Disappointed in God

 

“Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!”

Psalm 44:26 ESV 

Many times, as believers, we are disappointed in God. We feel let down by him. And we feel that we’ve been rejected by him.

Throughout the course of our lives, we’ve heard how God has acted on behalf of his people. We’ve learned in Sunday School how God saved his people from slavery in Egypt, bringing them into the Promised Land. We’ve learned through sermons how God has acted in miraculous ways for the sake of his people. We’ve learned in Bible studies how God has intervened in situations that seemed hopeless. And we’ve learned through our own personal Bible reading how, in Jesus, God has both provided and promised his blessing.

This, then, has led us to trust in him. It’s led us to offer to him our prayers. And it’s led us to depend upon him.

However, as we go through life, God often seems absent. As we offer our prayers and requests, he remains silent. And as we experience trials and tribulations, he offers no relief.

What are we to do in times like this? What are we to do when God seems absent? What are we to do when he seems silent? And what are we to do when he seems to offer no help?

Looking at Psalm 44, a similar set of circumstances are described for us. The author expresses, first of all, how the people had heard from their fathers the deeds the Lord had performed in the days of old. And he expresses his faith in the Lord, who acted in these ways.

But then, in verse 9, his tone changes. In fact, it sounds accusatory. He seems to suggest that, although the people had not forgotten him, God had rejected and disgraced them. Although their heart had not turned back nor had they ceased to walk in his ways, he’d caused them to be taunted and reviled.

He, then, calls upon God to awake. He asks why God is hiding his face from them. And he expresses the state of humiliation in which they found themselves.

As we read these words, I’m sure that we can relate to his feelings. We can relate to his circumstances. And we can relate to his complaint.

But, at the end of this Psalm, in the verse seen above, we find that he does not lose hope. We find that he does not turn from the Lord. He, instead, cries out to him once again.

And this, you see, is what we must do when we feel that God has let us down. This is what we must do when we feel that he’s turned is back on us. We must cry out to him once again, trusting in his steadfast love.

As the apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

 

Responding to Evil

 “Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

(Psalm 37:1-4 ESV)

There’s no doubt that we’re living in an evil time. There’s no doubt that we’re living in a wicked society. And it’s needless to say that this can leave us rattled. So, what are we to do in the face of this?

Our tendency is to respond in one of two ways. Quite often, we fret because of evildoers. We’re agitated by them. We’re angered by them and their actions.

Other times, however, we’re envious of them. We’re envious of the life they live. We’re envious of the perceived freedom in which they live. We’re envious, quite frankly, of the sin in which they live.

However, as we see in the passage above, neither response is correct. Neither is appropriate. Neither is appropriate because the wicked will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Neither is appropriate because they will soon perish.

We’re called, instead, to trust in the Lord. We’re called to do good.  We’re called to dwell in the land and to befriend, or to cultivate, faithfulness. And we’re called to delight ourselves in the Lord.

In the face of evildoers, then, we’re called to faith. We’re called to a genuine, heartfelt faith that expresses itself in our life. And we’re called to do so joyfully.

As we do so, we’re promised that God will give to us the desires of our heart. He’ll give to us those things that we request of him. He’ll give to us the things for which we pray.

This doesn’t mean, of course, that God will grant us our every selfish desire. Nor does it mean that he’ll fulfill our sinful desires. As believers, after all, our heart is conformed to that of God.

We’re made to desire what God desires. We’re made to long for the things for which God longs. And it’s these blessings that will be granted us.

We see this, in verse 6, where we’re told that, as we commit ourselves to the Lord, and as we trust in him, he’ll bring forth our righteousness as the light and our justice, or our vindication, as the noonday. 

We’re reminded by this that our righteousness is not something that we earn or deserve. It’s a gift of God. It’s a blessing that he provides to us.

The same is true of our justice. The same is true of our vindication. It’s a blessing as God clears us from all blame.

This, of course, is the blessing provided to us by Jesus. It’s the blessing provided to us by his death on the cross and his resurrection from the grave. And, as this passage makes clear, it’s a blessing that’s received by faith.

So, again, in the face of evildoers, we’re called to trust in the Lord. And we’re called to a genuine faith that’s expressed in our life. We’re called to delight in the Lord, knowing that he will provide for us his eternal blessing.

Envying the World

 “Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat. You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the LORD who is among you and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?””

 (Numbers 11:18–20 ESV)

As Christians, we often feel that we’re missing out. We look at the world around us, and at what they have, and feel that we’re being shorted. We look at the lives they’re living, and feel that we’re being deprived. We feel that, as we live for the Lord, we’re receiving the short end of the stick.

We fail to realize, however, that by these desires, we’re rejecting the Lord. We fail to realize that, by these desires, we’re rejecting his salvation. And we fail to realize that, by these desires, we’re rejecting the blessing he’s given us.

We see this clearly in the above passage. As the people traveled through the wilderness, on their way to the Promised Land, God had miraculously provided for their need. He’d miraculously provided food for them to eat.

He’d given them manna. And he’d done so not only once. He’d done so each and every day.

He’d given to them this bread that simply appeared on the ground each morning. All they had to do was go out and gather enough for the day. And they did so in confidence that more would be available to them tomorrow.

The people, however, got sick of it. They began to long for the meat they’d eaten as slaves in Egypt. And they began to think that life was better in Egypt than it was for them in the present.

God then said that he’d provide meat for them to eat. He would not do so, however, as a blessing. In fact, it would be a curse to them.

He would give them meat for not only one day, two days, five days, ten days, or twenty days. He would give it to them for a whole month. He would give it to them until it came out of their nostrils and became loathsome to them. 

He would do so, he said, because they had rejected the Lord who was among them. He would do so because they had wept before him. He would do so because they asked why they’d come out of Egypt.

In the same way, by looking at the world around us and desiring what they have, we reject the Lord who is among us. By our failure to be content with the blessing God has given us, we reject the Lord who is among us. And by thinking to ourselves that perhaps it would’ve been better had we not followed God, we reject the Lord who is among us.

This, of course, is something of which we’re all guilty. And it’s something we each need to confess. It’s something we need to confess, trusting in the salvation provided for us by Jesus.

By his grace, we’ll realize that his blessings are far greater than anything the world has to offer. By his grace, we’ll realize that we’re not missing out on anything. And by his grace, we’ll be content and, more than that, filled with awe and wonder at all that God has provided.

Forgiving Others

 “And Moses cried to the LORD, “O God, please heal her—please.””

(Numbers 12:13 ESV)

As Christians, we know we’re called to forgive those who’ve wronged us. We know we’re called to forgive those who have sinned against us. We know we’re called to offer them the same forgiveness that God has offered us.

However, that being said, this is something with which we struggle. It rarely comes easy to us. And this is especially true when someone has intentionally and willfully acted against us.

This is what took place in Numbers 12. We see that Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ sister and brother, spoke against him. And they spoke against him because he had married a Cushite woman.

The fact that he’d done so led them to believe that he was nothing special. It led them to believe that there was nothing distinct about his calling and the role that he filled. It led them to believe that they were equal to him in terms of their standing before God and the people, as well as their ministry.

God, then, called Moses, Aaron, and Miriam before him. He made clear to Miriam and Aaron that Moses indeed had a special relationship with him, shared by no other. And he asked why they weren’t afraid to speak against Moses.

His anger was kindled before them. And, as he departed, Miriam was found to be leprous. She as found to be white like snow.

Aaron then acknowledged their sin to Moses, asking that they might not be punished. He acknowledged their sin, asking that it might not be counted against them.

As we consider the circumstances, Moses had every right to be angry with them. When it came to their actions, he had every right to take offense. And, assuming that Moses shared our feelings and instincts, he may have felt like withholding forgiveness from them. 

However, as we see in the passage above, he did otherwise. He cried out to the Lord on Miriam’s behalf. He cried out, asking that he would heal her. 

God, then, answered his prayer. He granted to Miriam his healing. And she only had to observe a week-long period of uncleanness before rejoining the people.

This is the forgiveness we’re to offer those who wrong us. It’s the forgiveness we’re to offer those who sin against us. Although our first instinct may be to hold their sin against them, we’re to forgive them and pray for their healing.

In Ephesians 4:32, Paul says: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” We, then, are called to forgive others as Christ has forgiven us. We’re called to give to others the very same grace God has given us.

The Source of Vengeance

“And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them, and he departed.”

(Numbers 12:9 ESV)

When people wrong us, when they act against us, our first instinct is to lash out at them. Our first instinct is to get back at them. Our first instinct is to treat them as they have treated us.

In short, we seek vengeance. This, after all, is what they deserve. And this, we believe, is what they have coming to them.

But is this how God would have us respond? The clear teaching of Scripture, when it comes to this question, is no. We see one such piece of evidence in Numbers 12.

We see, in this passage, that Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses. His own brother and sister spoke against him. Two of those, who were influential among the people of Israel, spoke against him.

They spoke against him because he had married a Cushite woman. He had married a woman who was from the area, known today, as Ethiopia. But his marriage, and its validity, was not the true issue.

Their motive in doing so, you see, was self-serving. It was an attempt to elevate themselves. It was an attempt to elevate themselves by bringing Moses down.

They asked if God had spoken only through Moses. They asked if God had not spoken also through them. In this way, they sought to even the playing field.

We’re then told about the character of Moses. We’re told that he was very meek. We’re told that he was very humble. We’re told, in fact, that he was more meek or humble than all the people on the face of the earth.

Considering the circumstances, Moses had every reason to be offended. He had every reason to become angry. And he had every reason, humanly speaking, to retaliate.

Moses, however, had not sought the calling placed upon him. Nor had he sought the authority God had granted him. And, as we can see, he didn’t seek to defend it in any way.

God, however, did so for him. God acted on his behalf. We see this as he called Moses, Miriam, and Aaron before him.

God made clear to them that Moses was, indeed, distinct among the people. He was distinct among the prophets. He pointed out that he had a relationship with Moses that was unique in nature.

God then addressed the sin of Miriam and Aaron, asking why they had not feared to speak against his servant, Moses. As we see in the verse above, his anger was kindled against them. And, as God’s presence departed, Miriam was found to be leprous.

We see from this that, although Moses did nothing to defend his position or his honor, God did so. We find that God acted on his behalf. And we find that he can be trusted to do so.

Consider also the example of Jesus. We read in 1 Peter 2:23 that, when he was reviled, Jesus did not revile in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten. He, rather, continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

And in Romans 12, starting in verse 19, Paul gives this instruction: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Just as Moses trusted God to defend his honor, so too can we. Just as he trusted God, as people rose up against him, so too can we. Even if it isn’t evident, as it was in the case of Moses, we can know that he is acting for our blessing.

The Prayer of Faith

 “And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

(Matthew 8:2 ESV)

When it comes to our prayers, and when it comes to the blessings we seek from God, some troublesome attitudes become quickly apparent. We, for example, often come to God in a demanding manner. We approach him, insisting that he do for us as we ask.

We regard him as though he were the creation, rather than the creator. We regard him as though he is our servant rather than our being his. And we regard him as if our will and desires take precedence over his own.

On other occasions, we approach him as if he’s reluctant to help. We approach him as if he’s resistant to provide his help. And we approach him as if he has to be persuaded or coerced into helping.

We sometimes approach him, believing that his blessings can be bought. We approach him, attempting to barter for his blessings. We approach him, offering some kind of payment for his blessings or to reciprocate in some way.

Still other times, we approach him as if his ability to help is in question. We approach him, wondering if our need is too great or if our problem is too big for him to handle. We approach him uncertain of his power or strength.

Considering all of the ways we approach him, and the improper attitudes that we express, we can learn much from the leper who approached Jesus in the eighth chapter of Matthew. We can learn much from the way in which he presented his request to him. We can learn from the simple words expressed in the passage above.

He came to Jesus, we’re told, and knelt before him. And he said to Jesus, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

We see, first of all, that he addressed Jesus for who he is. He addressed him as Lord. He recognized that Jesus is God in the flesh.

He recognized also Jesus’ power to grant the blessing he desired. He recognized Jesus’ ability to meet his need. There is no hint of doubt in his words.

Finally, he left his request in Jesus’ hands. He understood that his prayer would be answered according to Jesus’ will. And he believed that, whatever Jesus desired, is best.

We then see Jesus’ response. Jesus said to him, “I will; be clean.” Jesus answered this leper’s prayer because it was in accordance with his will. And he did so, having the power to provide this blessing.

It’s clear, from this, that the leper’s request flowed from his faith in Christ. He didn’t believe Jesus’ blessing to result from his own effort. Nor did he imply that his wisdom surpassed that of Jesus. He entrusted his need to Jesus, knowing that he could do the very thing he was asked, while also believing that the will of Jesus was best.

Why We Go

 “But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

(Matthew 4:4 ESV)

We are approaching the time of year when our confirmands will stand before us confessing their faith in Christ. We’re approaching the time of year when we’ll celebrate our high school graduates, as many of them prepare to move out of the area. And, statistically speaking, this is the time when many of them stop going to church.

Many, as they are confirmed, view it as a graduation of sorts. As they have made it through confirmation, they now view church attendance as an optional exercise. And many parents, at this point in their child’s life, no longer insist on church attendance.

As our young people move out of their parent’s home, and experience independence for the very first time, they also tend to stop attending church. They stop attending church, preferring to sleep in on Sunday mornings. And they stop attending church as an expression of questions and doubts which have been present for some time.

And let’s face it: Many adults view church attendance as optional as well. We view it as unnecessary. We see it as a tradition. We view it as something to do when we don’t have other plans. And we attend seeking to feel good about ourselves.

It’s true, of course, that we don’t earn God’s forgiveness and mercy by going to church. We must not make our worship of the Lord a legalistic exercise. But we fail to realize that, by our failure to worship, we miss out on the blessing of God.

Attending worship, you see, isn’t so much about doing something for God. It’s not an act on our part to please him. And it’s not an act by which we merit brownie points. 

It’s about receiving a blessing that God has for us. It’s about receiving the grace of God, offered to us in his Word and Sacrament. It’s about being fed with that which nourishes us for life eternal.

This is what Jesus was getting at in the passage above. This is what was being emphasized in Deuteronomy 8:3, which Jesus was quoting. Our life isn’t sustained by bread alone. It’s sustained by the Word of God.

Just as we understand food to be necessary for life, so should we understand the Word of God. Apart from the Word of God, we cannot have faith. And, apart from the Word of God, we cannot be saved. 

Scripture tells us that we are brought to faith through the Word of God (Romans 10:13-17). It tells us that, as we hear the Word of God, we are enabled to believe.  And, in this way, we receive the grace of God.

In addition, this is how our faith is nourished. It’s how our faith is sustained. And it’s how our faith in Christ grows.

Realizing this nurturing aspect of God’s Word, then, we naturally desire to receive it. We naturally desire to hear it as it’s taught and preached. And we naturally desire to gather with our fellow believers to study it.

Rightful Rejoicing

 “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

(Luke 10:20 ESV)

As we hear and receive the gospel, we take comfort in the fact that we are saved by the grace of God. We take comfort in the fact that God’s blessings are not earned or deserved by us in any way. They have been provided for us by the death and resurrection of Jesus, are given to us freely, and are received by us through faith.

This, then, is nothing in which we can take pride. It’s nothing for which we can take credit. It’s the work of God from first to last.

When it comes to our service of God, however, this is something for which we take pride. It’s something for which we take at least a measure of credit, no matter how small it may be. And we rejoice in what we have accomplished.

This is true, even when we recognize that we can do nothing by our own strength or power. This is true even when we realize that we can do nothing by our own wisdom. And this is true even as we realize that our efforts and successes result only from the power of God.

We see this mindset being played out in the passage above. Jesus had sent out the seventy-two at the beginning of this chapter. He told them that, wherever they were received, they were to eat what was set before them. And they were to heal the sick, declaring to them the kingdom of God.

As they returned to Jesus, they did so with joy. And they reported to him that even the demons were subject to them in his name. They reported to him that even the demons submitted to them in his name.

They recognized that this subjection resulted from the name of Jesus. They recognized that the power was not their own. Yet, they rejoiced in this nonetheless.

Jesus acknowledged the victory which had been won. He told them that he saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. And he told them that he had given them authority over the enemy, reassuring them that nothing would hurt them. But he then added the statement seen above.

He told them that, even though this authority had been entrusted to them, they were not to rejoice in this. They were not to rejoice in the fact that the spirits were subject to them. They were to rejoice, rather, that their names were written in heaven.

They were to rejoice, then, not in the authority Jesus had given them. And they were to rejoice not in the results of their ministry. They were to rejoice in their salvation.

As we engage in ministry today, we often rejoice in the size of our church. We rejoice in the number of souls who attend our services. We rejoice in the number of YouTube and website hits we get. We rejoice in the number of those who are joining our church. We rejoice in the number of those being baptized or confirmed. And we rejoice in the growth and expansion of our ministry.

In the same way, if someone comes to faith in Christ as we share the gospel with them, we rejoice in this. If someone receives Christ as they attend our worship service, we rejoice. And it is something for which we should thank God. 

But, again, we can take no credit for this. Nor should we consider ourselves successful because of it. We should rejoice not in what God has entrusted to us. And we should rejoice not in the fact that God has worked through us. We must, rather, rejoice that our names are written in heaven. We must rejoice that the Lord has saved us and provided for us his eternal blessings.

How Much He's Done

 “The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.”

Luke 8:38‭-‬39 ESV

As believers, as those who have been saved from sin and death, and as those who have been saved from the domain of darkness, we have been given a great calling. We’ve been called to proclaim the gospel to the whole creation (Mark 16:15). And we’ve been called to make disciples of all nations by going to them, baptizing them, and teaching them (Matthew 28:18-20).

However, as important as this is, it’s something that’s rather intimidating to most of us. We don’t feel qualified to do so. And we worry that we don’t know enough or that we aren’t skilled enough to do so.

We also tend to think that it means leaving our normal life behind. We think it means leaving home and family. And we think it means serving in missions or ministry in some way.

I think that, in this way, we tend to overcomplicate this call of Jesus. I think that we overcomplicate mission work. And I think that we overcomplicate the work of evangelism.

We read, in Luke 8, how Jesus met a man who was possessed by many demons. For a long time, he had gone about naked, and he’d lived among the tombs. We learn also that he had exhibited supernatural strength.

As Jesus commanded the spirit to come out of the man, he knew exactly who Jesus was, and begged him not to torment him. And as Jesus talked to the unclean spirit, we find that this man was possessed by not only one demon, but many. At the request of this spirit, Jesus then commanded them to leave the man, allowing them to go into a herd of pigs which was feeding on the hillside.

After being healed, after being cleansed by Jesus, the man begged that he might go with him. And, although it seems unusual to us, Jesus denied his request. He told the man that he should return home and declare how much God had done for him.

Although some people are called by God to move to a far-away country to share the gospel, and although he calls some to serve him in the role of pastor, youth director, or another ministry capacity, this isn’t true for all. Most of us fulfill the Great Commission in the way that Jesus prescribed to the demoniac, who had been cleansed. Most of us fulfill the Great Commission by simply returning home and declaring how much God has done for us.

We do so by declaring to our family how much God has done for us. We do so by declaring to our neighbors how much God has done for us. We do so by sharing with our friends and coworkers how much God has done for us.

We can support the work of missions with our prayers and finances. We can support the work of our local congregation with our prayer, finances, time, and talents. And we can do so realizing that our witness, in our home community, is equally important.

Indiscriminate Sowing

 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.”

Luke 8:5‭-‬8 ESV

As I think of farming, I do so with a very Midwest, American mindset. As spring has finally set in, I expect to soon see tractors out in the field. I expect to see tractors out cultivating, spraying, and seeding.

Everything is done in a very orderly fashion. Seed is planted only in soil that has been carefully prepared to maximize production.  And as the crops begin to grow, they do so in straight rows, in a very organized fashion.

In much of the world, farming is not done this way. I was reminded of this as I was recently in a small village in Uganda, and as we came across what looked to be a nice plow, hitched to a team of cows. One of our team members enthusiastically jumped behind the plow and quickly opened up a small patch of ground.

After a field like this is opened up, someone would follow behind and sow the seed.  He would follow behind and scatter the seed. And he wouldn’t do so in such a way that the crops will come up in neat and orderly rows. He would scatter the seed indiscriminately.

This is the picture we see in the parable above. The sower scatters his seed indiscriminately, and it falls on a variety of ground. Some falls on the hard path. Some falls on rocky soil. Some falls among thorns. And some falls on good soil.

The seed which fell on the path, on rocky soil, and among thorns didn’t fare well. The birds ate some of it. Some of it quickly withered as it had no root. And some of it was choked off by the thorns, competing for ground.

Some, however, fell on good soil. And it was fruitful. It was fruitful, yielding a hundred fold.

Although the picture of farming is used, it illustrates evangelism. It illustrates the sharing of the Word of God. The seed, we are told, is the Word of God.

As we seek to reach out with the message of the gospel, many of us tend to use a very American mindset. We seek to prepare the soil. And we seek to waste nothing, sowing the seed only on good ground.

With farming, this is easily done. When it comes to evangelism, however, it’s not that simple. It’s not that simple as we can’t always discern the good soil from the bad.

We can’t look at someone and determine if his heart is hard, and if the seed will be snatched away before it takes root. We can’t look at him and determine if it’s thorny, if the cares of this world are likely to choke off the seed. We can’t look at him and determine if his heart is shallow, not allowing the gospel to sink its roots deeply. And we can’t determine if his heart is good, and if it will produce an abundant crop.

For this reason, we must sow the Word just like the seed was sown in the parable. We must do so indiscriminately. We must do so indiscriminately, trusting that God will do his work, and that some of the seed will find its way into good soil.

Knowing Better

 “And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.”

(Luke 8:52‭-‬53 ESV)

As we experience a need, as we face a trial or a hardship, our first reaction is to cry out to the Lord. Our first reaction is to pray. We call out to God asking him to intervene.

However, that being said, we continue to rely upon our own understanding. We continue to trust in our own wisdom. And we fail to trust in God.

In short, we think that we know better than the Lord. We believe our wisdom to be greater than his. We think that our sense of what is real, our sense of what is true, our sense of what is possible, and our idea of what course of action is the best is better than his own.

We think that we know when there is still a chance for a positive outcome. We think that we know when all hope is lost. And we think that we know exactly what God should do to remedy the situation at hand.

We see an example of this in Luke 8. A synagogue ruler, named Jairus, came to Jesus because his young daughter was dying. And Jesus went with him.

However, while they were on their way, a messenger from his house came, telling him that his daughter was dead, and that there was no need to trouble Jesus any longer. But Jesus told him that he was not to fear, but believe. And he assured Jairus that his daughter would be well.

Jesus’ words to Jairus don’t make sense, from a human standpoint. But they went on. And as they came to his house, they found the people weeping and mourning for his daughter.

Seeing this, Jesus told them not to weep. They were not to weep, he said, because the girl was not dead, but sleeping. And the people laughed at him, knowing she was dead.

They believed that Jesus was wrong. They believed that they knew better than Jesus. And it’s this that led to their mockery.

The girl, of course, had died. Her spirit had left her. But they didn’t understand who Jesus was nor the power he possessed. 

In making this statement, Jesus was telling the people that he would awaken her. He was telling them that he would raise her to life, just as one awakens another from sleep. And this is exactly what he did.

He took with him the girl’s mother and father, along with Peter, James, and John. He then took the girl by the hand, telling her to arise. And, at that moment, her spirit returned and she got up.

As we approach the Lord with our needs, and as we come to him in the face of our trials, we must do so humbly. We must come to him leaning not on our own knowledge or understanding. We must come to him, knowing that he is God and that his wisdom and power surpass not only our own, but also that which we can imagine.

We must look to him in faith, trusting his assessment of the situation. We must look to him in faith, believing his course of action to be proper and best. And we must look to him in faith, confident that he will bring about our blessing.

The Vital Nature of the Church

  “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”

(Romans 12:3–8 ESV)

When it comes to our salvation, Scripture teaches that this is possible only by the grace of God. It is not something that we can earn, nor is it something of which we’re deserving. And this grace is received through faith in Jesus.

This faith, by which we are saved, is a personal faith. What I mean is that we are not saved by the faith of our parents or grandparents. And we are not saved by the faith of our community. It is a faith that must be held personally.

However, many take this to mean that the church is unnecessary. They take it to mean that our faith can be held to and lived out apart from the church. The idea is promoted that the only thing necessary is Jesus and me.

But Scripture is clear that the church is immensely important. In fact, it’s essential. It’s essential as God works through the church for our blessing and for the blessing of all.

We see this as we look at the above passage. Paul encourages us to think of ourselves soberly. He encourages us to think of ourselves sensibly. And he encourages us to think of ourselves humbly.

We’re to do so, he says, according to the measure of faith God has assigned. We are to do so as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. We’re to do so, in other words, receiving God’s gifts and blessings by faith.

They are not something in which we can take pride, as if we had anything to do with them. We can acknowledge only that they are blessings from God’s hand. And, realizing this, we receive them as such.

Although we are many, he says, we are one in Christ. Individually, he says, we’re members one of another. So, again we find that our faith is not something to be lived in isolation.

Possessing gifts that have been given to us, we are called to use them. Whatever those gifts may be, we are called to use them. We’re called to use them for the benefit, for the blessing, of the church as a whole.

We learn from this that blessings of God are given in and through the church. We learn from this that the ministry of God is both given and received through the church. And, for this reason, our connection with the church is vital.

We’re to join with the church that we might receive God’s blessings. We’re to join with the church that we might share his blessings. We’re to join with the church realizing that, only in connection with the body do we experience the fullness of his blessing.

The Lenten Fast

 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

(Matthew 6:16-18 ESV)

 

Lent is a time of year when fasting is traditional. Most of us are familiar with the Catholic tradition of fasting from meat on the Fridays of Lent. And many of us do something similar.

 

We give up something that’s part of our everyday life. We give up something we will miss. We give up something that will truly be a sacrifice.

 

Many of us will give up something like chocolate or soda. We do so, recognizing that we like them too much. And we do so, recognizing how unhealthy they are.

 

In recent years, it’s become fashionable to fast from something related to technology. People have fasted from social media, recognizing how much of a time drain it’s become. And others have fasted from TV or video games for the same reason.

 

Perhaps, with Lent upon us, you’re considering such a fast. Or, perhaps you’ve already begun one. The question we need to consider, however, is the reason we’re doing so.

 

The gospel assures us that we’re saved only by Jesus. It assures us that we’re saved only by the grace of God. And it assures us that we receive this grace through faith in Christ alone.

 

We have no intrinsic quality that makes us deserving of salvation, nor can we do anything to earn it. Fasting, then, must not be looked at as something we do to merit the salvation of God. It must not be viewed as something that we do to make ourselves deserving of his mercy.

 

And not only do we seek to earn God’s approval through efforts like fasting. We seek also the applause of men. We seek the approval and the admiration of others.

 

We find in the passage above, however, that fasting is not to be publicly practiced. It’s not something that we’re to announce to others, or to make obvious to others. We’re not to do so because the obvious temptation of fasting is to make ourselves appear pious and righteous before others.

 

Jesus tells us that, if we do so, that’s all the reward we will get. And he instructs us to keep our fast between ourselves and God. He says that we’re to anoint our head and wash our face so that our fasting may be in secret.

 

What, then, is the purpose of fasting? If we cannot merit the salvation of God in this way, what’s the point? And if we’re not to seek the admiration of others in this way, why would we bother with it?

 

The purpose of fasting is to remind ourselves, in a tangible way, that the Lord is sufficient. It’s to remind ourselves that he alone is to be our focus. And it’s to remind ourselves that he alone is the source of life and salvation.

 

Our fast, then, points us to Christ. It drives us to the gospel. And it motivates us to trust in the Word and promise of God.

A Small Town Influence

 “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.”

(Romans 16:3–5 ESV)

In the day in which we live, we often strive to gain influence by means of fame. We believe that we have to establish a following. And we set out to do just that.

This is true not only in our day-to-day lives, where everyone wants to be Instagram famous. It’s true also in the church. It’s true of our ministries.

We believe that, if we’re to reach people for Christ, and if we’re to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth, we have to become well-known and establish a following. And we set out to do just that. We try to get a following on YouTube. We try to get a following on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and every other social media app in existence. We create podcasts and we write books.

Don’t misunderstand what I’m trying to say. There are legitimate uses of these avenues.  And they can certainly be used for ministry in a healthy way. But, quite often, it becomes more about us than it is about Christ.

However, we can also have a sizable influence outside of these avenues. We can faithfully carry out our ministry apart from them. And this becomes clear as we look at the above passage.

Honestly, this passage is one that we tend to read over as we come to it in our Bible. We look at it as irrelevant. After all, it’s simply a list of greetings.

But, as we look at it, we see something interesting. We see that Aquila and Priscilla, with whom Paul worked in Corinth, were involved in the church at Rome. In fact, they had a church meeting in their home. And we see that Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia, was also at Rome. 

If we read further in this passage, we see other interesting connections. Rufus, addressed in verse 13, obviously had a close, and even an intimate, connection to Paul. I say this because of his comment that Rufus’ mother had been a mother to him. And, at this point, Paul had never been to Rome.

We see from this that, as Paul ministered to various people in various places, not only did they come to faith in Christ. And not only did they grow in that faith. They also began to serve the Lord. We see that his ministry became their ministry.

And several of these people ended up in Rome. They were now associated with the church of Rome. Even though Paul had never set foot in that city, and although he hadn’t yet preached in that city, his ministry had a big influence on its church.

Although we rarely think about it, we can see the same thing if we look at our own congregations. We find that people who came to Christ in our congregations, and who grew in faith in our congregations, are now engaging in ministry in another area. Even if they aren’t pastors, they are involved in the ministry of a church in their new area.

Those who were once influenced by us are now influencing others. Those who received the gospel from us are sharing it with others. And those who learned the Word of God from us are now teaching it to others.

In this way, our congregation, and perhaps even we ourselves, have influenced the ministry in distant locations. In this way, we’ve influenced the ministry in another part of the country. We have done so, in fact, in distant parts of the world.

Our name may not be attached to it. But that doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that Christ’s name is proclaimed. The only thing that matters is that the gospel is proclaimed. The only thing that matters is that the ministry, entrusted to us by Christ, is carried out.

My point in this is that, as we faithfully carry out our ministries, as we do so in a small church in a small town, in a sparsely populated state, we have a greater impact than we could ever realize. We don’t have to be famous to reach people outside of our area. All we have to do is be faithful in what the Lord has assigned to us.