"You get'em God!"

Pain, fear and rejection welled up within Jeremiah as he prayed bitterly against his enemies:

"...Forgive not their iniquity, nor blot out their sin from your sight...deal with them in the time of your anger." -Jeremiah 18:23 

It's not a particularly gracious prayer, but the sentiment is one that most of us have probably felt ourselves at some point. I'm guessing you have either seen or experienced one of the following:

• She is left holding the fragments of a broken marriage while he plays the fool, leaving town with another woman.
• A faithful employee is given the "pink slip" just months before he is vested in his retirement.
• A bride is left at the altar while her cold footed groom runs for the door.
• A pastor pours his heart and soul into a congregation, only to be betrayed and run out of town in humiliation.

And on and on it goes. Embarrassment. Anger. Humiliation. Fear of the future. Powerlessness. Then, in desperation, the aggrieved party prays, "God get'em." 

Certainly God doesn't give any sin a pass. All sins will be judged in time, but what He really wants is repentance on the part of the offender, not the administration of justice. Fortunately for all of us, God's patience far exceeds ours. In fact, a few chapters later in the Book of Jeremiah, God is describing the coming "New Covenant" that is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Using Jeremiah's own words from the prayer we just read (note the underlined words), God says,

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, ... And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." -Jeremiah 31:31, 34 

So if you've been hurt, embarrassed or otherwise mistreated by some rotten jerk, I get it. I really do. You'd like to strike back, or better yet, you'd like for God to administer a bit of justice on your behalf.

Here's the thing, the "New Covenant" that Jesus purchased with his death and resurrection make equal provision for anyone who will turn to Him. It's even available to the dirty rotten jerk who did you wrong. 

I know. I know. It's not an easy thing to do, but rather than pray a "God get'em" prayer the way Jeremiah did, it's better to ask God to bring the offender to a place of repentance. Jesus said, 

"...Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." [Luke 6:27 ESV]

So, you may ask, how am I supposed to "love...do good...bless...pray for" that rotten crummy person? Honestly, it usually takes a little time. Ultimately Christians do the right thing because that is what Jesus told them to do, not because they feel like doing it. 

So if you are still experiencing the sting of a bad event in your life, please, let me give you a little direction on how to pray. Ask the Lord to bring your offender to a place of repentance. God is still a God of miracles and your prayer for that person just might make an eternal difference in their life.

Go ahead. Do the right thing.

Greater Righteousness: The Dust of Lust

Lesson 2: Recognizing the sinfulness of lust.

In the light of verse 19, Jesus continues to explain to his disciples that his teaching does not do away with the law, rather his teaching supersedes the law. In effect Jesus is raising the standard of what it means to be a “righteous” individual. Then He illustrates this point with specific examples related to the Law. In fact, he places anger, lust, divorce, oaths, and retaliation on the same moral plane as murder, adultery, and perjury. Over the next few weeks we will go over these particulars that Jesus has given us.
Note: While Jesus raises the standard of righteous conduct in this passage, he does not reveal the mechanism by which we arrive at this level of righteousness. On its face, Jesus is placing the Kingdom of Heaven out of reach for everyone. Later passages in the New Testament reveal that the Christian’s righteousness is given to him or her by Jesus Christ and acted out in the Christian as he or she walks in the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that Christians are immune to sin, because believers can and do still sin; however, the spirit of the believer longs to not sin, that is, be righteous. A repentant heart can always find restoration to righteousness in Jesus Christ. [1 John 2, Romans 8]

The Dust of Lust.

The unrighteousness of Lust.

Mat 5:27-30 ESV – “You have heard that is was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.”

Establishing the first premise: Adultery is bad.

Unfortunately, we can no longer assume that everyone is aware of the seriousness of adultery, or even aware of the definition of adultery. Regardless of the cultural perception of normalcy, the Bible is clear that the only people who should be having sex is a man and a woman who are married to each other. There is no other sexual relationship sanctioned by God. [Matthew 19:4,5; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Hebrews 13:4]

Now, the question is "why"? Why does God place such a high priority on this area of our lives?  As with many things, to find the Biblical beginning of a subject we need to return to Genesis.

Marriage is a holy union.

Contrary to the winds of much of the current social climate, marriage is much more than a contractual agreement. Marriage is not just a business merger or a means of getting a better tax break or insurance rate. Marriage is a holy covenant, sanctioned by God, between one man and one woman. 

The very first commandment give to man by God is contained in the following passage:

Gen 1:27-28 NKJV - "27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.""

Genesis chapter 2 further elaborates on the creation of man and woman:

Gen 2:21-24 NKJV - "21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."

The key to understanding the importance of marriage is contained in the phrase, “created…in the image of God.” The Bible is specific in its teaching that man is not just another animal. Mankind’s mind and intellect make him unique in all of creation. The eternal nature of his soul and spirit reflect the eternal nature of God and elevate him far above the level of a mere animal. Unlike anything else in creation, man's soul was birthed by the very breath of God. [Genesis 2:7].

Satan’s desire is to undo anything God has done. This includes the sacredness of marriage. [John 8:42-45;  Romans 1:18-32].

Marriage is a life of self surrender. Marriage is not about getting, marriage is about giving.  In marriage you learn to surrender the things you want (or even need) to see to that the other person's needs are met. [Ephesians 5:21].

• You may do without physical comforts.
• You may have to surrender your "toys".
• You may spend holidays with people you don't really like.
• You may have to curb your spending habits.
• You will have to learn to share living space with another person whose routine and habits are very different from your own.

Marriage is a life of mutual empowerment. When a marriage is built on a Biblical foundation, the value of the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. There is a principle in the Bible in which those who follow the Lord together gain exponential strength. [Leviticus 26:8]. This hold true, I think, in the realm of marriage as well. 

Several years ago there was a line in a movie that gained popularity among lovers. "He completes me...<insert dreamy look here>". Such an idea is nonsense. If you are an incomplete person before marriage you will be an incomplete person afterward. Only Jesus Christ can "complete" you for he is your creator. You can put that kind of pressure on your spouse. He or she cannot do that. Rather a godly spouse is a complement or, if you prefer, a "help meet for" you.

In marriage we imitate the Divine. Like it or not, marriage is a God given visual aid of the relationship between God and his people. In the Old Testament, used it to illustrate his relationship to Israel and Judah [Jeremiah 3:20; Isaiah 62:5]. In the New Testament, it illustrates the relationship between Christ and his Church. [John 3:28,29; Ephesians 5:21-33]. Christ sacrificed himself for his church. The church is called upon be a living sacrifice for her Savior. [Romans 12:1-3] Jesus initiated the relationship with his church and leads his church. [Romans 5:8]. The Church worships and magnifies the Savior. [Phillipians 3:3]. 

In what way does this parallel the "love and respect" passage of Ephesians 5?

• Adultery undermines all three of these principles
• Adultery is a selfish act.
• Adultery weakens and humilitates the spouse one has pledged to protect/honor.
• Adultery breaks a sacred covenant.

Jesus states that, for the person committing the sin, lust is the moral equivalent of adultery. In the "amputation" verses here, Jesus is impressing on us the seriousness of sin. If it were our eyes or our hands that caused us to sin, physical amputation would be a quick (albeit drastic) solution. The problem is that our hands and eyes are not the source of sin. The source of sin is our own fleshly desires.

 "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1:14-15 KJV)

Conclusion: The bottom line is that Jesus is raising the bar on Christian conduct. While physical fidelity is a good thing, Jesus is calling us to spiritual fidelity as well. Because of Jesus' conquest of sin and Satan at Calvary, it is possible for Christians to live a victorious life in this world. This doesn't mean that the sin nature in us has been annihilated, but it does mean that as believers, we can walk after the Spirit rather than after the flesh.

To continue to the next lesson, click HERE.

Stuck in the Mud

Remember the old hymn “Power in the Blood”? In that hymn we are asked a series of questions:

Would you be free from the burden of sin?
Would you o’er evil a victory win?
Would you be free from your passion and pride?
Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
Would you do service for Jesus your King?
Would you live daily His praises to sing?

The lyrical answer to these questions is

Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide;
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

Good Christian behavior is not a mystery. It is pretty straight forward. 

Be like Jesus. 
If Jesus wouldn’t, I shouldn’t. 
If he would, I should. 

The Bible serves as our road map, the Holy Spirit serves as our guide.

And yet, Christians struggle with sin.

The problem, you see, isn’t with our “knower” it is with our “doer”.  The Bible verifies that the struggle exists:

"… For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing." - Romans 7:18-19 ESV

This struggle is not fun, but it is very real. Unfortunately, it seems, many Christians get stuck in the mud and never make it out of this struggle.
Wheels spinning. Mud flying. And no movement.

Sometimes the metaphorical mud comes in the form of chemical addictions, emotional baggage, or bad habits.  Sure, carnal Christians know better, but they are stuck.

Sometimes they give up altogether. Sometimes they live in guilt and disappointment.

Either way, it’s a shame. It is a heart rending thing to watch sincere believers spend years wallowing in crippling carnality, powerless to extract themselves.

And that brings us full circle back to the old hymn “Power in the Blood”. 

 Here's the thing. Salvation isn’t just pie-in-the-sky for the sweet-by-and-by. Salvation is also about victory over sin in the not-so-sweet here and now.

Notice the cry of desperation in verse twenty-four:

"Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" - Romans 7:24 ESV

There it is, a cry for deliverance. 

You see, as long as we struggle and fight and wiggle in the mud there is no deliverance. We simply cannot power our way out. But…

“There is power in the blood…”

If we can’t power our way out, how do we get unstuck?

Well, to continue the metaphor, put it in neutral, and hook up the towline. Jesus still delivers. He is on the high ground, and he has plenty of power.

That's the good news. 

Contrary to what you may have heard (even from some preachers) you don't "have to sin a little every day." Frankly, that's a cop out. Let Jesus lead. Learn to follow. You will fall now and then. Get up. You won't be graceful. Keep going. Every marathon racer was once a crawler.

Hunger for God's Word. Spend time in prayer and worship. Listen to the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit in you life.

Jesus purchased you peace on the cross. He wants to pull you out of the mud and clean you up. Can I explain the mechanics of how Jesus can pull you out on top? No, not really. It is ultimately a matter of faith, and it occurs deep in you spirit. Just know this, Jesus wants for you to be free. Give it to him, and he will figure out the details.

My prayer is that each of you will enjoy a victorious, productive Christian life as you follow the one and only Prince of Peace.

God Bless.

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." - Romans 8:1-6 ESV

"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith." - 1 John 5:4 ESV

Smokey Eyed Christians

The presents are open. The "oohs" and "ahhs" have subsided. Toys are sitting abandoned and kids are playing with boxes. Dad decides to clear the room by taking the wrapping paper out back to burn. Then, just as the flames begin to catch in earnest, he sees that $20 bill from grandma lying  in the wrapping paper. Heroically, Dad charges in and saves the twenty.

Now that I have that image in your mind, take a look at this verse:

"And of some have compassion, making a difference:  And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." Jude 22,23

Pulling them out of the fire!  The hard truth is that many of those we are called to reach with the Gospel are living within the grasp of hell's flames. All around us are people simmering with bitter memories, igniting in dysfunction, and engulfed in addictions. I suspect that more children than any of us realize are growing up in truly awful situations.

As Christians we become comfortable in our own universe. We go to church with nice people. We may work with nice people. When we go to the grocery store we habitually checkout in the aisle where the nice Christian lady runs the register, and we are quick to invite those nice middle class neighbors to church.

I get it. Part of being "saved from my sins" means that I should, by virtue of a new nature, recoil from sin. I'm not a drug addict, and have no desire to be around addicts. I am not trapped by some perverse immorality and really do not want to deal with the aftermath of someone else's perversion.  It isn't that we hate sinners. We love them, really... but we are busy, and dealing with all that baggage is going to take a lot of time and effort. I get the reasoning. The problem is that Jesus didn't operate that way.

To be like Jesus, we have to go where we do not want to go, in order to save those who need to be saved.

The fear of falling (especially where fire is concerned) is both natural and good.The miracle is that in this fire we can reach into the fire and pull someone out without falling in ourselves. Look at the next verse. Jesus is "able to keep you from falling" and to "present you faultless".  In fact, he even does it with "exceeding joy". How about that!

So the question isn't whether or not we should reach in those flames to rescue a soul. We know we should. There isn't even a question about the danger of the fire. Sin is dangerous. Period. The question is, do we trust Jesus to "have our back"? Do we trust him to "keep us from falling" and "present us faultless"?

If you get close enough to the fire to rescue a soul, you are going to get smoke in your eyes, and this smoke will make you cry. I can promise you that. The challenge is this: will you get out of your comfort zone?  Will you rescue someone who needs rescuing? Will you be like Jesus?