  No questions asked.  No excuses.   

Fear or Flippancy?  

Do I fear God?  Instinctively I respond.  Of course!

But in slowing down I began to try and think more concretely on the idea of fearing God.  Am I more fearful or more flippant?  In search of some markers, I turned to Proverbs and organized the verses into five indicators of whether or not we live in the fear of God.  I encourage you to read through the questions, consider the verses, and allow the Spirit room to speak:

1. Do I humbly receive sound words of biblical instruction or are my responses typified by defensiveness and dismissive skepticism? (Proverbs 1:7, 29; 2:1-5; 9:10; 15:33; 22:4) 
2. Do I humbly confess my sins to God and others or do I tolerate sin in my life, dismissing its presence and entertaining its perceived benefit? (Proverbs 8:13; 16:6) 
3. Do I exhibit a strong trust and rest in God such that those closest to me, my family, find comfort or am I unable to spiritually nurture and encourage those nearest to me? (Proverbs 14:26)    
4. Do I regularly experience a joyous, inner vitality or is my disposition defined by negativity, melancholy, and depression? (Proverbs 14:27; 19:23; 22:4) 
5. Do I persevere in contentment or am I overrun with unrest, greed, and envy? (Proverbs 15:16; 23:17)     

Does our life bear the marks of fearing God?  Let us pray toward this end and may God be ever gracious to develop in us a reverence and awe that is honorable to Him.  

Blessings

1. The English word 'test' in 20:20 represents a Hebrew word who's bandwidth includes the idea of giving an experience or expanding one's capacity.  Exodus 20:18-20 and Deuteronomy 5:24 build the contextual framework for the idea of God, at Sinai, manifesting himself to Israel so that they would have a greater understanding and capacity of God's person and nature.  Certainly, God would formalize the people of Israel into nation through giving the Law (Exodus 19-24) and He would position Israel to actually receive His presence (Exodus 25-40), but these activities are birthed out of the God's effort to bring the people to Sinai so that would know something more of His person and character and thereby rightly worship Him as their King (Exodus 3:12).   
2. While Hebrews 12 draws clear lines of distinction between the Old Covenants and the New, there persists this reoccurring tension throughout the book.  The 5 warning passages in Hebrews highlight the aforementioned tension of our faith (Hebrews 2:1-4; 3:7-4:13; 5:11-6:12; 10:19-39; 12:14-29). God offers grace through the gospel but He will not tolerate rebellion.  If indeed we are His, there will be a growing ability to both experience the freedom of Christ and live out our duty before Him.