Jesus

Blood & Water

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I hope you get more out of this weekend than bunnies and chocolate eggs. I hope you take more than a moment to recognize that what you’re celebrating is bittersweet.

As you may be aware, Jesus was in an exceptional amount of torment, physically and mentally, during his crucifixion. However, when the legionnaire lanced Him through the side (to ensure He died), blood and water came out. Medically, that means:

“- there was an escape of water fluid from the sac surrounding the heart, giving postmortem evidence that Our Lord died not the usual crucifixion death by suffocation, but of heart failure (a broken heart) due to shock and constriction of the heart by fluid in the pericardium.” (CBN)

He died of a symbolically broken heart because of our sins.

Unlike Christmas’s proximity to His possible birth, Easter Sunday is probably very close to when Jesus actually died on the cross. Jesus was crucified on the eve of Passover,which lasts seven days. He rose around Saturday night just as the weekly Sabbath ended. Let’s see how the Passover was a sign of God’s promise and yearly reminder of a savior He’d send to His people.

Long ago, in the Old Testament, Jews were enslaved by the Egyptians (much like God’s children are enslaved by the evils of this world before they’re saved). God sent a plague that ravaged Egypt, killing every first born except for those who smeared lamb’s blood on their doorways (the lamb symbolizing Jesus, of course). Those same families would be gathering inside their safe homes and eating the very first Passover meal, which was rife with symbols of both bitter times, mourning, and finally hope and renewal. It was a way to remember the past, put it behind them, and move on to a brighter future.

The next day, the Jews left Egypt en masse. After three days, the Pharaoh realized that they weren’t returning from their religious holiday and began to pursue them. It wasn’t long after that the Hebrews passed onto the other side of the parted Red Sea, not allowing their pursuers to follow them.Many years later, Jesus rose from His grave and saved His people from their own spiritual pursuers.

Forty years after they fled Egypt, the Jews crossed the Jordan River to enter into God’s Promised Land. This is the same river in which Jesus was baptized.

Please have a good weekend, but remember God’s great love for you, how He’d die for you, and most importantly how He lives again for you.

Many blessings.

Sources other than Bible:
https://www1.cbn.com/medical-view-of-the-crucifixion-of-jesus-christ
https://www.ucg.org/the-good-news/jesus-wasnt-crucified-on-friday-or-resurrected-on-sunday-how-long-was-jesus-in-the

Painting the Backdrop of Jesus

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Many people assume details about the world surrounding Jesus and other Biblical figures. It’s common to acknowledge they dressed funny, spoke another language, and wore long beards and/or hair. However, there’s much, much more we might overlook.

First, we’ll start with where Jesus grew up. He lived in Nazareth, a village in the Galilee. According to archaeological evidence, Nazareth was certainly a small village, but it stood on the edges of a thriving urban city, Sepphoris. In that time, the major cities, especially, were inundated with the Greek and Roman lifestyle: various forms of entertainment like theatres and amphitheaters, etc despite the fact it was a Jewish city. Jesus was raised between the ancient Hebrew world and the newer Greek/Roman world. He even possibly spoke a few languages (Hebrew, Aramaic – the everyday language, and Latin) as it was common for Jews to use all three.

Yet, he never really speaks in the New Testament like an urbanite. Also, interestingly, He never mentions (in the Bible) Sepphoris despite how close it existed to His home.

His family trade is typically seen as carpentry, but the Greek word used is “tectone,” which simply means something close to artisan or craftsperson. Even farmers were higher class than an artisan. Those farmers who were forced from their lands might become an artisan in order to get by. Peasants typically disliked cities due to both social status and Jewish-Roman tensions. Yet, He uses the words and images of a peasant farmer (Nazareth was a farming village), someone very in tune with the earth and nature around Him.

He appears to avoid major cities in His travels. Landowners, government officials, judges, and other wealthy people lived in cities, with the countryside reserved for the poor. Maybe He preferred small towns and the countryside, or perhaps He found the peasants to be more willing to listen to His message.

A couple sources speak of what you’d expect to see walking down the streets of a town:

“Tradesmen would be instantly recognizable by the symbols they wore. Carpenters stuck wood chips behind their ears, tailors stuck needles in their tunics, and dyers wore colored rags. On the Sabbath, these symbols were left at home.” (Christianitytoday)

“Houses were all-purpose 1-2 room squares, with dirt floors, flat roofs, low and narrow doorways, and front wooden doors. Often people would sleep on flat roofs during hot nights. The houses were arranged around a central shared courtyard where neighbors performed daily chores (cooking, laundry, etc.) in each other’s company. Water was carried in from a public well and stored in a courtyard cistern. Lighting was provided by earthenware oil lamps. People slept on mats, and owned limited personal goods.” (JesusCentral)

Everyone became just people on the Sabbath. They ate two main meals a day with bread being the center point of both. Common places to meet up with others, beside in the courtyard, were the marketplace and the temple. During major feast days, they’d travel to Jerusalem if they could, where the population would swell from about 55,000 to 180,000. It was a bit crowded.

Children were children as always, and archeologists have found “whistles, rattles, toy animals on wheels, hoops, and spinning tops” with the occasional board game, such as a version of checkers. There were few portraits or images of living beings, as this was forbidden in Jewish culture (which is also the reason you won’t find a drawing of Jesus). The only exception being dolls for children.

It’s interesting, and sometimes helpful, to put context to Jesus’ message. With the details on the down-to-earth lifestyle of the Jews in His time, we can more clearly see Him walk the streets spreading love. As I find more information, I’ll share so we can fully paint the backdrop of Jesus.

Sources other than Bible:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/jesus/socialclass.html
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125394814
http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-59/life-times-of-jesus-of-nazareth-did-you-know.html
http://www.jesuscentral.com/ji/historical-jesus/jesus-firstcenturycontext.php

New Year: God’s Resolution

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“And the One seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.'” Revelation 21:5

A new year promises new beginnings, and urges us all to look to the future with hope and sometimes a little fear of the unknown. We make resolutions to help us create a better life. Did you know God has His own resolutions?

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying:

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man,
and He will live with them.
They will be His people,
and God Himself will be with them as their God.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,
and there will be no more death
or mourning or crying or pain,
for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4

“Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. The one who is victorious will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.” Revelation 21:5-7

Once upon a time, when I was a child, I took it upon myself to “attempt” to read the Bible all the way through. I half-way succeeded (literally only the Old Testament) and then skipped to Revelations. What a horrible idea! I read things like:

“And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” Revelations 6:8

And –

“And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.” Revelations 6:12-14

Well then. So, basically Revelations used to be like a horror film to me, full of blood and gore and hopelessness.

I HAD MISSED GOD’S PROMISES AND HOPE. I only caught on to his anger and deep sadness over the darkness of the world.

So, later, armed with greater reading comprehension and knowledge of how to research and dissect literature, I faced the Bible once again. I started at the beginning, when the world held such hope, mourned the loss of innocence, and struggled alongside the prophets, laymen, families, and God as I made my way back through the Old Testament.

Malachi.

This is the last book of the Old Testament, written by the minor prophet… Malachi, of course.

“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts.” Malachi 3:1

“See, I will send my messenger…For he will be like a refiner’s fire… He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.” Malachi 3:1-4

Malachi spoke of hope. Hope that the Israelites lived on for 400 years.

Then, I finally opened the New Testament.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5

The darkness has not overcome it. After all the pain, turmoil, doubt, and silence that the Old Testament addressed, it also spoke of unrelenting faith, everlasting love for others and God for His people, and the pinprick of light that still existed far toward the end of the tunnel. Yet, after all this, that spot of light remained and only grew stronger in the world.

Through the books of the New Testament, I walked with Jesus and His disciples speaking of the love of God and His children and the hope that sinners had in Him. The darkness had not overcome the light, but the light would overcome the darkness. Though life was never easy or fair for Jesus or His followers, they grew from a handful to innumerable as the stars. I remember a resolution God had made back in the beginning.

“He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars–if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Genesis 15:5

Did you think God was speaking to Abraham of his future blood relatives back then? Abraham probably did too.

“And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” Galatians 3:29

You are one of those stars He spoke of so long ago.

When God makes promises and resolutions, He not only follows through but brings them to fruition above our very expectations and dreams.

So, when I finally made it back to Revelations, I read it with different eyes, filled with new hope. There would be terrible things in store for the world. This much was still true. But, did you not realize that we, the beloved children of God, are not the world? We may have to suffer through much, but haven’t we already through history? One thing remained the same: God stands by our side and faces it alongside us.

“The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:17-18

This new year, remember God has His own resolutions, and they involve you.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Happy New Year to all; your future is bright.

***

Other Bible quotes about God making all things new:

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“Remember not the former things,
nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 45:18-19

“For behold, I create new heavens
and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever
in that which I create;
for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
and her people to be a gladness.” Isaiah 65:17-18

Christmas: Light After Darkness

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“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:9-11

Winter Solstice is an astronomical event, marking the longest night of the year, and it usually occurs between December 21-23.

Just before Jesus was born, the Israelites experienced a long night themselves, held up only by faith in God’s promises to bring them a King. The period between Malachi and the Messiah was known as the “400 years of silence,” during which time there were no prophets and God did not speak to the Jewish people. They remembered the prophecies of old:

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2

“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9

Then, a light came out after that long night, and the silence was broken forever.

Like a man stumbling out of a dark room into the bright sunlight, when Jesus was born, many were blind to the fact their King had finally arrived.

“-the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Matthew 4:16

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have a light of life.” John 8:12

It’s interesting to note that Hanukkah, the festival of light celebrated by Jews, is followed by the darkest period of the year. This is followed by Christmas, a celebration of Jesus’ birth. In the same way, the Jews rejoiced in God’s light, which lasted in faith throughout a silent time of darkness, before Jesus came to Earth to be the light to even the gentiles.

Will you celebrate the light this season? Will you remember to be the light for others all year around?

Merry Christmas and may your homes be filled with light, love, and joy.

Sources other than Bible:
https://www.gotquestions.org/400-years-of-silence.html

Kingdom of the World

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“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” Matthew 6:24

We all end up making something our master, whether it’s our family, career dreams, bill collectors, or really anything. Anything can end up being your guide for living in this world, and you follow what it asks from you every day. We’ve all allowed the world to be our master at some point in time. If we serve the world, we don’t serve God.

If you ever wonder what or who actually qualifies as “the world” to God, well the Bible actually answers that.

“Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” John 18:36

Basically, “the world” is anything or anyone which is not of the kingdom of God. It is of the kingdom of the world. The children of God are citizens of the kingdom of God, which existed yesterday, today, and forever. It’s never disappeared, even if humanity hasn’t always been a part of it (since we were kicked from Eden). God’s kingdom is like Him, immortal. The kingdom of the world is continually dying, eventually fading away to non-existence.

“A voice says, “Call out.” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?” All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass.” Isaiah 40:6-7

We do live in this kingdom that is “the world,” but we do not belong to it. We are made to be immortal as we are in God’s image. However, God gives us freewill to choose the path we wish to walk down, whether that is of death or life.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

The kingdom of this world is led by none other than Satan. This is what I’ve found.

“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4

When judgment day comes, who is called the “ruler of this world?”

“Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.” John 12:31

I’ve used this verse in another post, but it’s relevant here.

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.” John 15:18-21

If the world murdered Jesus, it will treat you no better. You will encounter resistance, argument, anger, and possibly even ostracism. That’s while living in a country based on freedom of religion. It’s then, you will know you have faced “the world.”

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12

However, you have no reason to fear the world or the people who belong to it. They will all be in yesterday soon enough. Fear makes us a servant of the world. Our true master, Yahweh, is loving and immortal, a rock that stands in the midst of a vast, tumultuous ocean.

Commandment Series: The Tenth

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“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 20:17

Scientists theorize the existence of what’s known as black holes:

“A Black hole is an area in space in which the pull of gravity is so great that not even light can escape it once it enters. Since the escape velocity from a black hole is greater than light, escaping it is impossible.” (1)

Coveting is a black hole, and almost all of us are guilty of it. It is the sin that can easily beget other sins. If you covet, you may steal for it, kill for it, pray to another god for it, commit adultery for it, dishonor your parents for it, etc. When you’re pulled into the black hole of envy and forbidden desire, it’s hard to see the light and it’s hard to escape the drug of your obsession.

“How you have fallen from heaven,
morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
You said in your heart,
“I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”
(Isaiah 14:12-14)

The first sin, noted in the Bible, to hit the universe was Satan coveting God’s power. It didn’t take long for humanity to fall.

“‘You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” Genesis 3:4-7

Eve coveted the fruit of the tree and the wisdom she believed she would gain by eating it, and sin was ushered into the world. Generation after generation.

“…but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.” Genesis 4:5

Cain broke almost all of the ten commandments the day he killed Able, but the catalyst was jealousy. He coveted Able’s favored position with God.

“Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” David sent messengers and took her, and when she came to him, he lay with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house.” 2 Samuel 11:2-4

David coveted a married woman, committed adultery, stole her from her husband, and had the husband killed. The catalyst of greed was passed on through every generation, and there are too many stories in the Bible detailing the trail of blood and tears that it caused. Suffice it to say, this sin might be under the last commandment, but it isn’t the last in its impact upon the world.

Do you struggle with coveting? You may have experienced desiring something or someone which or who is unattainable, at least without sinning. This may be a straightforward passage for you. However, some “things” are not material or even physical. Have you ever desired respect from people who’ll never give it to you? Have you ever felt bad looking at other people’s lives on Facebook, wondering why yours isn’t as exciting or your family isn’t as cooperative? Have you ever stared at flat-bellied models in magazines, spurring yet another diet phase? Looking further, have you ever had to work overtime or hold down two jobs just to keep up with the non-essentials in your life? Let’s be honest here: they really are non-essentials aren’t they?

“A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is futile and a burdensome task!” Ecc. 4:8

Coveting is a black hole that is never satisfied. The man in Ecclesiastes realized an important lesson. What exactly is he working for? He covets endless riches, but he’ll never be able to keep them without living in unending work and misery. His wealth doesn’t even go toward building others up as he has no one. Are you sweating for something you’ll never really gain?

I believe God wants us to not be blinded by the things or people we don’t have. You’re blessed in innumerable way daily, and coveting not only leads us to other painful sins, but we’re too focused on the things we don’t have that we don’t find joy in the things we have. As much as He loves for us to be hard workers, He also loves for us to rest. He wouldn’t have built a Sabbath into His ten commandments if rest wasn’t important. Rest in your blessings, open your eyes to the joy already in your life, and you’ll find peace.

What is coveting but a misplaced yearning for something to fill an emptiness inside? We are meant to be filled with the peace that can only come from God, and this world can’t satisfy us even if we had everything we wanted. God, and God alone, can give us everything we need or want if we only seek Him and His love.

As we come to the end of the commandment series, we should remember the basis of the commandments and all of God’s laws.

“For this, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:9-10

Sources other than Bible:
1)http://hepguru.com/blackholes/characteristics_frame.htm
2)https://algundiamereiredeesto.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/hole_in_my_chest_by_thesearchingeyes.jpg (picture)

Commandment Series: The Ninth

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“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16

The 9th commandment is a very specific requirement based on the ancient Jewish court system established in the Old Testament. Witnesses were called to testify against wrongdoers before any sentences were carried out against them. In this way, if you lied that someone was guilty in court, they could very wrongly be punished for someone else’s transgressions. Punishment, of any type, given to an innocent would be horrible, but the sentences spelled out in the Old Testament were many times death. No wonder lying in court was forbidden in the very important ten commandments; it has to be one of the worst things a person can do.

Many say the 9th commandment itself is, strictly speaking, only touching upon the situation in which a person would lie, causing an innocent to be punished wrongly. However, as with all of God’s laws, they are all about matters of the heart. Jesus brought this idea up during his Sermon on the Mount.

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:33-37

You, as a child of God, need not make promises to others. The words you speak must be so consistently true that, when you open your mouth, every thing you utter is considered in stone. That is the way God is, and He expects us to follow His ways.

What about lies spoken/done in love? God is all about love, right? Satan, get thee behind me. If you think this, than know the world has twisted a truth into a lie, and made you believe it.

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 14:33

He even gives examples in the Bible where people lied in love and caused trouble. In Genesis, we see Rebekah wrapping her son Jacob in furs and deceiving the blind Isaac into giving blessings to him. She certainly was thinking this was done in love for the betterment of her son, but it only caused strife between brothers that lasts for years, making Jacob run away from a murderously angry Esau. Another example is when Abraham feared for his and his wife’s life, causing him to lie to the pharaoh that Sarah was his sister and not wife. This caused the pharaoh to almost commit adultery, expelling them from his kingdom when he found out his deceit.

What about bending the truth , half-truths, or concealing the truth? Well, if anything you say has the intention of deceiving the other person, whether your words are literally truth or not, your heart is full of deceit. So, yes those are lies too. If you stand near a cliff, you don’t see how close to the edge you get before you fall, you see how far BACK you can get. The Bible gives many examples of just this, but the most prominent one I can think of is that of Joseph. Remember Jacob? His most beloved son was Joseph for whom he made a beautiful coat of many colors. His brothers sold him into slavery out of jealousy. In order to lie without lying (they thought), they covered his coat with animal blood and showed it to Jacob, saying only “Does this look like your son’s coat?” They never lied, with words, but their hearts were full of the intent to deceive Jacob into thinking Joseph was dead.

So, you can lie with words, actions, half-truths, or simply concealing the truth with the intent to deceive. If you’re lying in court or any other situation that would cause an innocent person to suffer, that’s obviously the worst lie you could commit. However, every lie is wrong, and we should adhere to the truth even when it’s painful. It is God’s way, the way of light and love.

Need more verses about God’s view on lying? They’re innumerable. Well, maybe there’s a number, but it’s a really high one, so we won’t be putting the vast majority here. Instead, here’s a hand-selected few:

“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” Proverbs 6:16-20

“‘You will certainly not die,’ the serpent said to the woman.” Genesis 3:4

“The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.” Proverbs 12:22

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” Revelation 22:14-15

Commandment Series: The Fifth

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“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12

There are many reasons for this commandment.

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Romans 13:1

In an earlier post, we mentioned submission and how submission acknowledges the Trinity and our governance, as followers, by love and humility. In the Trinity, one might equate the Father to the husband, the Son to the wife, and the Holy Spirit to their child. Now, the Holy Spirit is a being in and of Himself, but He defers all attention to the union above Him. In the same way, a child does represents his/her parents and their character and family name. We must teach our children this fact as well as we can by teaching them the commandments.

“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:7

Understandably, not every parent in the world is honorable him/herself, and this law does not necessarily mean to obey evil commands given by corrupt parents. One must always keep in mind the order of authority given to us by God. Parents (or husband after marriage) is an immediate authority; above them is the Holy Spirit, and above the Holy Spirit is Jesus and the Father. If you worked for a company and the owner told you to lock the door by 9pm but the manager told you to keep it open until 10pm, you would defer to the owner’s words as she is higher in authority. So, although all authority is in place for a reason, you are not expected to do evil for parents, spouses, bosses, or government officials. If forced, it will be the authority’s head on the block, believe me.

So, what does God mean by honoring our parents?

“Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,” 1 Peter 5:5-6

“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” Colossians 3:20

Children should obey in everything but evil. This must be assumed. Obedience is one way of honoring your parents, as they are in a position of authority in your life. It’s difficult to be a parent, especially in this world of corruption that we have to prepare you for and defend you from, and it can be very difficult to be a child, too, navigating in the confusing maze of deciding between good and evil. Make it easier for everyone by doing what your mother and father ask of you. You will be lifted up in time.

“If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.” Proverbs 20:20

Don’t wish harm upon your parents, and don’t speak badly of them; this is another way of honoring your parents. I hope this is obvious, but sometimes, we become angry and frustrated with everyone in our lives. That includes our parents. You stand for your parents’ name, so if you speak evil of them, what does that make you?

“Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” Proverbs 23:22

From the moment we hit puberty, many of us think we know better than our parents. This is not so, and if you are wise, you’ll listen to the words of your elders. You may learn something or not, but you certainly won’t if you turn a deaf ear. Just being a good listener is a way of honoring your parents. Also, sometimes, as our parents get older, they become less physically and mentally able. Try not to become resentful of the extra attention, assistance, or patience they may need. For most of us, our parents were there for us when we were incapable of doing anything but crying, and it is little to ask for us to do the same for them. You will be in their position soon enough, too.

“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8

This also ties in with the prior verse in that your parents may need you to provide for them whether that is because of age, financial disruption, or disease. You honor your parents by caring for their needs. As followers of Christ, we are called to love others and meet needs in the world with that love. If you can’t love and care for your own relatives, you certainly can’t love and care for strangers. Even unbelievers take care of their loved ones.

“You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:32

If you should be respectful of your elders due to their authority and experience , the same goes doubly for your own parents. Let it be said that not all parents are biological. I feel strongly that if someone raised you, no matter who they are, they are also your parents. The 5th commandment pertains to them. Jesus honored both His earthly and heavenly parents.

“And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.” Luke 2:51

Not only your parents, but also your children, will treasure all you do for your mother and father in their hearts, whether they always show it or not. Don’t expect any more honor from your children than you give your own parents. Most importantly, your Father God will certainly be moved by your actions, and He will exalt you for the love you show them in word and deed.

Commandment Series: The Fourth

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“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:8

There’s an epidemic in the world, especially in the United States, of sleep deprivation and stress. Since our early years as a nation, we’ve prided ourselves on being workaholics, pulling ourselves up with our bootstraps, and standing on our own no matter the costs.

Now, we wonder why heart disease is the number 1 killer of Americans.

Many nowadays speak about being always “too busy” as if they were bragging. If someone asks how we’re doing, we say “fine.” If someone asks what we’ve been up to, we answer “busy as always.”

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

“And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

“He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.” Psalm 23:2-3

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31

“The Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will give rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

How many times and ways does God have to tell you to be still (not incessantly busy) and rest for awhile before you’ll listen?

It isn’t a weakness to need rest, it is a gift given to us by God from the dawn of time.

“By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven.” Genesis 2:2-4

Rest is good for you mentally, physically, and spiritually, and God set aside a whole day of it every week just for us. God never really needed to rest; he’s omnipotent after all. However, he was setting a precedent for his creation.

Please look at what others say:

“The biological and chemical factors that trigger mental health issues also could influence heart disease. ‘The head-heart connection should be on everyone’s radar,’ said Barry Jacobs, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist and director of “Behavioral Sciences at the Crozer-Keystone Family Medicine Residency Program in Springfield, Pa. ‘It’s not just being unhappy. It’s having biochemical changes that predispose people to have other health problems, including heart problems'” (American Heart Association)

“Our society is suffering from sleep deprivation and suffering the consequences with mental health issues (anxiety/depression/mood disorders), physical health issues (heart disease, diabetes, obesity), addictions, relationship problems.” (CDC and WEBMD)

“There are data showing that working overtime is associated with problems such as high blood pressure, depression and obesity.” In a 1960 study, 2% sample slept less than 6 hours per night. In 2004, that figure was up to 30%. (Psychology Today)

There’s evidence that religious rituals are “conducive to better mental health… reduce anxiety and uncertainty.” The Sabbath gives “freedom from mundane and practice concerns” centering on survival. The “Sabbath provides opportunities to rest from both physical and mental stresses.” (Research Gate)

Rest = better health. Sabbath = rest. It doesn’t get much simpler than that. So, why did God mandate this rest instead of leaving it as an option? Because we have a difficult time stopping, slowing down, and saying no. We have authority figures who can control us into not resting (i.e. bosses, parents when we are children, etc). Not to mention the fact that we ourselves are over others that need rest as well: other people, animals, even the plants in our backyard.

“At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”

He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.” Matthew 12:1-14

So, what is going on in the above verse? Everything needs rest, but humans should be top priority. First, when Jesus says that He is the “Lord of the Sabbath,” He is essentially saying that He is master of that day. The only one who can be master of a commandment is the one who created it… He declared He was God (one of many times He did this).

When he mentions the temple bread, he is comparing his disciples breaking the sacredness of the Sabbath to David’s men breaking the sacredness of the temple. Both sets of men had physical needs that outweighed, and therefore, were exceptions to the law. He brings up how the priests are the only ones allowed to do their job on the Sabbath (that’s how they “desecrate” the temple) as the Pharisees would have agreed that they are allowed to do so. Jesus states “something greater than the temple is here.” Again, declaring His mastery over the temple. The only one greater than the temple is… God.

He is basically saying that He’s the one who made the laws, and they are acting as if they know better how to keep them. Then, He heals a man, not a man about to die from wounds or illness, not a man who can’t wait until the next day for healing. He heals a man with a somewhat minor disfigurement because “it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

“It is not the greatness of the priests which justified their violation of the Fourth Commandment—it was the greatness of the temple, the greatness of the cause or the work in which the were engaged..Verse 7 strikes at the heart of the problem of His adversaries: they have focused on the mechanical, ritualistic, aspects of the Sabbath, and in so doing they have failed to meet its essence, which is mercy and compassion. They have lingered long over the letter of the Law, but they have missed its spirit.” (Bible Org)

We were not made to observe the Sabbath. The Sabbath was made to heal us, refocus us, center us back onto the spiritual relationship with God after a long week of survival, to gather us from our corners of the world and bring the followers together for simple human interaction without pretense for commerce or goal-setting.

“Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27

Why would you deny such a huge gift from God?

“Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. … And a certain man was there, who had been thirty-eight years in his sickness. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Arise, take up your pallet, and walk.” And immediately the man became well, and took up his pallet and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day. Therefore the Jews were saying to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.” But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Take up your pallet and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your pallet, and walk’?” But he who was healed did not know who it was; for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may befall you.” The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. And for this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” For this cause therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God” John 5:2, 5-18

They hated Jesus because He was repeatedly declaring Himself God and denouncing their ways. He didn’t find the nit-picking rules that the Pharisees set up to be correct. Instead of just telling them to not follow those legalistic ways, He showed them by action how actually follow the Sabbath. Picking up pallets or plucking a single ear of corn was not breaking the God-given conditions of Sabbath . Mercy and compassion is following the Sabbath. Taking care of your physical needs is following the Sabbath. Gathering with others for worship and connection definitely is following the Sabbath.

So, how do we interpret what He means when He says that God the Father and Himself are working on the Sabbath? Well, you could take this many ways, and I encourage you to always ask God for guidance. However, the way I personally take it is that Jesus was saying God never needs rest. The Sabbath was made for the Creation not the Creator. However, Jesus wasn’t actually breaking the Sabbath, either. He was breaking man-made rules, not God’s laws. Yet, according to the Pharisee rules, God was breaking those man-made rules of Sabbath-keeping, and therefore, if we’re using the Pharisee’s viewpoint of “work”, God is always working on the Sabbath.

There’s a lot to be learned from Sabbath-keeping. You learn the world does not revolve around you, and it will continue spinning whether you’re checking off lists or not. You learn how deep a need we all have for rest, peace, and communion. You learn to stop and smell the roses without worrying about how much their worth or where you might plant them next on your property. You learn how stopping the rat-race on a regular basis helps to re-center your life on God. You learn how to be child again, free from obligations and stress, at least for a day.

If you haven’t ever observed the Sabbath before, it may be difficult at first. When a person’s been spinning for awhile, they can be a bit dizzy when they step down from the ride. However, when you finally learn how to rest, truly rest, you learn a bit about God’s promise for peace and restoration. It’s like a glimpse of heaven here on earth.

Sabbath: you don’t just want rest, you need it. Be still.

Sources other than Bible:
https://bible.org/seriespage/16-sabbath-controversy-gospels
http://www.theheartfoundation.org/heart-disease-facts/heart-disease-statistics/
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/StressManagement/HowDoesStressAffectYou/Stress-and-Heart-Health_UCM_437370_Article.jsp#.WWZcGdIUmHs
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/250919744_The_Mental_Health_Benefits_and_Costs_of_Sabbath_Observance_Among_Orthodox_Jews
https://www.sabbathtruth.com/faq/advanced-topics/rest-in-god-keeping-the-sabbath-holy
https://www.cdc.gov/features/dssleep/
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/toll-of-sleep-loss-in-america
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleepless-in-america/201001/are-we-really-getting-less-sleep-we-did-in-1975

Commandment Series: The First

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For the next ten weeks, I’ll be focusing on each of the ten commandments. These laws may exist in the Old Testament, but Jesus brings them forward, saying, “”Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17 In fact, Jesus makes a point of elucidating each commandment so that we can all fully understand the meaning behind it.

This week is about the First Commandment.

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:2-3

Your first thought may be to consider this an ancient problem. I mean, how hard is it to avoid pagan gods? In some parts of the world, it’s harder than others, but the fact is, you don’t need a golden idol in order to place other gods before Yahweh.

In both B.C. and A.D. times, there’ve been plenty of gods to worship. Many are gods of the water, trees, farming, war, fertility, destruction, creation, fishermen, feasts, etc. etc. If you can think of, well anything, there was or is a god for it. Crazy thing is, nowadays, we don’t usually call them gods in the Western world. So, it can be quite shocking when you realize you’ve been placing a “god” before your real Father.

Take for instance my addiction to my smartphone. There’s no doubt to me it’s an addiction, and I know I’m not alone in this. Some of you are glued to your T.V., your games, your hobbies, your career, your money, or even your pride. Oh, but it’s not harming anyone, least of all angering God, right? That’s a good question.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

Anytime you see your “worldly worship” come before your prayer time with God or serving God in anyway, the First Commandment comes into play. If your phone interferes with family time, if your T.V. shows are glorifying evil, if your hobbies and career keep you in a cycle of greed, if you don’t trust God with your money situation or refuse to spend any to help others, or if you are ever worried about what others think or say about you, you are placing other “gods” before Yahweh. We all have at some point.

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:5

Ya know, if you didn’t believe me before. It’s right there in writing.

How about this?

“No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24

If you serve another “god,” you’re not loving God completely. You can’t follow God if you’re walking in the opposite direction.

Another one of my favorite verses is this, so I’m posting the whole thing.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifespan?

And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans pursue all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25-34

Worry is another problem for me. When we worry, we’re acting as if the world is more powerful than God. We worship at the altar of anxiety and sacrifice it our wasted time. We are placing worry and the problems of this world above God. Yet, He is clear on what we can do instead. We should “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” In other words, place God first, love Him, trust Him. He’s stronger than all feelings, problems, and “gods.” He shall provide.

When changing a habit or stuck mindset, we shouldn’t just focus on the negative, we must focus on the positive. So, we know what NOT to do in order to “have no other gods before” Yahweh, so what SHOULD we do?

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment.” Matthew 22:36-38

My all-time favorite verse. This is the first commandment, to love God with all your being and might. If you put Him first in your life, think of every action, thought, and word as if you are representing your God (because you are!). If you do everything out of your abundant love for Him, you’ll be on the correct path.

You won’t be perfect at this because none of us are. However, by choosing God as your master, you WILL be cutting the strings the world uses to make you its puppet, even if you stumble a little when you’re free.

Next week is the Second Commandment, which is closely related to this one but not exactly the same.

אָמֵן Amen