Running on Empty

“Everything is going against me!”  (Genesis 42:36 NLT)

Ever feel like that?  Where things just keep building up, when everywhere you turn seems to be the wrong way, everything you try to do is going wrong, and there seems to be no way out, and you’ve finally hit your breaking point.

That’s where Jacob was.  Among some of the calamities his family encountered, his son Joseph had gone missing when out looking for his brothers (or so he was led to believe), his son Simeon was being held prisoner in Egypt (due to an attempt to get some food for the family during a severe drought), and now his remaining sons were telling him they needed to take the youngest son, Benjamin, to Egypt with them in order to get Simeon back.  Was there no end to the madness?

The loss of a loved one.  The loss of a job, and with that your insurance.  The diagnosis of a dangerous, debilitating disease.  Bills stacking up, having to decide which is the most important to pay this month.  On and on it goes, and you’re ready to pull your hair out.

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.”  (Matthew 5:3 MSG)

To be “poor in spirit” means to recognize where you are in your spiritual walk with the Lord, and your need for him on a daily basis.  Or as noted by Colin Smith, it means “that you recognize your poverty before God.” (Reference 1)

Where Do We Go From Here?

Moses was talented in many areas of life; he was highly educated and had led successful military campaigns while in the Egyptian army.  However, he was unable to rely on his knowledge of military tactics when leading the nation of Israel out of Egypt.  They were untrained, unarmed, and unable to escape because they were backed up against the Red Sea.

Hezekiah was king over Judah when an invasion from the Assyrians, the dominant world power at the time, occurred.  The city of Jerusalem was surrounded.  No one could enter or leave the city, and access to food supplies cut off.  It was only a matter of time before the people would starve and be forced to surrender.

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) were caught refusing to bow down to the false idol created by King Nebuchadnezzar.  The penalty for such actions were to be tied up and thrown into a fire to be burned to death.  No defense or excuses accepted.

Regardless of their talent, position of power, intellect, and strength, all the above were in impossible to get out of situations.  They definitely qualify as “why me?” circumstances.  Yet when forced into a corner, because of their faith and trust in the Lord, they knew to call on him instead of relying on their own resources.  The end result was God conquered the Egyptian army, freeing the Israelites from slavery; he conquered the Assyrian army by killing 185,000 of them overnight; he protected Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah from the fire without a burn.

To be poor in spirit is where the blessing of God begins.  This is the gateway blessing that leads to all the others, and without this none of the other blessings can be reached.  People who feel they have something to offer God come to Him with their hands full, but as long as our hands are full, we are not in a position to receive.  Watson says, “If the hand is full of pebbles, it cannot receive gold.”  People who are poor in spirit drop the pebbles because they want the gold and they know that it can only be received by empty-handed believers.  When you know that you have nothing to offer God, you are in a position to receive all that He offers to you.  The blessing of God belongs not to those who list their demands, but to the poor in spirit who humble themselves before Him.  (Reference 2)

There are so many “whys” we have in our life that can sometimes bring us to the end of our rope.  I certainly have had some I hadn’t planned on.  God has us go through things and oftentimes we have no idea why, like Job.  Then there are times we are able to look back and see the reason, like Joseph.

But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.  This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.  God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors.  So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.  (Genesis 45:5-8 NLT)

Each day we are given the opportunity of how we will approach our Lord, with our hands full of pebbles, or empty-handed.  Since we’ve learned we are dependent on our Creator for all things, we know there is nothing we can truly offer him that he needs.  It is the one who goes to him with empty hands who can receive the blessings he offers.

References 1 & 2

“Momentum, Pursuing God’s Blessings Through the Beatitudes” by Colin S. Smith

The “Watson” comment from Momentum reference is:

Watson, The Beatitudes, 43.

Being Aware

As far as I can recall, there is only one Latin phrase I know, and it can be credited to, of all things, a sitcom TV show.  The show was “The Brady Bunch” and the episode dealt with the oldest son, Greg, and his attempt to buy his first car.  In an approach to provide some wisdom and squelch the over-zealousness of his son, the father, Mike used the phrase “caveat emptor” to enlighten Greg to the possible hazards to be aware of.  Translated, the phrase means, “let the buyer beware” and that the buyer is the one who is responsible for making sure the interested goods are in suitable condition and quality before the purchase is made.  Thus the buyer needs to be able to discern whether the person making the sale is honest or lying.  The saying likely came about due to another idiom used; “There’s a sucker born every minute.”

There are two “salesmen” who are offering their wares to everyone, and it is up to each individual to decide which one they will listen to and believe.  The thing is that the cost of the decision is high; in fact, it is the most important decision they will make in their life. 

One salesman, Mr. Liar (John 8:44), makes fantastic and wonderful sounding offers, some sounding too good to be true:

• Pick a religion, any religion.  They are basically all the same; the road may be different, but they all lead to the same destination.  All roads lead to heaven.

• It’s my life, so essentially, it’s all about me and my desires.  I can do whatever I want to make me happy.

• Fame and fortune will make me happy.  The more people who know me means I will have more influence and the ability to get what I want.

• I’m not that bad.  Sure I’ve made some mistakes, but overall I’m a good person.

• There’s a verse in the Bible that says, “God is love.”  So that means he loves everyone, and we’ll all get into heaven.

• I’m not a good person, in fact, I’m so bad I can’t be forgiven for some of the things I’ve done.

• God isn’t real; he’s just a fantasy someone made up in the past to help resolve from feeling bad.  The Bible is just a book of stories made up and can’t be trusted.

In response, here’s what the other salesman, Mr. Truth, has to offer:

I am the Lord; there is no other God.  I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it.  (Isaiah 45:5, 12 NLT)

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”  (John 14:6 NLT)

“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”  (Acts 4:12 NLT)

Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.  (Romans 6:16 NLT)

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.  Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.  Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”  (Matthew 6:19-21 NLT)

You must fear the Lord your God and serve him.  (Deuteronomy 6:13 NLT)

“No one is righteous—not even one.  No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God.  All have turned away; all have become useless.  No one does good, not a single one.”  Romans 3:10-12 NLT)

Love is just one of the many characteristics God possesses.  He is also the Judge, lawgiver, and King (Isaiah 33:22), just (Psalm 75:1-7, Eccl. 3:17), omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-12) and sovereign (1 Chronicles 29:11-13).  He is the one who has provided the laws and knows who has broken them.  Yet he is also full of grace (Ephesians1:5-8), mercy (Deuteronomy 4:29-31), and as an intercessor (Hebrews 4:14-16) has provided a means for “whosoever” seeks forgiveness for their sins (John 3:16-18).

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  (Genesis 1:1 NLT)

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT)

How do you validate between the two?  The best is to do research, finding evidence regarding the subject and seeing whether the information you’ve been provided is true or not.  As the dad in the show was trying to tell his son, “Only a simpleton believes what he is told!  A prudent man checks to see where he is going.”  (Proverbs 14:15 TLB) 

The result of trusting in lies is they provide false information and assumptions, leading to misguided decisions.  This can lead to eroded relationships, damaged credibility, and societal division.

Truth stands the test of time; lies are soon exposed.  (Proverbs 12:19 TLB)

In a world where truth and falsehoods often compete for our attention, it is imperative to exercise discernment and critical thinking. The contrast between the two serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying information and making informed decisions, especially in matters as significant as faith, morality, and most importantly, your eternal destination.

What steps will you take to ensure that you’re making informed decisions and discerning truth in your own life?”

Bad Decisions

At some point in life, everyone has made a decision about something they look back on and regret.  Whether it was a major purchase, someone they dated, a career choice, an investment, or simply trying the volcano level hot sauce on their burrito, we learned there are consequences.  Some may not have been so bad, while others are horrifically life altering.  They obviously needed some more consideration before jumping into the pool and becoming another person who joins the club of fools whose last statement was, “Hey y’all, watch this!”

The way of the arrogant fool who rejects God’s wisdom is right in his own eyes, but a wise and prudent man is he who listens to counsel.  (Proverbs 12:15 AMP)

At the top of the list, as you may have guessed, is Adam and Eve.  They were given one instruction.  With multitudes of trees in the garden, and only one declared to be off limits.  Do not eat the fruit of this tree.  Sounds simple.  What possibly could go wrong?

She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.  (Genesis 3:6 NLT)

Enter sin and the breaking of the relationship between mankind and their Creator.  And the beginning of death.  And the change of every living being on the face of the earth. (I blame my inability to stay away from chips and salsa as a fallout of this.  If you don’t want me to eat the chips before the guests arrive, then don’t put them out before they get here.)

The next candidates are Abram and Sarai.  God tells them he is going to give them a son.  He doesn’t say when, so after waiting twenty-four years they become a little impatient.

So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal.  (Genesis 16:2 NLT)

This is the grounds for men to note that being married to two women is not a good idea, no matter how much your fantasies tell you it would be magical.  (Solomon definitely did not get the note about this issue.  Talk about a man who just couldn’t say no.)  The result of this was the creation of the nation of Islam.  Want to talk about family conflict?  Their arguments have been more volatile than who makes the best hummus.  Family gatherings have never been the same since.

Our final candidate is one who just couldn’t look away.  In this case, curiosity just didn’t kill the cat, it turned it into a pillar of salt.  After being instructed to flee the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and to not look back, or there would be tragic consequences. 

He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation.  But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.  (Genesis 19:25-26 NLT)

That’s right, Lot’s wife.  I’m guessing the saltshaker was always full in Lot’s tent.

The sad thing is all these tragic incidents could have been avoided, but they failed to do one thing.  They neglected to listen to God.  Secondly, not only did then not listen, but they also did not consult God about their decision.

David is a great example on both sides of the coin on this.  When he consulted with God about whether or not to go to battle, claiming his rights to the kingship over the nation, or how to deal with an oncoming famine, he was given the answer.  And when he did so, he succeeded in all he did.  When he chose to follow his own desires, however, he made foolish choices with consequences he and his family would suffer from.

Not only is it important for individuals to turn to God for guidance, but for nations also.  Israel was held accountable for their failure to follow God’s ways.  They rejected him as their leader, turned away and followed false gods, failure to let the land rest during the anointed times, which led to their downfall.  Both the northern and southern kingdoms were led away to exile in foreign lands until they learned their lesson.

The surrounding nations were also held accountable for their actions too.  The pronouncements against Egypt, Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, Elam, and Babylon revealed God’s displeasure with their actions and their defiance against Him.  They too suffered consequences for ignoring God. 

The psalmist warns of disregarding the Lord’s guidance.

The nations have fallen into the pit they dug for others.

Their own feet have been caught in the trap they set.

The Lord is known for his justice.

The wicked are trapped by their own deeds.

The wicked will go down to the grave.

This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God.

(Psalm 9:15-17 NLT)

And yet, God patiently waits to offer anyone who calls on him the guidance only he can provide.

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.  (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV)

For the Lord grants wisdom!  From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.  He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.  He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.  Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go.  For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy.  Wise choices will watch over you.  Understanding will keep you safe.  Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted.  (Proverbs 2:6-12 NLT)

Have you ever experienced the consequences of making a significant decision without seeking guidance or considering the consequences?  Or do you rely solely on your own judgment?  How about seeking guidance from the wisest counsel of all?

Emotions

Jesus wept.  (John 11:35)

What is often noted as the shortest verse in the Bible can be overlooked as just a simple sentence, with the reader missing the full impact of what the author is telling them.  Maybe it is because we tend to see it only from the human perspective. 

We read of other men that they wept. Abraham, when he buried Sarah, wept; Jacob had power with the angel, for he wept and prevailed; of David we are continually reading that he wept. His friend Jonathan and he once wept together, and were not unmanned, but were the more truly men for weeping. Of Hezekiah we read that he wept sore, and of Josiah that he poured forth tears over the sins of Judah. Jeremiah was a weeping prophet; and I might continue the list, but if I did, it would not be at all remarkable that the sons of a fallen father should weep. With all the sin and sorrow that surrounds our manhood, it is no marvel that it should be said of any man, “He wept.” The earth brings forth thorns and thistles, and the heart brings forth sorrow and sighing. Is there a man or woman here who has not wept? Have we not all, sometimes, felt a sweet relief in tears? Looking round upon this great assembly, I could point to you, one by one, and say, “He wept, and he wept; and she wept, and she wept”; and none would wonder that such has been the case. The marvel is that the sinless Son of God should, in the days of his flesh, know the meaning of strong crying and tears. The fact worthy to be noticed and recorded is that “Jesus wept.”  (Reference 1)

So how does the weeping of Jesus differ from that of any other?

We see Jesus as a man who is sad at the passing of his good friend.  But it is more than that.  Yes, Jesus was fully man while on earth, but we also need to remember he was also fully God.  He knew that Lazarus would be raised from this death (and would have to suffer through a second one!), but that one of his dear children died.  I think that Jesus cries when each of his children die, because it didn’t have to be that way.  For the ones that have acknowledged him as Savior and repented, the sorrow is brief because there is rejoicing in heaven when a child comes home (2 Peter 1:11 CEV).  For those who fail to recognize God as the Creator and the loving Father who deeply desires to be with them, choosing to reject Him, His tears flow from a place of profound love as He grieves their eternal separation.  They chose wrath over love.  He offered them the free gift of love and life in paradise forever, but they rejected it.

The Lord isn’t slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.  (2 Peter 3:9 CEV)

In considering that Jesus was both fully God and human, when we think of God as limited in the area of emotion.  Oftentimes a question is asked, “Are you talking about the God of the Old Testament or the New Testament?” as if there is a difference.  The perception is that the God in the Old Testament is cruel; the one in the New Testament is more open and receptive.  However, we know that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8).  There are many instances where his emotions have been noted.

• Anger – Psalm 7:11; Deuteronomy 9:22; Romans 1:18
• Compassion – Psalm 135:14; Judges 2:18; Deuteronomy 32:36
• Grief – Genesis 6:6; Psalm 78:40
• Love – 1 John 4:8; John 3:16; Jeremiah 31:3
• Hate – Proverbs 6:16; Psalm 5:5; Psalm 11:5
• Jealousy – Exodus 20:5; Exodus 34:14; Joshua 24:19
• Joy – Zephaniah 3:17; Isaiah 62:5; Jeremiah 32:41

(Reference 2)

When I watched the episode in season four of “The Chosen” where Jesus wept because his friend Lazarus had died; I was touched personally.  It brought to mind the thought of my wife’s passing, and how he felt and understood the grief that I and my loved ones felt.  He understands our grief, because he has felt it personally, and to a larger extent than us.  In his tears, we find solace and the assurance of his unfailing love.

By willingly giving up everything in heaven and coming down to earth to live as a human being, God understands us better than we know.  He has experienced all things we do, yet was sinless, and because so was able to pay the price we are not able to pay.

And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.  For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.  So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”  For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.  (2 Corinthians 5:18-21 NLT)

In this one simple verse, God is giving us a glimpse into his innermost being.  The apostle John, who tells us in his gospel that he was one that Jesus loved, later exclaimed that God is love (1 John 4:16).  This simple, two-word verse helps to support that.  It shows us how much he loves his creation, enough to save the world through the sacrifice of his Son.

Consider the sacrifice of Jesus and his willingness to experience human suffering. How does this deepen your appreciation for God’s love and empathy towards humanity?

Reference 1:

From sermon “Jesus Wept” by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/jesus-wept/#flipbook/

Reference 2:

Does God have emotions? | GotQuestions.org

He Who Has

In the 1980’s millionaire Malcolm Forbes was attributed with saying, “He who has the most toys when he dies, wins.”  I’m surprised this has not been picked up and used by the lottery as a sales pitch.  Not yet at least.  Just give them time.

Forbes statement leaves many questions unanswered though.  What do the winners get?  Another pointless trophy to add to their pile of possessions?  Is the contest held throughout all of history, or just during a person’s lifetime?  Who will let the winner know they won?  And how is the winner going to be notified since they’ve died?

Yet it’s interesting that there was another wealthy man who had something different to say about gathering money and possessions.

He who loves money shall never have enough. The foolishness of thinking that wealth brings happiness!  The more you have, the more you spend, right up to the limits of your income. So what is the advantage of wealth—except perhaps to watch it as it runs through your fingers!  The man who works hard sleeps well whether he eats little or much, but the rich must worry and suffer insomnia.  (Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 TLB)

Interesting side note; although the future kings of Israel were warned about accumulating wealth, wives and horses—as a show of strength (Deuteronomy 17:14-20), it wasn’t until afterward that Solomon found his accumulation of these very things to be his downfall.  It was in his latter years when he wrote about this failure.  “Everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”  (Ecclesiastes 2:11 ESV)

Having examined the pitfalls of materialism, it is crucial to consider the alternative values that lead to a fulfilling life.  What does the Creator of life have to say about it?

In the first letter to the Corinthians, we are told that going around telling others about ourselves and our exploits is nothing but making a lot of noise.  We are then told to avoid that and let love be our greatest aim.  (1 Corinthians 13, 14)

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.  (Matthew 22:37-39 NLT)

Which brings the question, what is love?

Four unique forms of love are found in Scripture. They are communicated through four Greek words (Eros, Storge, Philia, and Agape) and are characterized by romantic love, family love, brotherly love, and God’s divine love.

Eros is the Greek word for sensual or romantic love.  Love in the form of Eros seeks its own interest and satisfaction—to possess the object of love. God is very clear in the Bible that eros love is reserved for marriage.  Within the boundary of marriage, eros love is to be celebrated and enjoyed as beautiful blessing from God.

Storge is a term for love in the Bible that describes family love, the affectionate bond that develops naturally between parents and children, and brothers and sisters.  God calls his children to love each other with the deep affection of storge love.

Philia is the type of intimate love in the Bible that most Christians practice toward each other. This Greek term describes the powerful emotional bond seen in deep friendships.  Philia is the most general type of love in Scripture, encompassing love for fellow humans, care, respect, and compassion for people in need.

Agape is the highest of the four types of love in the Bible. This term defines God’s immeasurable, incomparable love for humankind. It is the divine love that comes from God. Agape love is perfect, unconditional, sacrificial, and pure.  (Reference 1)

There are several other attributes we are encouraged to obtain as well to help love completely to develop to its full potential.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  (Colossians 3:12 NIV)

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.  (Philippians 2:1-4 MSG)

Simply put, love God, love people.  Easy to say, yet something we find difficult to do at times.  Knowing this, the Lord offers encouragement to help us keep our eyes focused on our true purpose.  Jesus teaches us about the true treasures we can accumulate that have much greater meaning than material wealth and earthly possessions.

“Stop collecting treasures for your own benefit on earth, where moth and rust eat them and where thieves break in and steal them.  Instead, collect treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust don’t eat them and where thieves don’t break in and steal them.  Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  (Matthew 6:19-21 CEB)

The reward of loving God and others is the development of a closer relationship and spiritual well-being.

Notice that we have no way of knowing what our treasures are, nor how many we have.  We won’t find this out until we arrive home.  Since we have no way of knowing, there is no way of making a comparison with others like we can do with material things gathered on earth.

The rewards we gain in heaven are not like the rewards we earn here on earth. We tend to think in material terms—mansions, jewels, etc. But these things are only representations of the true rewards we will gain in heaven. A child who wins a spelling bee treasures the trophy he receives not for the sake of the trophy itself but for what that trophy means. Likewise, any rewards or honor we gain in heaven will be precious to us because they carry the weight and meaning of our relationship with God—and because they remind us of what He did through us on earth.

In this way, rewards in heaven glorify God and provide us with joy, peace, and wonder as we consider God’s work in us and through us. The closer we were to God during this life, the more centered on Him and aware of Him, the more dependent on Him, the more desperate for His mercy, the more there will be to celebrate. We are like characters in a story who suffer doubt, loss, and fear, wondering if we will ever really have our heart’s desire. When the happy ending comes and desire is fulfilled, there comes a completion. The story would not be satisfying without that completion. Rewards in heaven are the completion of our earthly story, and those rewards will be eternally satisfying.  (Reference 2)

Building upon the theme of love as central to a meaningful life, it becomes evident that spiritual riches far surpass material possessions.  So which are you focused on when you start your day?  Are you like Malcolm Forbes,  hoping to add more earthly belongings into your storage container that your children will either throw in the trash or get rid of in a garage sale? 

The Oscar winner of the best picture award in 1938 has a title that should help us remember what Mr. Forbes neglected to say.  The title name is You Can’t Take it With You.  Why try to gain things you can’t keep, when you can have rewards where you are going that you can have forever, and will mean much more than anything you will ever have down here?  Which do you think will provide you with a more meaningful life?

Reference 1:

4 Types of Love in the Bible by Jack Zavada.

Link: https://www.learnreligions.com/types-of-love-in-the-bible-700177#:~:text=But%20the%20word%20love%20describes,love%2C%20and%20God’s%20divine%20love.

Reference 2:

What is the purpose of there being rewards in heaven? | GotQuestions.org