Freedom is Good News Part 99

“Many are asking, ‘Who can show us any good?’”  This is from the sixth verse of Psalm 4 and it seems quite appropriate for us today!  In fact, if I go back to where these articles began, I realize this is the reason for writing these articles.  Where do we find any good?

Would you mind if we take a look at this Psalm in its entirety?  Perhaps there is a lesson in it for us all.

This particular Psalm is a Psalm of King David (not all Psalms were written by him).  If we know anything about David, we understand that his life, although filled with a desire for God’s presence, was never really a “bed of roses”.  In Psalm 3:1 he writes, “O LORD, how many are my foes!”  This was written when he was fleeing from his son Absalom (the tale is told in 2 Samuel 15.)  As is true of most of God’s true servants, David had a hard life.

Psalm 4 may be broken down into 3 separate sections: first - verse 1, an urgent plea; second - verses 2–5, a protest against his enemies; and third - verses 6–8, an expression of security in God.  Verse 1 is actually 4 separate pleas to God: “Answer me when I call”, “Give me relief”, “Be merciful to me” and “Hear my prayer”.  These 4 pleas, made in rapid succession, emphasize the urgency of David’s plight.

Verse 2: “How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame?  How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?”  David knew that he had enemies but he also knew – as it is said in the next verse – “The LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD will hear when I call to Him.”  At this point, David turns toward you and me, the readers, and admonishes us in verses 4 & 5, “In your anger do not sin … search your hearts and be silent … and trust in the LORD.” 

David gives us a snapshot of his trials.  He lets us know that the things in life aren’t always fair and pleasant, but we can always turn to our Heavenly Father for help.

And so we come to where we started, “Many are asking, ‘Who can show us any good?’”  David goes on from here to answer this question, “Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.  You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.  I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”

Perhaps the lesson for us is that even though David found himself in difficult situations in this physical life, he knew that it was only in the presence of God that true joy might be found!  So then, who alone can show us any good?  I believe you know the answer – God alone!!  And that is good news.

Freedom is Good News Part 84

“In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart, for I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)  What is trouble?  This word “trouble” is from a Greek word that literally means “pressure – that which burdens the human spirit”.  There are many things which, in this world, burden our spirits.  There are a lot of things that can get us down.  And yet we are living in what is arguably the wealthy nation in the history of mankind.  Even the poorest of us have more than 80% of the people in this world.

Having said that, I do not remember anyone, who is going through a trial, actually quote that scripture.  The first step in relieving a pressure, turning from a sin, relinquishing an evil thought or finding peace in ones strife filled life, is to quote the Word of God.  How do I know this?  Let’s look at Matthew 4:1-11; this is the episode where Jesus, having been led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness, went without food for forty days and nights.  I believe we are familiar with the story; Satan came to tempt Him; “If you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread.”  What was Jesus response?  “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”  End of discussion!

Second temptation: Satan took Him to the highest point of the temple in Jerusalem and said, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.  For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”  Ah ha!!  Satan can quote scripture too!  But Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the LORD your God to the test.’”

Let us stop here for a second.  Concerning the stones into bread, Jesus quoted from Deut. 8:3.  In the second temptation, Satan quote from Psalm 91:11, 12 – but he did not quote it in its entirety; Satan left out an important part, the angels are “to guard you in all your ways … you will trample the great lion and the serpent.”  And so Jesus answers him from Deut. 6:16.  Sometimes Satan is straight forward and sometimes he is deceptive.  But Jesus knew what He had to do.

In the third temptation, Satan takes Jesus to a high mountain to show Him the kingdoms of the world and then says to Jesus, “All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me.”  Jesus did not argue with Satan as to who had ownership of all things, but immediately, He said to him, “Away from me Satan!  For it is written: ‘Worship the LORD your God and serve Him alone.’”  And so the Devil left Jesus and we are told that the angels came and attended Him.

Isn’t it interesting what quoting scripture will do?  The temptations and trials that our Savior endured just melted away in the face of Him quoting from the Book of Life; God’s word!   And He has left for us an example that we might do as He has done.

More on this in the next article!

Freedom is Good News Part 79

The final instructions given to the disciples before Jesus was arrested, tried, tortured and crucified are found in John 13 – 17.  Let’s not forget how we started looking into these chapters.  We began, several articles ago, by considering what to do when trouble strikes. The answer I put forth came from Jesus mouth  “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:53) 

When we find that trouble has struck, the salve we should apply is the peace found in our Savior.  Paul tells us, “the peace that comes from God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7)

 “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.”  Let’s take a look at some more of “these things”. 

At the start of chapter 14, Jesus tells the disciples they should not let their hearts be troubled.  I suppose if we consider ourselves to be His disciples, we should take this to heart.  But it’s hard to do sometimes when all we find around us are troubles, dilemmas and heartaches.  Jesus then tells us that He is going to His Father’s house so as to prepare a place for us and then says that He will come back for us “that you may abide where I am”.  This is a sign of the betrothal.  In ancient Israel, after a marriage had been arranged by the fathers, the groom would not see his prospective bride again until he had built for them a home.  When this house met the father’s expectations, the wedding date would be set, the wedding take place and the groom would take his new bride to this abode he had built.

“Hallelujah!  For our Lord God Almighty reigns.  Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory!  For the wedding of the Lamb had come, and His bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Rev. 19:6-8)

In John 14:4, at the end of this segment, Jesus says, “You are aware of where I am going and you are aware of the way.”  A somewhat cryptic statement; to which Thomas (you know – doubting Thomas; or as some call him, “honest Thomas”) replies, “Lord, we are not aware of where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 

Are you a disciple of Jesus?  Are you one who calls Him Lord and Master?  Is He your teacher?  Only you can truthfully answer these questions and only you may understand the answer to Thomas; do you know the way?

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me’”.  Jesus gave the answer and Jesus is the answer.  More on this next time.

Freedom is Good News Part 76

We pick up where we left off in our previous article.  And as I have pondered this topic of trouble over the past week, into my thoughts came one of God’s servants, our dear brother, the servant of God, the Apostle Paul.  Listen, if you will, to his litany of troubles: “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.  Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, and I have been constantly on the move.  I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.  I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have been cold and naked.  Beside everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.” (2 Corinthians 11:23-28)

Ok, so I do not really have any troubles!! 

The bible teaches us that we should not compare ourselves one to another.  If we feel the need to compare ourselves to anyone, it must be to our Savior, Jesus Christ, who was, “… despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.  Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised and we esteemed Him not.  Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted.  But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him and by His wounds we are healed. … And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth, He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.” (Isaiah 53:3-7)

Maybe it’s a good time to consider how good we really have it.  Two men, Paul and Jesus, suffered greatly on our account.  One, Paul, desired so much to bring the good news to all men and we have his example, his testimony and his teachings in our bibles; bibles that have been purchased by us for the equivalence of one or two hour’s wage.  The other, Jesus; He not only brought the good news; He was the good news.  I guess, with spring approaching, it is a good time to ponder the sacrifice that our Savior made for us.

Until next time, let us rejoice and not be troubled by the things of this world.  Jesus said, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:53)

Freedom is Good News Part 75

What should we do when trouble strikes?  I suppose one must define “trouble”.  Like everything else in this world, we all see trouble in differing lights.  And depending upon our own personal situation in life, we might rate trouble higher or lower.  For instance, suppose you receive notice that your home insurance is going up – that can be labeled as trouble.  But last week your boss was feeling generous and gave you a healthy raise in pay.  On the other hand you just learned last week that you will be laid off and the possibilities for getting a good job are slim.  On a scale of one to ten, the first case might be a 1 or 2 but the second case is scarier and is a 6 or 7.

I just finished reading a book entitled, “The Auschwitz Escape” by Joel Rosenberg.  I’m sure we are all aware of what happened at Auschwitz during the early 1940s.  So why didn’t the Jews rebel?  Because they thought their trouble was at a level of 4 or 5.  Getting on the trains, they thought they were going to a concentration camp to work in factories helping to supply the German war machine.  “All will be back to normal after the war.”  Shortly after they arrived, they saw that their trouble was off the scale of 1 through 10.  As one prisoner put it, “The only way out is in ashes up the chimney”.  Death and cremation was all that was in store.  I have never ever seen nor imagined that magnitude of trouble.

And so trouble, in varying degrees, comes upon us all.  What should we do when trouble strikes?  The bible has a lot to say concerning trouble.  And I am sure you are way ahead of me on this one.  The number one answer to my question is to seek God. 

As I ponder this topic, my mind turns to a statement that Jacob made after he had come to Egypt and to his long lost son Joseph, who was now second in command to Pharaoh in Egypt.  Joseph then brings him into Pharaoh’s presence.  (This episode is found in Genesis 47.)  Pharaoh’s first question to Jacob is a curious one, “How old are you?” he asked.  And Jacobs answer is equally curious, “The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty.  My years have been few and difficult.”  The story of Jacob’s short (130 years) and difficult life begins in Genesis 25:21 and end with his death at the end of chapter 49.  It is a long section of scripture devoted to one man and  his family but it gives us quite a picture of Jacob as a self- serving twin son of Isaac who encounters many troubles and difficulties, to a repentant patriarch who seeks the God of his fathers and then confesses that this God is his God.

Where are you in your short and difficult life?  I believe I have said this before but it is true that we have a tendency to seek God only when we have difficulties and troubles.  A very wise man once said to me, “Seek God when things are good and perhaps you won’t have to see many troubles”. 

This world can be full of troubles.  I think back to my first attempt at an article for this venue and consider the fact that sometimes we just need good news.  God willing we will consider the topic of trouble and its anecdote, seeking the face of our God.