Busy, busy, busy. Laundry, cooking, cleaning….Children’s needs, husband’s needs. I have the most wonderful appliances ever made, but that doesn’t mean that someone will make our supper, clean the kitchen or do my laundry. No, it’s my job. So where does that leave time for God? Being a Christian doesn’t exempt my busyness.
When raising my children, Sunday, was my busiest day of the week. I remember having my four small children to feed, clothed in their best outfits and packed in the car, praying that they would stay clean long enough to get them to Sunday school. Then for the next couple of hours I could concentrate on my worship! Right? Well almost. My mind was already planning lunch. But God understands, doesn’t He?
Yes, He does, but He also wants us to spend time with Him, in worship and prayer and to give us a day of rest as well.
A day of rest? What a wonderful idea!!
When God gave His instructions to Moses (we call them the Law or Torah) He said “Remember theSabbath to keep it holy.”(Exodus 20:8) That means a day set apart, special. The Sabbath always starts on sundown Friday to sundown on Sat. Man was to do no work. Even the animals got a day off. The Rabbis wrote a set of rules for just how much work could be done on the Sabbath. They locked “horns’ with Jesus on that.
The Lord said “The Sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27) Jesus was insistent that God gave man permission to have a day of rest for himself, his workers, and his animals, but at the same time life was to be enjoyed and not encumbered with severe rules and regulations. The Pharisees were insistent that man didn’t overstep the boundaries of keeping the Sabbath devoted to God. It was to be a special day when both the mind and body could rest. Jesus agreed but within the boundaries God had set.
Can we, as believers, also have a Sabbath rest? I believe we can and must. Not necessarily on our worship day, Sunday, but a perhaps a special time to be alone with God, resting in Him; a day for family, and perhaps fellowship with other believers or a day just for us. No chores, no duties that demand our attention.
This new phase of your worship can be done in small increments of time. Start slowly….perhaps, only a couple of hours at first. No phones, TV or whatever 21st century gadgets you have. This is a time for God and you, study, or family time.
But setting that time aside won’t be easy. It takes planning and perseverance on our part. It takes determination. The chores must wait. Good Jewish mothers who observe the Sabbath rest can do it…..why can’t we?
What will you remember five years from now? A beautiful day of rest with family, friends, devotion time to God or the dishes that got washed and clothes ironed.
Chemosh is not your average household name. In fact, you probably have never heard of him. Why would you? He doesn’t belong in the 21st century……..or does he?
When God gave King Solomon, the special gift of wisdom, he used his gift wisely for many years. He followed in the tradition of his father, David. As a result, Solomon’s kingdom became wealthy, powerful, and his great wisdom was known throughout the world. The Queen of Sheba came hundreds of miles to pay her respects, to witness his wisdom and view his glorious kingdom. She was awed by what she saw…”Even the half has not been told me” she said.(1Kings 10:7)
This mighty, powerful and godly man soon committed the sin of idolatry. He was given wives to form political alliances with neighboring countries; to cement peace treaties; provide raw materials for his many building projects and to secure the borders of his kingdom. These wives came from pagan backgrounds and brought their religious traditions with them. Solomon, at one point had 700 wives and 300 concubines living in his harem.(1Kings 11:3) Can you imagine that many women living together? No wonder he only “visited” them occasionally!
While he had built the most beautiful of all temples in which to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob….he also built a temple to Chemosh, god of the Moabites. (1 Kings 11:7) Perhaps he thought if the Hebrew God didn’t supply all his needs, another god just might! This shrine would also appease his pagan harem.
He brazenly defies God’s first commandment. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)
Chemosh was a remote deity, who could be worshipped with no entanglements; no do’s and don’ts; no threats of judgment. He was a fearful God. He demanded sacrifices but giving nothing in return. This god didn’t love or provide comfort for his people. He was not a personal god. He was a god in name only.
Today this god might be called a humanist. He is meaningful to people who believe that man’s destiny is not involved with the God of the Bible. Man becomes the maker and breaker of his own life. He becomes his own Chemosh. To the humanist mindset, man must provide for himself. Man himself is worshipped…..in his own being and identity. Evolving from some lower life forms and pulling himself up through evolutionary life forms, our humanist Chemosh, demands only that man himself is deified. He is the god of his own universe. The acquisition of knowledge through man’s own intellect is the source of man’s power. The humanist refuse to accept that the laws of logic, uniformity and morality come from the foundation of knowledge given to man through one holy God.
As Solomon was influenced by the paganism of his day, let us not fall into the same trap. Man’s worldview is faulty. Truth does not come within man himself. Truth is found only in the knowledge of the Creator, who came in the form of a man, not an untouchable and fearful Chemosh.
He too has a name………Jeshua, or Jesus, our Messiah and Savior.
I was perusing the Hebrew Scriptures (O.T) when I came upon this chapter in 1Chron.27:25. Read for yourself. It is too long for me to quote here.(See Bible Gateway for easy access to verses)
David is securing his hold on the throne of Israel and is appointing men to carry out certain jobs for him. This important work was designated to men of character who also demonstrated loyalty to the King. David’s kingship was always in jeopardy as we read throughout his history.
The heading in my Bible read: “The King’s Overseers”. The writer lists 13 to14 different men, who are assigned various tasks. I was amazed when reading the list. Some are appointed to oversee the royal storehouses; some in charge of the field workers; some to watch over the king’s vineyards. But reading further on, I find Shitrai was in charge of the herds grazing the fields; Obil, in charge of the camels; Jehdeiah in charge of the donkeys! Donkeys??? Now, why would a donkey watcher be listed in the Holy Scriptures? Isn’t there really more important scriptural information that we need to know.
So what do camel herders and donkey watchers have to do with us here and now anyway? Why is it important for us to know them? In fact, I daresay, that most of us skip those verses entirely.
But wait……..here’s a message for us. God has appointed each of us a task at any one particular time. Whether we are washing dishes, cleaning messy diapers, mopping floors, or studying for exams…..Paul tells us in 1Corinthians 10:31 “Whatever you eat or drink or whatever do, do all to the glory of God.” (NIV)
Paul, surely must have read these same verses. No task is unworthy or too menial…. if we do all for the glory of God it will be pleasing to Him!!
I am anticipating spring. I see signs of buds on trees and even the desert is looking green. I love the feel of the sun on my face. I know that winter is passing and soon there will be signs of new life appearing on the earth. Poets have written eloquently on the beauties of spring. I only know that it represents the passing of another season with the promise of renewal.
Solomon wrote in Song of Songs 2:11-12 “For lo, the winter is past. The rain is over and the flowers appear on the earth. The time of singing has come, and voice turtledove is heard in our land.”
Our conversion is reminiscent of spring.
After the cold, dark days of uncertainty, foreboding and helplessness we come into a new relationship. Our doubts have taken on certainty; our future is no longer fearful; our helplessness is now given to our “Helper”.
2 Corinthians 5:17. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old thingshave passed away; behold, allthingshavebecomenew.”
Spring is a rebirth. God is providing us a preview of a new life with Him because in Him there is rebirth……a rebirth of your spirit.
So put away the dark, cold and dreary days of winter. Walk into the sun…..let it shine on your face.
Look at the sky, the clouds the birds….and remember spring……this is you new life in Christ.
Women love shoes. Just look in their closets. It was discovered that Imelda Marcos, wife of the deposed dictator of the Philippines, had hundreds of pairs of shoes.
Shoes come in all shapes and for every occasion……six inch heels to strappy sandals. There are shoes for walking, running, hiking and even for the beach. They have yet to make shoes that help us walk on water!
The prophet Isaiah talks about feet (Isaiah 52:7) “How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation….”
We will need special shoes for that mountain climbing.
Paul wrote to Timothy (2 Timothy 2:15) about preparing for his climb…..”Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” Timothy had to prepare himself by the study of God’s Word.
Paul also wrote to the Ephesians (6:15) about their feet…… “and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
That’s our challenge. We are to read and study God’s word which will prepare us to bring peace to others though the only “Peace Giver”…….Jesus Christ.
So enjoy your new shoes……and be prepared for some mountain climbing.
Oh Eve……how could you? You were perfect. You carried within your body the generations of humanity. Your beauty enhanced all of God’s creation. You were the beautiful complement to Adam. He needed a help mate and you were created.
Paradise was given to you in all its perfection. The animals were your companions. Yes, there was work to do….keeping order in the Garden, but the Divine Order was complete when you came along. Perfection surrounded you.
But he seduced you didn’t, Eve? He was eloquent, charming and he was a liar. He enticed you to partake of the only thing in the Garden that was forbidden to you. He complimented you. Why would God withhold anything from you? Perhaps God was fearful that you would be more powerful than He. You would know all truth just as He knew truth.
Don’t blame it all on him, Eve. You had a choice. Not only did you fail but you lured Adam to partake in your disobedience. You didn’t want to do it all by yourself, did you? Sin always loves company.
Now look at us. We bare the evidence of your failure. We are surrounded with the consequences of your disobedience. Sin bites at our heels. It continually plagues us.
But Eve, we must forgive you. We also have been tempted just as you. We too want perfect knowledge and perfection. We want all truth and to be the Masters of our own fate. We have created power for ourselves under the delusion that we might, indeed, control our destiny. We have designed life extending drugs; developed machines that keep the body frozen for decades…. even exploring outer space in an attempt of finding extra terrestrial beings who might know the answer for everlasting life. We have failed miserably.
But God’s plan is still in effect. He knew from the beginning that you would fail. He also knows that we will fail. He sent the perfect second Adam, who did not fail. Because of Him we are forgiven and we do have the answer to eternal life.
So, Mother Eve, despite the consequences of your sin, our Creator has found a way for us. His name is Jesus.
Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine. Which one was actually the hero of Valentine’s day we can’t be sure. There was a St Valentine who was persecuted as a Christian by the Roman Emperor, Claudius. He was impressed by Valentine and had a discussion with him, attempting to get him to convert to Roman paganism in order to save his life. Valentine refused and because of this, he was executed. Before his execution, he is reported to have performed a miracle by healing the blind daughter of his jailer.
There is an additional embellishment to the story. On the evening before Valentine was to be executed he was said to have written the first “valentine” card himself, addressed to a young girl identified as the jailer’s daughter whom he had befriended and healed. It was a note that read “From your Valentine.”
So Feb 14th now becomes our annual celebration of love! There will be bouquets of red roses, heart shaped boxes of candy, beautiful sentimental cards and if lucky…perhaps a diamond necklace!!
The Bible has many references to love and lovers. How about Samson and Delilah or David and Bathsheba?
The most powerful of the love words is “agape love.” This is the love of God and Christ for mankind. In the New Testament it refers to the fatherly love of God for humans, as well as the human reciprocal love for God.
John 3:16 says ”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Philia …is another word which means an affection that could denote friendship, brotherhood or non-sexual affection. In 1 John 3:11 “For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.” This is really an extension of the agape love.
Jesus was asked which is the greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:36)…..“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Also see Deut 6:5)
Then there is “eros love”. This type of love is an affection of a sexual nature. I think we all understand that one. It can also mean worldly desires of any kind be it wealth or fame. With internet pornography sexual lust has now become a business venture.
We use the word “love” as an equivalent “to like or desire.” Such as….“I simply love that dress, or I would love to go out dinner!” We love to use the word “love”.
All of these “love” desires were given to mankind at creation. We were also given freedom of choice to use these “loves” wisely. Love is part of the human spirit. It is God’s gift to us.
Since man is created in the image of God we know that God himself is Love. He is the highest and greatest form of Love.
Can we do anything less than love the very One who gave us His Love. This is why we love to Love.
This morning when reading the paper (El Paso Times, Feb. 10th, Living Section) I came across two articles which caught my eye. The heading read, ”Connection with Divine to be found in Everyday Life.” That’s true enough. Then I kept reading.
The first article was written by a devout Muslim. It made sense….how to seek God in every aspect of our daily life….how to praise and worship God. In fact it could have been written by a Christian…..that is, until the last sentence. He writes that we are either “lucky or unlucky” in seeing the opportunities presented to us. The “unlucky” ones will “throw themselves into hellfire”. Lucky……..Unlucky??
The second article was written by a Hindu. He too, had a message of recognizing the Divine in all of nature and the Divine that resides within each of us. Through Yoga and contemplation we are able to reach the Divine and become one with him.
These well written articles appeal to many spiritual seekers. But one must read carefully to fully understand their impact.
As a Christian, I am not deceived into thinking that we ourselves can either have “good luck or be unlucky”. We don’t depend on luck. God created us with an opportunity for moral choices, yes….but not because of luck. We have options. Unfortunately, most of us make wrong choices in life. But wait….there’s more.
The Hindu in turn, says that we must open our minds to the Divine Spirit to become one with the Divine Nature. “Yoga means the union of the individual soul with the universal soul.” Then surely all happiness will be ours!
Is man really capable of obtaining and recognizing the Divine by simply focusing our thoughts in meditation? Neither article mentioned “sin”.
If I am reading the Bible correctly, the writers tell us that Man through his own will, defied God and sin entered the world. Sin is a result of our disobedience to the perfect will of our Creator. We ourselves cannot realize God’s perfect will for man, because we live in a world corrupted by sin. Elevating our thoughts….even with prayer and meditation will never take away sin. It’s here to stay until the Sinless One comes again, with a New Heaven and New Earth.
Our attempt to “climb to heaven” on the ladder of reason, morality, and experience cannot get us one step closer to the Divine Perfection. Biblical faith emphasizes that we cannot ascend to God on our own, but that the God of the Bible descends down to us. However, we look for a God that fits in with our world view. We remake God in our image.
The apostle Paul when writing to the Romans (3:21-24) “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
When the God/man Jesus entered our world it was for one reason. To save Mankind (that’s us) through faith in Him…..God imputes his perfection to us!! That’s the way it is.
In pride, we try to rise to heaven through our own creative processes, but God descends to us in humility, and self sacrifice. We seek truth within ourselves or in universal laws derived from moral intuition, but God has surprised us…His name is Jesus, the Messiah and Savior of all mankind.
John 14:6…. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
A friend of mine recently told me about the death of his dearly beloved little pet dog, who had been part of their family for 14 years. In human terms this little critter would have been 84 years old. Not bad for a dog. Regardless of that, the family was very sad to lose their little friend.
I also have lost two dogs. Both of whom were sick and we felt it necessary to relieve their suffering. Of course we cried. We missed them terribly and would retell stories of their cute habits and their devotion to our family. Each one had a distinct personality.
While raising my four children we had a variety of pets…rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, turtles, fish, lizards, birds, cats, dogs, horses……have I left any out?
Yet what was always amazing to me is that each of these creatures was endowed with an individual spark of the Divine. Each one had a little personality….if I might call it that. One lizard loved bananas while the other one wanted only meal worms. The fish always knew when it was feeding time by swimming up to the top of tank. The horses would whinny when they saw my daughter pull her truck up to their stall. Have you ever seen a rabbit chase a dog?
All of the animals are God’s special creation. And no, they didn’t enter the world through some evolutionary processes. They have distinct genetic characteristics within their own species. A horse is still a horse whether black, brown, white…small or large. A hamster was never a fish.
Genesis 1:24-25, tells us God created His creatures, each after their own kind ….he didn’t need millions of years to do His work. Man (Adam) was given dominion over the earth. He was to care for the earth and all of the creatures under his control.
That means that we too are responsible for our use of the earth, its resources, and its creatures. This is our world and we are to handle it wisely. We are to use the resources that the Lord has provided with care and concern. These resources are not to be wasted but used with discretion for man’s benefit.
We are also to care for all of God’s creatures which are under our control. God even gave special instructions for us. Notice these verses and how the Lord wanted man to care for His special creatures.
Deuteronomy 22:7”If a bird’s nest happens to be before you along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, with the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young; 7 you shall surely let the mother go, and take the young for yourself, that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days.” The rabbis’ said to take the young birds or eggs only when there was no other food available, but that one must have respect for mother bird and her young.
Deut 25:4 “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain. In other words, the ox also deserves his share of the harvest when he is working. Paul mentions this well known principle to both Timothy and the Corinthians in regards to those who are doing the Lord’s work. (1Cor. 9; 9 and 1 Tim. 5:18)
Exodus 23:5 “If you see the donkey …of someone who hates you… fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help him with it.” In other words, we are not to leave the poor animal, which has fallen… even if it belongs to someone you dislike. We are to help an animal who is being unjustly treated. This demonstrates to that person that you have care and concern for both him and his animal. I am thinking about the poor thirsty and hungry horses that were recently found out in our desert.
Jesus said (Luke 12:6) “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.”
God loves his creation. You and I are at the top of His list.
But until He returns to establish His new heaven and new earth, you and I are responsible for its care.
By the first of the year, my kitchen cabinets are a mess. Outdated spices, stale cereal; old cans and jars of unusual things (stuffed cabbage leaves or hot mushroom dip??} You probably have the same problem. I simply must clean those shelves.
But did you know that God also demanded a clean kitchen, although slightly different from ours. Pick up your Bible and read Exodus 12. It is about the first cabinet cleaning in history!
A quick review……
God told Moses it was time for the Hebrews to leave Egypt. They had been in that land for close to 500 years. Now God himself was going to help them leave. King Pharaoh was about to lose his best help. He had more pyramids to build. He was not going to free those slaves!! God, through his servant Moses, warned Pharaoh that unless he released the people drastic tragedies were about to happen.
You remember the story of the ten plagues? The last one was the worst of all. Every firstborn in the land would die, from the first born of the cattle to the King’s son. The only way for the Hebrews to escape the same fate was to follow the detailed instructions given to them. They were told exactly how to prepare the lamb for a sacrifice. They were told the blood of a perfect baby lamb was to be brushed on the sides and top of the doors. God even gave them instructions on the bread they were to prepare. Every detail was outlined for them. This was to be a memorial feast which was to be kept forever in remembrance of the freedom they were about to receive from God. This was the great sacrifice of the perfect lamb whose blood would save them from the same fate as the Egyptians.
In preparing their bread, God told them that it must be made without yeast. No self rising flour here! Yeast represented sin. Therefore there was to be no yeast in the bread. But not only that, they were to clean their cupboards. Sweep, wipe, dust, and clean again. No yeast was to be found in their homes. In other words, sin was to be swept away.
Yet the real story lays in that perfect little lamb of sacrifice. His blood was given so that when the Lord passed over the homes, He would see the blood of the innocent lamb and the first born child would not die.
Couldn’t God see inside those homes? Didn’t He know who lived there? Why did He insist on that little lamb’s blood? An innocent lamb that had done no wrong would die for others.
This night was to be special in the lives of all people. But this was only the beginning of God’s plan. Thousands of years later, Jesus would become that perfect lamb of sacrifice. His blood makes it possible for us to escape the death which will come upon all people. God will see His blood and “pass over” us just as the Lord passed over those homes with the blood on the doors.
We will live a life pleasing to God, because Jesus became the perfect sacrifice. Believing on Him, also takes away the yeast of sin. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-10 KJV)
Of course that can only happen when we accept His sacrifice. We must do what we are told. Just as those early Hebrews had to obey orders we must do the same. It’s not our way but God’s way. Confessing is a necessary part of our forgiveness. And that includes………..
Cleaning out our own “closets”.
This is our part. Yeast removal!!! Search those dark corners of your life. Sweep, and dust and scrub. Don’t hide the little yeast which you hate to give up. God knows where to find it. Yeast can grow and spread, just like the yeast of that bread in the oven. “A little yeast can leaven the whole lump,” (Galatians 5:9)
In other words, it doesn’t take much sin to disturb our life. Just a little. So start your housecleaning today.
Closet cleaning is good for our lives and for our souls……….
AbideLines 