Category: Shadows (Page 23 of 25)

Wisdom and knowledge are of temporal value if we do not know God. Every day challenges require choices. The prophet Micah tells us in verse 6:8, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.” A simple statement, God has given us what we need to know and now the responsibility is up to each person to discover that knowledge and decide is it the Truth? A clear theme in the Bible is that discernment, knowing what to do next in each set of circumstances, requires a clear understanding of God’s Truth. To find this discernment takes a combination of three things:

1. A belief in and an understanding of God’s Word and His commands.
2. The faith that God, His Son, Christ, and the Holy Spirit are real.
3. An ability to observe the knowledge documented in our Bible at work in our world using Common Sense.

(Jeremiah 9:23-24)¹NIV New International Version Translations – “This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.”

Because all things logical and scientific begin with the concept of observation, to become wise and to know God, requires us to know the difference between observing and just looking. Much of life is spent looking, without the intent of our minds ever using what we see again. But when we observe, our minds extract a greater meaning out of what we see and convert it into what we might call our beliefs.

The conversion process requires skills. A few tips on being a good observer might look like this:

1. Alertness – Quick to notice and process information, mental fitness. Life requires that we pay attention.
2. Being Present – Secondhand information is always be colored by the bias of someone else’s eyes and beliefs. To observe requires personal engagement.
3. To filter – Our world is filled with distractions, misrepresentations, even downright lies. To be a good filter, one must be willing to search for Truth.
4. Double Checking – In our times of biased media, social and otherwise, there is the added responsibility to double and triple check everything. Even the interpretation of God’s Word can be perverted.
5. God’s Truth – The ability of knowing good and bad, relevant, and irrelevant. Most have an intrinsic knowledge of right and wrong, but few really use that knowledge as a comparative tool.
6. Common Sense – The use of knowledge and the observation of the world to decide what to do requires reason combined with revelation (the Holy Spirit). God placed a great Counselor in our world to help and guide us.

When an observation is either flawed because we did not follow good practices or avoided because of laziness, we make mistakes, use poor judgment, and our conclusions can be wrong. Here are some examples that show how our world has drawn erroneous conclusions:

• Christians are asked to be obedient in faith to Christ and the Cross in a world that surrounds them with idols, demons, fetishes, and superstition. How have so many people for so many generations managed to remain loyal to their faith in our world with so many distractions? Our world even calls out to reprogram its faithful people. Is it really the faithful who are wrong and dangerous? How did that conclusion ever develop?
• History gives us an undisputed view of the witness of Christ’s presence through the stories of the martyrs who chose death rather than to give the leaders of this world their oath. Where does such spiritual power come? Are martyrs mad? Are they fools? Are only the power-driven oppressors of the world correct?
• We have a presence in our world of a love for the abandoned, despised, unborn, and betrayed human beings. Missionaries, prison ministries, shelters, food banks, all open their hearts to those in need. What drives this generosity and compassion? The survival of the fittest, our world’s motto it seems, surely is not the source of charity. Is government charged with providing charity or should it come from our own hearts?
• Finally, observations show an enslaved creation, a general sadness as we live in a godless world. There is war, slavery of every kind and diminishing human rights all pointing to the plight of our world today. What can free the earth of this destructive behavior? Governments seek to control the delivery of happiness but how is it that humankind can ever find the real prize, joy? Is not the prize eternal joy?

King David of the Old Testament writes:

(Psalm 19:1-30) – The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.

It is up to us to learn how to be better observers. Nature is just one of the ways in which God has revealed Himself to humanity. King David observes that God is EVERYWHERE! What exactly does nature, the universe around us, tell us about God? Can we find evidence of God’s existence from looking at the world in which we live? This would be called “Natural Theology.” The Truth is that only God Himself could give us knowledge of His own being. The Bible makes it clear that God’s revelation of Himself in nature is not sufficient knowledge for sinful humanity to ever know Him. Nature only provides basic truths to humanity but falls far short of giving any absolute truth. Nature tells us that there is a God who is majestic and powerful but nothing more. It is the Bible alone that tells human beings how to see God not only in nature, but everywhere else.

For me personally, the idea of nature unveiling God takes me back to Jimmie R’s home in Ohio. I was just a young teenager and Jimmie and I had decided to camp out in his back yard. He lived just down the street from me, and we were good friends. I still can walk you to the exact place where we camped out that night. With simple cardboard to insulate us from the cold ground, Jimmie and I laid down to spend the night. There were no lights, so the very significance of the universe was open before my eyes that evening. It would be that very moment, that very place, that I would understand my “insignificance” to the universe around me. I think it was that very moment of humility that I recognized a God existed. For that moment in my life, I am eternally grateful.

Faith is required to understand Scriptures. The Bible’s many stories, laws and commandments must be overlaid onto life, our personal experiences and then validated by our own observations. Here is where the responsibility of unbiased observations comes together with God’s Word to form our conclusions and then actions. God says He showed us the Truth! Are we acting like we found it?

The process of observation and faithfulness must always be rational and consistent. When our personal observations do not align with the Bible or the faith we claim, then it is time to do some more observing. Our world is busy telling God what sin is. God has already told the world what sin is. Our world is demeaning life, worshiping wealth, idolizing power, prioritizing self-interests, and removing personal freedoms. God has already told us to follow Him. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.”

Common Sense says that any person who claims Christ as a personal savior should not be a professional thief or murderer. Common Sense says a person who claims Christ as their personal savior should not even condone thievery or murder of any kind. God says there must not be any inconsistency between Himself, one’s observations, and their Faith. That is called Common Sense. God’s Truth does not have inconsistencies.

Contemplations

• Is it really OK to vote for someone who supports abortion?
  • Ideas to Explore:  What do you think God’s position would be on the termination of a life in the womb? When does life exist and what does our Bible say about it?
• Can humankind really tell God what is sinful?
  • Ideas to Explore: Where does humankind attempt to tell the world what is right and what is wrong? Is there any way people can justify behavior contrary to God’s directive? How do we determine what is sinful?
• What are the ways we  unknowingly support ungodly behavior?
  • Ideas to Explore: Do we pick leaders who make us feel good, say the right things or do we align ourselves with leaders that direct our behavior toward God? Are we happy with the leaders we support? If not, why? What are the ungodly actions that through common sense, we have determined and validated?
• How good are you at seeing the true motives of people around us?
  • Ideas to Explore: Do we pay attention and see the motives of those around us? Are their actions consistent with God’s Word? Would Jesus approve of our support?
• Are you willing to set yourself apart from the world and support Christ?
  • Ideas to Explore: Faith is only faith when under the challenges of the world. Can you stand against the world and set yourself aside from those who just want to be part of the norm? What motivates you – Success in this world or the idea of eternal joy with God?

Note: You may also be interested in a companion study on Common Sense and its dependency on being a good observer. You can find it by clicking Here.

• 1
  NIV New International Version Translations

Most of us have been educated by “tradition.” That is, we have adopted what Christianity has ascribed to many of the writings in the Bible. The letter called 1 John (first John) is commonly believed to be written by the Apostle John, one of Jesus’ chosen twelve, the son of Zebedee, and “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Unfortunately, the text of 1 John (first John) or that of the other two letters so numbered do not bear John’s name or any other name. They are anonymous. This first letter was probably written in Ephesus between 95 and 110 AD. The writer advises Christians on how to discern true teachers: by their ethics, their proclamation of Jesus in the flesh, and by their love. This letter makes a bold statement about hate.

(1 John 4:20)¹NIV New International Version Translations – Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

The subject of hatred and its impact on the human heart are well supported in Scripture. Hate made its first appearance in Genesis 4:8 – “Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” Abel was victim to one of the most common causes of hatred: envy. Today, envy over social status, wealth, resources, and other advantages continues to pit people against one another. Why is it important for us to look at the topic of hatred? We have just witnessed political hatred at its worst, and it does not look like it will get better any time soon. Our study verse clearly says that if we hate, we are nothing but liars and cannot love God. It was our God who established the “first principles” such as law, government, education, politics, and economics, all to be discovered by “common sense.” Because hatred seeks to censure and stop all free discussion, a prerequisite to “common sense, hatred is dangerous.

While envy is just one of the many causes of hatred, most oftentimes, hatred is fueled by fear based upon ignorance. As people who claim their salvation in Christ, there is an expectation that we will do all we can to discern God’s Truth and not become prejudiced individuals who twist, distort, misinterpret, or even ignore facts that conflict with our predetermined opinions. Fortunately, we find clarity right in 1 John again, right before the writer tells us about hatred:

(1 John 4:1) – “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

How then, in a world filled with information, media, and biased and false news, does one discern truth? I have written on this before, but it is worth repeating. David Barton is a New York Times best-selling author. In his writings, he states that the world is quite creative in its deception and perversion of facts. These same perversions are being applied to our Bible too. Barton lists seven strategies that are being used to reprogram us against ourselves.

• Historical Negativism – An accurate presentation of history depends on the telling of the good with the bad, an honest, balanced presentation of events, people, or periods. Our history is not all bad! (2 Timothy 3:16) – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”
• Relativism – This asserts that in history, religion, culture, and law are not absolute. Values are to be determined individually, and personal standards trump traditional ones, thus allowing subjectivity and feelings to prevail over objectivity. This attitude would claim that our Constitution is old and out of date and the Bible has no relevance to society today. Nothing could be farther from the truth!
• Anti-nationalism -This is the constant undermining of patriotism or the love of one’s country. Remember, we are the only country on earth that people risk their lives to get into. People are free to leave yet few ever do! The fact that people love God is a good thing, not a bad thing.
• Rejection of American Exceptionalism – This rejects the idea that America is blessed and enjoys unprecedented stability, prosperity, and liberty because of unique ideas such as God-given inalienable rights, individualism, limited government, and an educated, virtuous citizenry. I am still waiting to find a history book somewhere better than America!
• Modernism is the malpractice of examining past events and people as if they occurred and lived today rather than in the past. Modernists destroy monuments, deface historical sites, and protest everything good. Lose the past, and you will lose your purpose and direction! Lose the Bible and you will lose an eternity with God.
• Minimalism – The unreasonable insistence on oversimplification, on reducing all things to political rhetoric and one-line slogans, forgetting the complexities of history. Open and honest dialogue requires time for “both” sides to discuss their concerns after they first understand each other’s! Hate censors the truth.
• Rigid Secularism – The constant misrepresentation of the influences of religion in American History. Our history has recognized that all must have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. Faith, the belief in a Creator, exists in every culture on earth. Who planted that belief in the hearts of men? World history tells us over and over that America is unique—believe it or not, what you believe in is totally up to you. Let us not lose that right to choose!

Discernment takes work. You can never believe one person, one channel, or one source. Proverbs tells us:

(Proverbs 26:24-26) – “Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts, they harbor deceit. Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.”

The “assembly” was the Temple, the place of leadership during Solomon’s time. It is insightful to see that charm and false statements are nothing new and that the way to discern is to look and not listen. It is easy to deceive with words. History has proven it. However, observation then needs to become the foundation of a discerning life. Is your world better or worse? Is your life safer, or are you more afraid for your family? Can you freely worship your God, share your faith, and raise your children as you wish? And are you leading a hope-filled life? Today, all of us live in a world that has accepted the concept of science. It has improved our lives immensely. What does it take to be proven by science? It must be observable and repeatable! Now apply these same principles to life itself. God is there, just waiting for you to see Him.

Hatred today is spawned from anxiety and a lack of hope. Anxiety is driven by the anticipation of terror; hope, however, can only come from God. God asks us to choose the things we do wisely and the leaders we pick based on our observations of their deeds, not their words. God’s instructions are not confusing.

(Galatians 5:19-21) – “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

(Hebrews 12:14-15) – “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

Contemplations

• Where do you get information from?
  • Ideas to Explore: How reliable is the Internet? When searching a topic for information, is there a bias in the results? Can the significance of events be altered by selective editing of a simple news story? Do you try to always get information from multiple sources on both sides of an issue? Do people use sources that agree with their own bias?
• Who do you hate?
  • Ideas to Explore: Is there hatred in your heart? How did it get there, by your observation or by the observations of others? Do you censure information just by remembering and discussing what agrees with your own opinion? What is the impact of parents on the hatred and biases of children?
• What do you think God’s Truth is?
  • Ideas to Explore: What basic tenets do you think God will never relinquish? How do you learn God’s Truth? What is your responsibility when you see God’s Truth being abused? Can humankind decide what God’s Truth should be?
• How is hate between two people or two countries broken down and replaced by love?
  • Ideas to Explore: God is clear: we must love our enemies. How does that work? Can we patiently listen to someone who does not agree with our point of view? Can two people agree to disagree and still respect each other? What does such respect look like?
• Has social media made it easier or harder for people to respect each other?
  • Ideas to Explore: Is it a requirement or a demand that people agree with? Are posts poison, or are posts opening the minds of both others and your own to all sides of issues? How is humor hurtful or damaging? 

• 1
  NIV New International Version Translations

“Happiness depends on ourselves” says Aristotle, calling happiness as a central purpose of human life and a goal in itself. Aristotle was convinced that a genuinely happy life required the fulfillment of a broad range of conditions, including physical as well as mental well-being. He would argue that virtue is achieved by maintaining the Mean, which is the balance between two excesses.  We can find further evidence of the importance of happiness because it would be enshrined in the United States Declaration of Independence where it is stated, “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” are every persons rights. It is common to think of happiness as being dependent upon an experience or other external stimulus. When circumstances are positive, happiness results. When circumstances change, happiness disappears. We can be happy for many reasons. Society is most happy when the consequences for wrongdoings are overlooked and undeserved receive abundant generosity. The thief is happy not to be caught and the hungry person is happy to be given food and warm shelter. Happiness, therefore, can serve everyone and has very little to do with God Himself. Happiness is uniquely human and temporary as is humanity itself. 

There are several different Hebrew and Greek root words that can be translated as “happy,” “joy,” “rejoice,” and “glad.” In fact, the Hebrew esher can be translated as “happiness” or “blessedness.” This word is used in passages like Deuteronomy 33:29 where Moses tells the Israelites, “Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights.”¹NIV New International Version Translations It is also used in Psalm 1:1: “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,”.

Similarly, the Greek text,  makarios can be translated as “blessed” or “happy.” This is the Greek word used in the beatitudes. It is used in Luke 1:45 when Elizabeth tells Mary, “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” and in Luke 12 , Jesus’ parable about being ready: “The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.” (Luke 12:42–44).

It is easy to conclude that happiness is a good thing to have in your life. Happiness is worth pursuing and worth keeping. Happiness is associated with a circumstantially driven, fleeting, and somewhat shallow set of emotions. It is different from joy but attempting to make a clear and hard distinction between happiness and joy should not the point in life. Yes, joyful people express happiness. However, our pursuit should be in search of true and lasting joy, and that cannot be achieved without a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. As a quick example, Psalm 32 talks about the man whose sin is forgiven as being blessed (or happy). Psalm 84:12 says, “Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you!” Referring to believers. First Peter 1:8 says, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,” Our joy is dependent upon the truth of Jesus Christ and His presence in our lives is a source of joy and that truth is certainly something worth pursuing.

Let us recap. Happiness is a reaction to something great. Joy is the product of someone great. Let us never forget that difference, or fail to pursue both happiness and joy as fully as we can on this earth. Merriam Webster defines happiness as “a state of well-being and contentment; a pleasurable or satisfying experience.” Whereas joy is specifically stated, even in the dictionary, as “the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires; the expression or exhibition of such emotion.”  Joy is rooted in who God is. Job 33:4 says, “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”, Our God is fair, compassionate, and all-knowing. His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. Job possessed the wisdom to know God’s character, and a strong faith to hold onto what he knew to get him through difficult times.

Trials of any kind aren’t joyful themselves. However, all trials eventually end and they end more quickly when we understand who God is, and how He works for all things for good. We also understand who God is much better through Jesus Christ. The Apostle James tries to tell us that “because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:3-4). He then goes on to write about wisdom, and tells us to ask God for it when we are lacking. Wisdom allows us to wade through trials of many kinds, and find our God.  Wisdom may even help us avoid a few trials too.

Are you ready now to try to answer a really hard question, “What does joy look like to you?” Stop for a minute and think about that question. Can you describe joy? For me, I was drawn to the testimony of a man named Pat. He was a neighbor, a family man, a small business owner, a Christian. We had worked together on a small business venture where I got to know him as a person of faith. He was never shy about sharing his love for Jesus and his dependency on Him for hope. Then things suddenly changed. Pat was diagnosed with a terminal disease. There were many stays in the hospital and eventually all treatments proved futile. My memory of my last visit with Pat and his hug goodbye was full of the hope he had in the resurrection. His joy was so great that my hope was strengthened by his very presence. Yes, Pat died leaving a wonderful wife and children. They did not find much happiness in his passing. However, Pat’s strong faith and his testimony provided the strength for all who knew him to set their sadness aside. Everyone that Pat had encountered on his journey with death were changed for the better by his joy and love for God. Your answer may be different. Joy is always personal and deep.

Joy appears several hundred times in the English Bible.  The Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians telling them to  “Rejoice always, pray continually,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).  It will be remembering who God is and what He has done for us in the past, refocusing our thoughts to align with His truth, and choosing to be grateful and praise God , even in tough times, that ignites the Spirit of God living in every believer. Galatians 5:22-23 reads, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Our Savior Jesus defeated death so we can live in happiness and in joy.

Did Aristotle get happiness right? Is it really balancing two excesses? It seems to me that our Bible tells us that the root of happiness is really joy. Furthermore, joy is not a balance between two things but a full commitment to one person. Jesus did not come to help us get along, or teach us to take care of the poor, or to restore “social justice.”  Jesus did not come to make us happy. God had already sent many before with the kind of advice we need to hear, and there was no point in His personally coming down merely to repeat what had already been said. No, Jesus came for a different reason. Jesus came to show us the very nature of God and to remove your sin and guilt in life. Jesus came to point your journey toward the path of Truth. As the Apostle John wrote, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 1:4). Yes, Jesus came to bring you Joy!  There can be no real joy without hope and no real hope without Jesus. 

Contemplations

• What makes you happy?
  • Ideas to Explore: Of the items to consider for your list, can people really control them themselves? Of the items chosen that make us happy, how lasting are they? Do any of the items on your list make someone else unhappy? Were any of them based on negative things like getting away with something? Does controlling the behavior of others bring you happiness?
• Would the list of what makes someone happy be different whether they were Christian or not?
  • Ideas to Explore: Should there be a difference, if not, why? Is happiness really universal among nations, peoples, religions? What are the commonalities among things that make people happy? Is there a minimum to what it takes to be happy? What are the non-material things on a happiness list? Did the Bill of Rights get the list right?
• What were the most joyful experiences you have ever had?
  • Ideas to Explore: Why did you call them Joyful instead of just happy moments? Were these life changing? In any of these joyful moments, were you drawn closer to God? Why? Are they still joyful in your memory?
• What are the risks of just pursuing happiness and not joy?
  • Ideas to Explore: Can we find lasting happiness without God? Why is it that Jesus can bring  joy to this world? What are the elements of your faith that make you happy versus bring you joy?
• Can you be joyful without being happy?
  • Ideas to Explore: Where have you seen examples of people without physical happiness but seemingly joyful? Is the pursuit of happiness really a human right or is it the pursuit of God that is our right? What should our response be when we encounter conditions where people cannot pursue their happiness? How can joy be passed on to others?

• 1
  NIV New International Version Translations

The Bible records two instances of Jesus cleansing the Temple of money changers and of those selling sacrificial animals. Jesus’ first encounter with money changers was at the beginning of His three-year ministry.

John 2:14–16¹NIV New International Version Translations – “In the Temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the Temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, ‘Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!’”

Can you imagine that! Jesus making a whip of cords and driving them out. The second time He confronted the money changers was the week before His trial and crucifixion. Seeing that the money changers had come back, He again drove them out, saying:

Matthew 21:13 – “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

These two stories are in direct contrast to the peaceful Nazarian who came to our world to take upon His back the sins of the world. Jesus became violent, He had enough! Is there something to learn from these two experiences? Is it possible to create an outline of offences that so angered the Son of God, that a physical response was necessary?

Money changing was common in the Roman Kingdom, where there was a proliferation of currency systems and standards. In Palestine, as in Egypt, each district had its own royal bank. When visitors entered the Temple, they would be carrying foreign coins. Most coins at that time would have had the images of their foreign emperor on them. This would be a direct violation of God’s law against graven images within the Temple. To enter or provide offerings of either money or live animals, an exchange had to be made. Jewish law also required a Temple tax of a half-shekel (Exodus 30:11–16). Therefore, money changers, as they were called, were necessary for the operation of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.

The money changers would use stalls inside the Court of the Gentiles in the Royal Stoa, an area considered separate from the holy area. Rather than providing the money-changing service as a business in another part of town, they exploited the religious zeal of the visitors coming to Jerusalem and did their business on Temple grounds. Each money changer determined their exchange rate and easily took advantage of the poor and the foreigners visiting Jerusalem for Passover. Some sold sacrificial animals, overcharging people who did not bring their own. Others oversaw examining the animals to be sacrificed, and it was a simple matter to declare an animal “unapproved” and force the worshiper to buy another animal, at an inflated price, from the Temple vendors. Such goings-on, exploiting the poor and the foreigners. It not only angered Jesus but was also strictly forbidden in the Mosaic Law.

Exodus 22:21 – “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.”

Leviticus 19:34 – “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”

To add further to Jesus’s anger, the Temple priests were in on the action. Ancient historian Josephus calls Annas the high priest “a great hoarder up of money.” The sons of Annas were able to use their father’s Temple position as high priest to set up their own bazaars in the Court of the Gentiles for the purpose of money changing and the purchase of sacrificial animals. This was a lucrative “family business.” Furthermore, as the vast numbers of Jews streamed to the area of old Cannan and the city of Jerusalem “out of every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5), taking with them considerable sums of money in foreign currencies, the foreign currency was often handed over to the Temple authorities for safe deposit in the Temple itself. Thus Jerusalem’s Temple became a sort of central bank and exchange mart, and the Temple vaults served as “safe deposits” in which every type of coin was represented. This, of course, was, again, in direct violation of God’s laws, since the entire reason for the exchange was to keep the graven images out, but the priests were making money storing them in the Temple.

To add further to this issue, during the high holidays, such as Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles, certain priests took advantage of their status by setting up stalls in the holy area, inside the sacred square precinct. When we try to understand Jesus, we can see that it was the combination of their greed—the fact that they brought in the foreign coins and that they carried out these activities in a sacred area—that angered Him. This background can help us better understand why Jesus drove out these money changers and why the priests, especially those of the high house of Annas, were so opposed to His teachings. The hatred of the priests of Jesus had much to do with His threat against their money-making schemes.

What these two stories tell us is that even Jesus had His limits to corruption from within. Priests were to be better than that. Their ethical standards were to be set high and they were to treat all people with honesty, fairness and respect. When He saw the flagrant violations, He was moved to act. This is not a call for us to just become violent when we see greed and corruption. It permeates our society, and we would spend all our time filled with anger and rage. It does, however, tell us that we are not to tolerate these things in our own lives. The demands of our government and our corporations must also include demands to follow the law and be ethical and fair with all people. What this lesson does not tell us is that violence is OK because Jesus was violent. On the contrary, this lesson says that Jesus has our back, your back. He will not tolerate the destruction of His Temple. Woe to the money changers of the world!

Contemplations

• The Temple was not the government, but it was acting as such in Jerusalem. Jesus was responding in anger to the breaking of God’s laws.
  • Ideas to Explore: Is God’s law still relevant in society? Is our government bound by God’s law? To what degree must society tolerate greed and corruption? Is there anything where violence is permissible? Exactly what is God’s law today?
• Is there such a thing in God’s eyes as “righteous anger?”
  • Ideas to Explore: How do you justify violence in the case of the money changers and Jesus? What was the difference between the corruption in the Temple and corruption anywhere else in society?
• When you hear similar stories to this story, what parts of society today does it remind you of?
  • Ideas to Explore: Nepotism in both business and government, unfair rules and regulations. Think about local codes, inspections, and permitting.
• While violence is not acceptable in our society, or it should not be, what mechanisms are still available that we can take advantage of?
  • Ideas to Explore: Choosing who we purchase our goods and services from. Making sure we research our political candidates and know their backgrounds. Use the references our trusted friends give us as a guide. 
• Being informed helps keep from becoming angry. How do we do that in a world of censorship?
  • Ideas to Explore: Where will you get your information knowing that both media and social media are biased? How will you fairly learn both sides of an issue? Should the Church be more involved in helping identify issues affecting our society?
• When do you consider “enough is enough?”
  • Ideas to Explore: What makes you angry? What are your limits? How will you make sure you remain a Godly person when angered?

• 1
  NIV New International Version Translations

The year 2020 is over. That is probably a good thing but there are still dark clouds in our skies, COVID-19 looms large, the political turmoil is just starting as conflicting views take center stage. What about the rest of the world? Countries posturing to seek dominance and force their beliefs upon all. This, however, is not new. Our world has a deep history and much of it is repetitive. One place to look for advice and counsel is always within the body of Scripture. Our Bible makes it plain that when men turn from God, there is virtually no limit to the depravity and ignorance to which they descend.

Romans 1:21-23¹NIV New International Version Translations – “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.”

The Apostle Paul is writing to the newly forming Christian Church in Rome. His letter is a condensed summary of our world and the issues it faces. Paul pours out his best advice on how to get through this world. Rome was pretty bad back then. We all know these verses, but the world is not better for its knowledge of them. The foundation of our very morality is still eroding. We even seem to tolerate a society that is in decay while we generally enjoy prosperity. Could it be that our relationship with God has been replaced with the relationship, the worship of “things?”

The Apostle Paul is talking about the replacement of God with inanimate items that are more favored than the advice from God. Crazy as it sounds, it is worth a discussion of what society holds in value today. An analysis from Georgetown University about five years ago, attempted to document the economic value of religion in U.S. society. They included the fair market value of goods and services provided by religious organizations and included contributions of businesses with religious roots. At that time, they found that the faith sector was worth approximately $1.2 trillion, about the same as the top 10 technology companies in the United States. In just those five years since the study was conducted, the combined revenue of the top three technology companies, Apple, Amazon, and Google has risen to four times that same amount, around $4 trillion. While people who claim religious affiliations has actually grown slightly, in dollars, the shift in value, seems to have shifted to technology and things. God has not changed, has mankind changed?

In 2019, the average person spent about 144 minutes on social media²https://www.broadbandsearch.net/blog/average-daily-time-on-social-media, twice the time of an average worship service. The value of the Apple Corporation today shows we spend more on our phones than we do to maintain our faith in America. Who then are the influencers? Why are pagan beliefs  on the rise within our own culture, in the media, and on the Internet? Still not convinced there is an issue, too much doom and gloom for you? Ponder these statistics (discerned from the Internet as of this publication date):

• Total number of abortions in the U.S. from 1973-2018: is 61.8 million+;³https://www.all.org/learn/abortion/abortion-statistics/
  • There are abortions per day: 2,362+ (over 82,000 annually)
  • These statistics include only surgical and medical abortions. Since 1965, an average of 11 million women have used abortifacient methods of birth control in the United States at any given time.
• More than fifteen States have fully legalized marijuana. (In the US, there is a movement to make this national)
• One State decriminalized possession of all illegal drugs.
• More than 70,000 Americans died from drug-involved overdoses in 2019, including illicit drugs and prescription opioids.
• Almost a quarter of U.S. children under the age of 18 live with one parent and no other adults (23%). US is the highest nation for that statistic.
• An estimated 95,000 people (approximately 68,000 men and 27,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes annually.
• Suicide was the tenth leading cause of death overall in the United States, claiming the lives of over 48,000 people.
• 600,000 to 800,000 women, children and men bought and sold across international borders every year and exploited for forced labor or commercial sex (U.S. Government). When internal trafficking victims are added to the estimates, the number of victims annually is in the range of 2 to 4 million, 50% of those victims are estimated to be children⁴https://arkofhopeforchildren.org/child-trafficking/child-trafficking-statistics
• Over 500,000 Americans are homeless, representing every region of the country, family status, gender category, and racial/ethnic group.

The above list is just a sample of society’s ills. When was the last time you heard a message telling you to make a difference in any of these statistics? The people who lead us, the people around us, yes, we the people of today need Jesus more than ever. Have you wondered why the Church isn’t making more of a difference? Is the effort, the work of the church , your fruitful work making a difference to those in need? 

History shows us that it takes many generations for godliness to permeate a culture and to reap its benefits. This can also be lost in only one or two generations too. Worship of the work of men’s hands extends beyond basic idols of wood, stone, and precious metals. It includes everything that man produces which is not in the service of God. Items as diverse as weapons of war, computer technology, bioengineering, and genetic tampering with the basic elements of life. It is not the items themselves that are so much the issue, but the way in which they are employed. Technology can be used for good or for evil, but inevitably the evil use winds up dominating society. Meanwhile, mankind persists in their refusal to recognize any depraved behavior in our culture. We are called “judgmental” or “politically incorrect ” or the “cancel culture” is quick to intercede.  All it takes is a select group of unknown overseers who  deems it so. If any inconsistencies between God and mankind are pointed out, you are immediately censored! Is it not reasonable to judge? They are quick to point out God’s own words:

Luke 6:37 – “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

The Grassy Hill

It is worth reflecting for a moment, that Jesus had no church, no buildings, He had no denomination. His best work was usually done on a simple grassy slope. The Sermon on the Mount is recorded in the Book of Matthew 5-7. Jesus delivered this message near the beginning of His ministry and it is the longest of Jesus’ sermons recorded in the New Testament. The last verse of chapter 5 (Matthew 5:48) is a focal point of the sermon that summarizes His teachings by advising the disciples, the people who were following Him, to seek perfection.

Matthew 5:48 – “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

The Greek word telios used to refer to perfection also implies an end, or destination, advising the disciples to seek the path towards perfection and the Kingdom of God. It was meant to teach our children to act like God, not humanity. It is a journey and as the above statistics show, we are not even close to God’s destination yet. Our concerns should be whether we are moving farther away from God or closer to the gate? Luke’s comments, consistent throughout Scripture, are quite specific about judging others.  However, Luke does not say to conform, he says to forgive. Jesus says “act differently,” act perfectly because you will be judged! – Just not by humanity, by God Himself. The teachings of the Sermon on the Mount are often referred to as the Ethics of the Kingdom. Jesus placed a high level of emphasis on “purity of the heart” and laid out the basic standards of Christian righteousness. Here are a few words from Jesus on that grassy hill long ago.

Mat 7:13-17 – “Enter in through the narrow gate; because wide is the gate, and broad is the way which leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in through it. How narrow the gate, and confined the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it! But beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grape clusters from thorns, or figs from thistles? Thus every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces evil fruit.

Life is about choices that we make along our journey. The one point most God-believing people agree with is they all want to make it to that gate! Jesus says, it is hard to find the gate and hard to go through the gate. Will the leaders we choose know the way and guide us to that glorious gate? Jesus gets right to the point, you will be misled by the slick speech writers, the media, the politically correct messages of this world. How will we know if what we hear is good?   Jesus simply says, “It will be all about the fruit.” What grade would you give us today? The narrow gate will not be found on social media, through a utopian society, or even in our churches. For sure, it will not come from our government. It will be found by those with repentant hearts that long for their God. It will be found in the statistics that our society leaves to history. You might want to read more about what was said on those grassy hills. It could just save your eternal life!

Revelations 9:20-21 – “The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.”

Contemplations

• Look at the list of statistics in this study. Which ones do you think God cares about?
  • Ideas to Explore: How would God solve the issues noted in the statistics? Do you know how the leaders you support feel about each issue? Is it right or wrong to support people that don’t support God’s view of these problems?
• Where are your own priorities with regard to missions?
  • Ideas to Explore: There are 4 areas God expects us to be generous in, our time, our talents, our treasure and our testimony. Do you think the messages you hear from society support God’s expectations?  Are there areas that you can improve in? What can you do for those who seem hopeless?
• Drugs, alcohol are pervasive in society. While drugs help people and even the Bible doesn’t say alcohol is bad. What are the issues that we should be most sensitive to?
  • Ideas to Explore: Do gateway drugs make it harder or easier to find the Gate?  What are the issues driving families apart today? How can we help with the family issues in our world? How do you correct homelessness? What is the influence on children who see adults participate with drugs and alcohol? How does permissive behavior advance God’s Kingdom?
• What is your opinion of social media?
  • Ideas to Explore: Censorship is wrong but why do people tolerate it in social media? Are younger generations able to deal with the issues better or worse than the older generations and why? What are the dangers of no privacy? What is the impact of our social media on our youth?
• What do you expect from the pulpit messages?
  • Ideas to Explore: Is it OK to be political? What if society is doing something wrong, is it OK to hear warnings to change? Should we hear warnings to change? Who do we really get our advice from? What sources of information is reliable in today’s world? Can messages be too politically correct?

• 1
  NIV New International Version Translations
• 2
  https://www.broadbandsearch.net/blog/average-daily-time-on-social-media
• 3
  https://www.all.org/learn/abortion/abortion-statistics/
• 4
  https://arkofhopeforchildren.org/child-trafficking/child-trafficking-statistics

Verbs and nouns play a huge role in understanding the meaning of any writing. It is common for the same word to be used either way. Furthermore, there is a tendency to focus on the nouns and pass over the verbs. Thus, to fully grasp the intent of the writer, one needs to know the difference between verbs and nouns. The simple difference is that a verb denotes action, whereas a noun denotes a name or an object. When we read the Bible, our intent should be to search for clarity from our God. While nouns, names, and objects may make us smarter, it will be the verbs that get us on our feet and change our lives. Let us look at a few examples:

A popular Bible verse is Micah 6:8

Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”¹NIV New International Version Translations

Our noun (He) tells us that the words are directly from God. Therefore, they are worth reading. God is answering the proverbial question, What does God expect of us? Who are the “us” in this statement? We are the mortals, those with finite lives on this earth, and that is a very important noun to always remember. This question is a search for significance and is part of the age-long pursuit of mankind. Here we also get the answers. Our nouns (justly, mercy, and humbly) tell us that God expects justice, mercy, and humility. All three are worthy attributes. However, the verbs tell us that the verbs are not necessarily God’s to act out but ours to take on, and we have the responsibility to “act,” love,” and “walk.”

To rephrase this, God is asking each of us to be active and involved in providing justice in our dealings with others. While it is OK to expect to be treated justly, God is calling us to set the bar high and show the world what a just and meaningful life looks like. Loving justice cannot be done in church alone but is done in our homes, businesses, and communities. This type of acting must always be visible for others to see through us. Acting changes other people because it is a comparative action. We are to follow God’s actions because God has shown us how to act.

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Mercy is something everyone wants and needs. A just God without mercy would be a heavy burden to deal with because we all fall short of God’s expectations. However, that is not what we are being asked to do. Instead, you and I are asked by God to love. To love mercy is something that benefits others, as we benefit from Christ’s love for us. God does not tell us how to be merciful. God tells us how to love. All forms of love are verbs, requiring action on our part.

Eros (pronounced AIR-ohs) is the Greek word for sensual or romantic love. It defines the proper relationship between husband and wife. A good marriage mirrors justice every day because it is truly the sharing of one’s very soul. A just relationship is pleasing to God based on fairness and equality.

Storge (pronounced: STOR-jay) is the Greek word that describes family love, the affectionate bond that develops naturally between parents and children and brothers and sisters. In a world where there are so many single-parented families or dysfunctional families, it reminds us that there is an expectation God places on how family relationships are to be maintained. God’s visitation requirements are 24 by 7.

Philia (pronounced: FILL-ee-uh) is the Greek term that describes the powerful emotional bond seen in deep friendships. Justice becomes much easier when friendship and respect are present. It was Aristotle who said that “friendship” is when two souls become one.”

Agape (pronounced Uh-GAH-pay) is the highest of the four types of love in the Bible. It describes God’s immeasurable, incomparable love for humankind. It is the divine love that comes from God. Agape love is perfect, unconditional, sacrificial, and pure.  It is the love that Christ calls us to when he says:

John 13:34 – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

The verb “walk” comes with a condition: humility. This may be the hardest of all things for humans to do. The good news here is that God did not say, “Run and keep up with me!” We are only called to walk with God. I often imagine what a walk with God would be like—slowly through a beautiful world filled with the glory of His creations. When we walk with someone, there is time to talk to them. We can lean on them if we stumble, learn from them, and get to know them. It is not possible to love someone in a hurry, either. God expects us to get to know Him and know Him well, to love Him, and to love Him well. When two people walk together, they can become the deepest of friends. Two people running against each other are no more than competitors; one wins and the other loses. Why race with God? Do you think you can win? He only asks us to walk with Him, so enjoy yourself and walk slowly. There are no losers with God!

Matthew 11:28-30 – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

There is one more verb that is worth noting, one that is often confused as a noun, and that is the verb “worship.” Yes, it is both a noun and a verb. Which one do you think God would like us to focus on? If we believe in one Creator, in God, we are called to the act of worshiping in “spirit and in truth.” That is, true worship takes place on the inside, in the heart or spirit of the worshiper. If we worship on the outside, worship is nothing more than a presentation, a show, or a theatrical performance. Worship is the verb of all verbs, kicking our heart and soul off the pews and into the world around us.

Psalm 45:1 – “My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.”

Psalm 103:1-2 – “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

Psalm 24:3-4 – “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.”

Isaiah 66:2 – “Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.”

Worship “in truth” connects the heart or spirit of worship with the truth about God and His work of redemption as revealed in the person of Christ. David, our psalm writer, understood the importance of worshiping in truth and the necessary linkage between “truth” and the Word of God when he wrote, “Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” (Psalm 86:11). The true worship of God is essentially internal, a matter of the heart. It is an action word, requiring a humble but active spirit rooted in the knowledge of and obedience to God. Worship is meant to change people into disciples of Christ.

Contemplations

• Do you know what your purpose is in your life?
  • Ideas to Explore: Are you pleased with your existence and accomplishments? Are your treasures earthly or heavenly? What brings you the most joy, grace, or justice?
• What is the difference between justice and being just?
  • Ideas to Explore: Is it about laws or love? Does true justice bring true peace? Is being right a requirement in every disagreement?
• What is the difference between mercy and you being merciful?
  • Ideas to Explore: The Role of Forgiveness in Mercy. The recognition of repentance and its importance to knowing God.
• How does someone get to know God well?
  • Ideas to Explore: Church and Bible Study are the obvious ones. Is life and death making more sense? Are books, movies, and events that focus on one’s faith walk appealing? Do you think you could recognize Christ if He walked into a room?
• How do we know if we are running against God?
  • Ideas to Explore: Is life getting easier or harder? Does the concept of death bring fear or promise? Are your goals based on earthly objectives? Are your family and friends in line with your direction in life?
• We live in a world that seems to generally believe there is a God, but it doesn’t seem to ever get better. Why do you think that is?
  • Ideas to Explore: Misunderstanding of God’s Word. Poor understanding of who Jesus Christ is and why He came to earth. Weak faith. Too much human ego. People don’t care. Too busy with life.

• 1
  NIV New International Version Translations

Albrecht Dürer, Lot and His Daughters, c. 1499 (National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.).

With all the turmoil in our world  today, it might be time to reacquaint ourselves with the part of our God’s character that is triggered when He runs out of patience. To do this, it is time to reflect upon the story of Sodom and Gomorrah and look what it took to exasperate our God to the point of His destruction of their societies. Sodom and Gomorrah were cities in the plain of Jordan along with the cities of Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar (Bela). These five constituted the “cities of the plain,” and they are referenced throughout both the Old and New Testaments as well as the Quran.

The name Sodom means “burning” located in the valley of Siddim (Genesis 13:10; 14:1-16). The name Gomorrah means “submersion”. These cities probably stood close together and were near the northern extremity of what is now the Dead Sea. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire from heaven in the time of Abraham and Lot (Genesis 19:24). The wickedness of the cities became proverbial. The sin of sodomy was an offense against nature frequently connected with idolatrous practices. The fate of Sodom and Gomorrah is also used as a warning to those who reject the gospel (Matthew 10:15; 11:24; 2 Peter 2:6; Jude 1:7).

Sodom was a wicked and vile place. Wickedness had become universal, and they were unanimous in their acceptance of it. Sin was pervasive with both old and young, and from every aspect of society. In God’s eyes, they had achieved the highest level of wickedness (Genesis 13:13). They had created a sin that still bears their name, called Sodomy. They were not ashamed to own it and to force others into their own sinful ways. The people were openly defiant before God. As later, Isaiah would say:

Isaiah 3:9 – “The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.”¹NIV New International Version Translations

History documents that catastrophes did occur destroying the area. Because the plain is now under the Dead Sea, science can only speculate as the exact method of destruction. Was the actual agent in the ignition and destruction of the cities a tremendous thunderstorm accompanied by a discharge of meteoric stones? If so, this could have set on fire the bitumen with which the soil was saturated and which was used in building the city. The burning out of the soil may very well have caused the plain to sink below the level of the Dead Sea, and the waters to flow over it. The fate of Sodom and Gomorrah is often held up as a warning in numerous passages of the Old and New Testaments to heed God’s warnings.

The full story can be found in Genesis 19:1-30. This study, however, is not about the sinful acts within the cities. It is clear throughout our Biblical history that when God determines a people no longer seek Him or honor His call to redemption, when people take pride in sin, God moves on. God starts over again to rebuild. Most of us know what it takes to be classified as a sinner. When the world around you is bent on destruction, the question we seek to answer is what does it take to be a survivor?

The people in the story are a man named Lot and his family, a wife, two daughters and their fiancées. Lot has decided to go and live in Sodom. Lot has an encounter with two angels at the gate of the city of Sodom. He is warned that the sinful acts, the casual acceptance of sin by the city’s inhabitants have marked it for destruction. It will be Lot’s full response that we need to look at most closely. First, Lot tries to appease Sodom’s lustful inhabitants when he tries to shield his future son-in-laws from sexual harm by offering up his daughters instead. Lot is not really fighting back on immorality. His appeasement does nothing to de-escalate the issues at hand. Lot believes he is a Godly man and he can handle this.

Genesis 19:14 – “So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, “Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.”

Point One: Take God Seriously

Here we encounter the first and maybe the most important attribute of survival, “TAKE GOD SERIOUSLY.” When society ignores our God, when it becomes a joke on late night TV, when social media blocks the truth about our God, or when sin does not matter anymore, people step out onto “the plain,” the danger zone. The Apostle Paul says it best, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) Lot’s future sons-in-law did not become part of the survivors. To Lot’s future son-in-laws, it was just a joke! They would soon perish in the flames on the plain.

Point Two: Fear is Normal

Genesis 19:15-20 – “With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished. When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them. As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”

Lot hesitated, he wanted to be in Sodom.  Without the prodding of those angelic advisors, Lot might have been tempted to stay. However, God frequently sends us, in the hours of our greatest temptation, people (angels) who are not only there to provide advice but to grab our hand and lead out of harms way. Those are the people we need to look for, hold onto as friends. Lot decides to flee with fear and trepidation. Smart choice.

Point Three: Share Your Concerns With God

Genesis 19:18-20 – “But Lot said to them, “No, my lords, please! Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can’t flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I’ll die. Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it—it is very small, isn’t it? Then my life will be spared.”

Lot is very aware of his limitations. So is God. He is granted sanctuary not in the mountains but closer in a small town called Zoar. Remember, Lot still is a servant of God. God knows this and wants him and his family to survive after the disaster is over. Lot and his family are to be part of God’s continuing plan for our world. God loves each of us too for the same reasons. Pray often, share your concerns. While the part that Lot plays in God’s plan may be confusing to us, it is never confusing to God.

Point Four: Do Not Look Back on Your Decision

Genesis 19:26 – “But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”

Lot’s wife longingly looks back in spite of God’s direct instructions not to do that. We must assume because there were aspects of Sodom that she might have been looking forward to enjoying. There was no place in Sodom for unity, compromise, moderation, tolerance, and for God. To be a survivor, we are asked by God to make a clean break from the sin in our world. There is no way to be a part-time Godly person. Each decision we make must be made in accordance to God’s standards, not ours, not our world’s.

Point Five: Follow God’s Plans

Genesis 19:30 – Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave.

Living in the mountains continued to be difficult for Lot and his daughters. The world and its temptations would challenge Lot again. Even in the mountains, Lot could not hide from a sinful world, fathering children with his daughters while drunk. Whether Lot met God’s standards is between Lot and God. However, we know that God’s plans moved on as they always do. God doesn’t give up, we give up. Our world is not an easy place to live in. God’s history continued through Lot and in spite of Lot. What else might we learn from Lot? We can choose to turn a blind eye and accept sin in this world and live comfortably. We can also ignore our own sin or we can choose to know and embrace God’s Law, even if it means discomfort, isolation, sacrifice, even persecution. Each of us is called to choose! However, accepting this world as it is always a dangerous choice.

Contemplations

• Where do you see the injustices within our world, places that sin is tolerated and even promoted?
  • Ideas to Explore: Within the church; within governments; How we are teaching our children; Society norms and standards.
• What is your opinion on whether we as a people are being punished by God for our behavior or rewarded for it?
  • Ideas to Explore: How our economy is doing; COVID virus; The policies of our country. Political landscape.
• How does someone deal with sin when they are forced to accommodate it in their society?
  • Ideas to Explore: Do we ignore it so we get a long? How do we deal with those who are sinful but think that it should now be normal? Since we all are sinful, what are God’s expectations when we see sin in others?
• Are you willing to give up your dream of city life for the mountains? In other words, would you live a different life in order to avoid destruction?
  • Ideas to Explore: Business ethics. Personal choices that impact others around us. Are environmental choices part of this discussion?
• Does a high standard of living pose any issues relative to keeping God’s commands?
  • Ideas to Explore: Prioritization of our charitable work; helping those in need. Doing with less so others have more. Where does the responsibility for charity lay,  government, church or the individual?
• Lot struggled with sin as we all do. What advice would you have given him to help him not fall victim in the “mountains?”
  • Ideas to Explore: Why is alcohol a greater problem in isolation? Why is it harder to avoid sin during isolation? What are the benefits of attending religious services? Conversely, what are the downsides of lockdowns on congregations?

• 1
  NIV New International Version Translations

What motivates you? Our society is very good at using the infamous “carrot and stick” approach. There is always an offer too good to be true, free is a big one, followed usually by the stick approach, some adverse circumstance that must be avoided at all costs.  We were raised that way, the billions spent on advertising depend on the human response to carrots and sticks. And then there are the tens of thousands of rules, regulations, and penalties affecting our lives. Control of behavior usually is accompanied by a sense of urgency. In reality, however, basic human behavior is driven from a much deeper source, the very roots of our beliefs.

The work of psychiatrist Albert Ellis¹https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Ellis in the mid-1950s developed the original form of cognitive-behavioral therapy called Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Ellis believed that most people were not aware that many of their thoughts about themselves are irrational and negatively affect the way they behave in important relationships and situations. According to Ellis, it is these thoughts that lead people to suffer negative emotions and engage in self-destructive behavior. To simplify this further, it meant that bad behavior, even sins in the eyes of our God, come from deep within our own beliefs which were formed by the many experiences, good and bad, within our lives. To behave in terms satisfactory to our God, to change our behavior, therefore, first requires an understanding of our beliefs, and how they were formed.

• We can look to a much earlier time, to our Bible, to see that the idea of proper instruction, the formation of Godly behaviors, was always understood to be rooted in what you believe. Proverbs taught wisdom through short points and principles but were not regarded as “laws” or even universal promises.
• Proverbs by design pointed to observations, meant to be memorized and pondered, not always intended to be applied ‘across the board’ to every situation without qualification. It is said that Solomon could quote over 3,000 proverbs.
• Proverbs generalize, as a proverb must, and may seem to make life too tidy to be true. Example: While “Many hands make light work,” Too many cooks spoil the broth.” A proverb is not a magical formula, bringing wisdom and blessing by incantation. It has no value unless it is applied to the proper set of circumstances with common sense.
• Proverbs rarely quote other parts of Scriptures and are analogous to folk wisdom. We find, however, its own description in Proverb 1²NIV New International Version Translations.

¹ The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: ² for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; ³ for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; ⁴ for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—⁵ let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—⁶ for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. ⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs, also called The Book Of Proverbs, is an Old Testament book of “wisdom” found in the third section of the Jewish canon, known as the Ketuvim, or Writings. The book is called, “The proverbs of Solomon,” We should not give full credit to King Solomon, the writings are from a collection of wisdom materials (mostly short sayings) from a wide variety of periods and cultures. The book of Proverbs provides us with a poetic roadmap of how God has designed the world to work. Following the practical day-to-day guidance of Proverbs was intended to make our lives more pleasant. Proverbs are simply God’s advice and wisdom for His people. There is a subtle use of language here, a difference between advice and wisdom. Seeking wisdom and not just advice requires more work in the human heart. It means that we need to root out the sources of our beliefs that inhibit change and make sure that what we choose to believe is founded on observations that are real, like those found in Proverbs. Good wisdom is the only thing that can change erroneous beliefs and lead to changed behavior.

Here is a link from a website, KnowingJesus.com³https://www.knowing-jesus.com/. They offer a list of over 900 of the points of wisdom found in the Book Of Proverbs, sorted by popularity. For this lesson, lets look at just the top three from their list and see how each might impart wisdom and deal with the beliefs in our world today.

Number Three

Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The fear of the LORD, the fear of the God who not only created the universe but who deigned us to be in relationship with Him, is said to be the prerequisite for true wisdom. This is being described as a good fear to have because it teaches us our place in the world and how to live well in it. Fear of God keeps us from that huge mistake made by Adam and Eve, to be deceived by Satan, into thinking that we too can be like God. Historically people did “fear God” in the sense that they were genuinely afraid of Him. Although God bestowed blessings, He also was a God of judgment. If you did not respect God, you had good reason to fear Him. “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb. 10:31).

The Bible offers a sample of such evidence of why people were afraid of God:

• In Genesis there was Noah’s Flood that wiped out all the evil people on earth;
• God’s fire destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of their sins (Gen. 18:20-19:25);
• In Exodus we see the plagues that came upon Egypt, some of which also affected the Israelites;
• In Leviticus we see that when Aaron’s sons offered unlawful fire before Yahweh, fire came out of their containers and burned them to death (Lev. 10:1-3); and
• God also had His tent (the “Tabernacle”) put behind curtains. Any unauthorized person who came to God’s sanctuary was to be put to death (Num. 3:5-10, 38).

There are always consequences when dealing with God, and some of those consequences can be serious. God does not threaten us, He lovingly and honestly warns us the way any concerned parent warns a child. Examples of human disobedience bringing consequences exist throughout the Bible. Our God is never to be taken lightly and any direct disobedience is always dangerous to both our earthly and eternal safety.

Number Two

Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Our proverb on children has been proven time and time again. Beliefs are typically formed early in life. Many of them come from either experiences, observation or formal education. There are a few of the important points of wisdom in this Proverb. First, is the required “action” on the part of those around the child. We are called to initiate, train, and educate our children. The most important part, however, is that the educational purpose is to give them direction, a path to follow for their life. The path is to be especially fitted for the individual child’s character. Their teaching is to enjoin the closest possible study of each child’s temperament and the adaptation of “their way of life” to that path. Yes, it means according to their capacity and potential. With every child whose path crosses ours, their beliefs, their future behavior choices will be influenced by how we influence them.

Here is just one example:

In 1874 Richard L. Dugdale was employed by the New York Prison Commission to visit the state prisons. As he visited, he was surprised to find criminals in six different prisons whose relatives were mostly criminals or paupers, and the more surprised to discover that these six criminals were all descended from the same family.

This led Mr. Dugdale to study their relatives, living and dead. He studied the court and prison records, reports of town poorhouses, and the testimony of old neighbors and employers. He learned the details of 540 descendants of “Max” (the name given to the patriarch born about 1720) in five generations. He learned the exact facts about 169 who married into the family. He traced others linked to the family bringing the number up to 1,200 persons of the family of the Jukes (Juke was not the real name of the family). A. E. Winship described the family as having almost universal traits of idleness, ignorance, and vulgarity. They would not work, they could not be made to study, and they loved vulgarity. It was difficult to find anyone who was honest and industrious, pure and prosperous in the Juke family.

In 1897 A. E. Winship was asked by a scholarly organization to prepare a paper on Jonathan Edwards. During his studies Winship discovered the descendants of Edwards presided over the New York Prison Commission during the time when it employed Mr. Dugdale to make a study of the Jukes. This led Winship to a study in contrast between Jukes and Edwards. Jonathan Edwards’ great-great-grandfather, Richard Edwards, who went from Wales to London about 1580, was a clergyman. Among the first men of the Edwards family to come to the colonies in New England was William, a son of this clergyman, born about 1620, who came to Hartford, where his son Richard, was born in 1647.

Jukes family summary

• 310 of the 1,200 were professional paupers—more than one in four.
• 300 of the 1,200—one in four—died in infancy from lack of good care and good conditions.
• 50 women who lived lives of notorious debauchery.
• 400 men and women were physically wrecked early by their own wickedness.
• 7 were murderers.
• 60 were habitual thieves who spent on the average twelve years each in lawlessness.
• 130 criminals who were convicted often of crime.

Edwards family summary

• 1 U.S. Vice-President (Aaron Burr)
• 3 U.S. Senators
• 3 governors
• 3 mayors
• 13 college presidents
• 30 judges
• 65 professors
• 80 public office holders
• 100 lawyers
• 100 missionaries, pastors, and theologians.

The witness we are to our children now, the teachings, the wisdom they are offered will create the beliefs that are established in their minds. It will be these beliefs that emanate as the behavior society will see. If we use God as our principle source of wisdom, we can make a positive difference in this world.

Number One

Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.

This proverb is simply comparing the intellectual power of humans to a power, a Creator of all things, to something greater than that which can be found in humanity. It is a recognition that mankind may not the highest form of intellect in the universe. This is an observational piece of wisdom, discerned through the recognition that human life is finite, its knowledge bounded by time itself, and always found to be inconsistent. Just look at history. Trust, therefore, should be placed in the highest authority that can be found to exist. Of all the Proverbs, this one is the most dependent upon observation and forces a binary decision for us. Each person needs to decide if God is real or not. That may be the most important observation and decision that anyone can make in their lifetime. We are not asked to blindly trust and suspend our critical judgment. Rather, we are asked to have confidence that living for God is a reasonable thing to do and that our life will be better because we live for God.

The wisdom found in Proverbs lets us compare those deep-seated beliefs that drive our behavior against another standard, the expectations of our covenant Lord. Proverbs teach us that wisdom is not necessarily all about what we know and do but also about who God is, what He’s done for us, and how we can lead a life more pleasing to Him. That is the heart of the book called Proverbs and the primary reason why all should study it.

Contemplations

• Where would you say your primary beliefs about God originally came from?
  • Ideas to Explore: Family members; early church experiences; later in life, experiences drawing you to think about your faith walk?
• Have you ever had to change a fundamental belief you had? Why? Was it difficult and what did you do to help the process? Who were the influential people in your life? What made you change?
  • Ideas to Explore: Many times we just learn things incorrectly; Opinions are often formed from observing parents – are there any early observations that turned out to be both influential on you but also wrong; How do we pass on erroneous beliefs onto our children?
• Where do you find your sources of worldly wisdom today?
  • Ideas to Explore: Do you or have you read Proverbs? Are you a quote-a-holic, a person who loves quotes from famous people?  What standards do you apply to a “bit of wisdom” to assure yourself that it is worthy and true? What do you read?
• Do you think that Proverbs are still relevant today as a source of wisdom?
  • Ideas to Explore: Why? Are they timeless? If so, why? Why do you think they appeal to children?
• How should The Book Of Proverbs be worked into life today?
  • Ideas to Explore: Do you plan on reading it? Should favorite proverbs be shared with others? Have you ever put a proverb out on social media?

• 1
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Ellis
• 2
  NIV New International Version Translations
• 3
  https://www.knowing-jesus.com/

As we move off our focus on Christ’s birth and start a new year, it might be a good time to reflect on why our God requires us to sacrifice in order to remove sin. Why did Jesus come as the incarnate sacrifice to end all sacrifices? It is a concept as old as the Bible is itself. There are two parts to look at here. First, what exactly is a sin and second, why it took a sacrifice to remove them from us? 

Look no farther than Genesis Chapter 3:1-4, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”¹NIV New International Version Translations At first glance, this is both a deception and a temptation. Until both Eve and Adam acted on the serpent’s trickery, it was not sin yet. Since this is the very first sin of our newly created world, it is worth spending time to look at it closely. Here are a few items to ponder:

• The serpent, Satan to us, was called crafty, more than any other animals that Adam and Eve were to encounter in their Garden. Deceit is a frequent companion of sin. 
• God had given Adam and Eve a specific directive, an instruction, that involved their behavior. There was no interpretation necessary here, “Don’t eat from that specific tree!” It was a rather straightforward, easy-to-understand instruction directly from God.
• God told them the truth because, until they both sinned, they would have lived forever. Once the disobedience occurred, Adam and Eve would succumb to what all humans today must face, death. The consequences of disobedience were serious.

It is worth noting here, that God could have interceded. God could have kept bad things from happening to good people, Adam and Eve, but He did not. The consequences of Adam’s and Eve’s choices were always clear to them. God reiterated  those consequences after their disobedient act and also let the damage done by their choice stand. While the damage would not stand for eternity, God lets humans be free, free to make their choices. It is this inherent freedom that everyone of us would stand up and ask for in our lives that also opens the door to the consequences of poor choices. That is the price of freedom.

• Satan lied. He misrepresented the risk of disobedience to God’s directive.  Furthermore, the enticement was to “be like God.” One then can conclude that such an attempt to “be like God” is a sin, carrying eternal consequences. The Apostle Paul summarizes it this way in Romans 1:21, “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” This simply means being alienated from the life of God because of our ignorance on account of the hardness of our hearts. Separation from God is a dangerous state to exist in.
• Lastly, because mankind was created with free will, Adam and Eve always had a choice. We can choose to eat good food or unhealthy food, do dangerous things and take risks, and grab a pot on the stove when our mother tells us it is HOT!  Yes, I still have a scar from that one as a child. Freedom, therefore, is an inherent part of the human race.

We often think of sin as wrongdoing or a transgression of God’s law. Sin usually includes a failure to do what is right, a bad decision. But sin also can be an offense against people. It can include violence and loveless acts toward other people, and ultimately, any rebellious act against God. Sin then involves direct disobedience against our God, in one way or another. Either disobedience to His direct instructions or a heart darkened to the needs of those around us in our world. The Apostle Paul calls out the consequences of failing to glorify God further in  Romans 1:26-32. These are Paul’s words, not my words but it lay out the nature of sin in our world in rather graphic ways, and they define what happens in our world when God lets us have our own way. Since the beginning of time, have done a terrible job of deciding what is right and wrong. Society tries but history shows we rarely get it right, right enough to please our Creator. Therefore, how can we ever stand before God as imperfect sinners? We alone cannot!

Where did the idea of a sacrifice atoning for sin come from? Just a few verses after Eve and Adam taste the apple, we have the very first sacrifice in our world. Genesis 3:8-9, “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” and in verse 21, “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” Adam and Eve had made a strategic error, they had hidden themselves, and they were separated from God because they were now sinful and recognized their inadequacy.  God’s response is swift, He lays out the consequences of their sinful act to them and then kills two animals, animals that God had created and loved, and covers Adam and Eve with skins so they might be able to join in fellowship with God again. God covered Adam and Eve’s inadequacies and fears.  In these verses, not only was this the first sin committed by mankind, but it was also the first sacrificial act made expressly for the benefit of mankind. Remember, God still loved them too. This first sacrifice, therefore, was intended to bring Adam and Eve back into fellowship with God, something they could not do alone. It works the same way for us today.

God’s history is filled with love for His creation. He has always tried to keep it simple for us. The text of the Ten Commandments appears twice in the Hebrew Bible: in Exodus 20:2–17 and Deuteronomy 5:6–17. Later, Moses would add to these laws in our Bible. The Mosaic Law was given specifically to the nation of Israel (Exodus 19; Leviticus 26:46; Romans 9:4). It was made up of three parts: the Ten Commandments, the ordinances, and the worship system, which included the priesthood, the Tabernacle, the offerings, and the festivals (Exodus 20—40; Leviticus 1—7; 23). The purpose of the Mosaic Law was to accomplish the following:

• Reveal the holy character of the eternal God to the nation of Israel (Leviticus 19:2; 20:7–8).
• Set apart the nation of Israel as distinct from all the other nations (Exodus 19:5).
• Reveal the sinfulness of man (Galatians 3:19). Although the Law was good and holy (Romans 7:12), it did not provide salvation for the nation of Israel. “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” (Romans 3:20; Acts 13:38–39).
• Provide forgiveness through the sacrifice/offerings (Leviticus 1—7) for the people who had faith in the Lord in the nation of Israel.
• Provide a way of worship for the community of faith through the yearly feasts (Leviticus 23).
• Provide God’s direction for the physical and spiritual health of the nation (Exodus 21—23; Deuteronomy 6:4–19; Psalm 119:97–104).
• Lastly, to reveals to humanity that no one can keep the Law but everyone falls short of God’s standard of holiness. 

Jewish history would struggle with the idea of acceptable sacrifices to the one and only God, Jehovah. There would always be a struggle to supply sacrifices that were pleasing to God, and had nothing to do with His divine need. When Israel would seek to submit to God’s will, however,  that alone seemed to become a source of God’s pleasure. God sought a repentant people, but thousands of years of history showed this didn’t work too well and brought us to the realization we must rely on God’s mercy and grace. When Christ came, He fulfilled the Law and with His death paid the penalty for our breaking it (Galatians 3:24; Romans 10:4). By faith in Him, the believer has the very righteousness of Christ imputed to Him. Beware, however, that Jesus did not cancel our need for repentance. Unless we grasp His offer of forgiveness and place our faith in the hands of Christ, there is no atonement.

The final test for any sacrificial act was summarized by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” When joy is present, Paul means we achieved the goal of sacrificial stewardship (4 T’s Time, Talent, Treasure, Testimony), and we have moved back into fellowship with our God.

Contemplations

• Where have you seen, in your lifetime, things that would have been classified as “sinful” become part of mainstream behavior?
  • Ideas to explore: Both within people, governments, and and our church organizations.
• Where have you seen mankind’s rules on sin seem to be baseless?
  • Ideas to explore: Friday fish requirements, death without being baptized, denominational differences and demands.
• What conclusions can you draw about humanity’s ability to fully define what is sinful and what is not sinful?
  • Ideas to explore: Where do we learn what God considers sinful? Is is possible to know all that is wrong to do? Why should we try to know what is wrong in God’s eyes? Didn’t Jesus remove our sins?
• Why is it not possible for mankind to atone for their own sins?
  • Ideas to explore: We are imperfect, we find it easier to see sin in others than in ourselves, and the consequences are sometimes not clear at first. Are accountable relationships a necessary part of life?
• Why is it important to understand and believe that Jesus was God, He came and lived without sin.
  • Ideas to explore: Is there a better sacrifice than to live as a human when you are really God and fully understand our temptations in human life? What must we do to be part of the atonement of Christ? If we cannot achieve perfection before God, how do we live lives pleasing to God?
• Would you relinquish your freedom if there were no consequences, or if all choices were made for you?
  • Ideas to explore: The deception of the utopian world, such as socialism, or communism. The impact of freedom on creativity and discovery. Whether any human political system could be fair.

• 1
  NIV New International Version Translations

Before our holiday season ends, we need to go back a bit and look at some verses that are not typically read at Christmas to fully understand the significance of the birth of Christ. In Exodus, 29:22, “Take from this ram the fat, the fat tail, the fat on the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, both kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh.”¹NIV New International Version TranslationsIt is somewhat shocking to our society today but there was a special type of sheep used for Levitical sacrifices in the Old Testament. The species type was a broad-tailed sheep (ovis laticaudata²https://evangelicalfocus.com/magazine/4246/The-fat-of-rams) and is still found in the Holy Land today. The ram was used for ordination and other special ceremonies while the lambs might be used as Passover meals.

We next move to another book from Micah, one of our minor prophets. In Micah 5:2, he prophesies the following: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Here we find the ancient name of Bethlehem in Judah (Genesis 35:16 Genesis 35:19; 48:7). In Ruth 1:2 it is called “Bethlehem-Judah,” but the inhabitants are called “Ephrathites;” in Micah 5:2, “Bethlehem-Ephratah;” in Matthew 2:6, “Bethlehem in the land of Judah.” In Psalms 132:6 it is mentioned as the place where David spent his youth. The significance of this location helps us identify the probable Temple that the sheep were being raised for, the Temple at Migdal Eder. This temple was located about a mile from Bethlehem itself. The shepherds in the Christmas story would have raised and tended these sheep in the hills near Bethlehem and, as history has it, play an important part of our Christmas story.

Because of the value of these specific sheep, the shepherds duties would have included protecting them from theft and injury. Only the unblemished sheep would be considered suitable for sacrificial purposes. Their flocks could be used for producing dairy and wool, but they were of such value that they would not be considered part of anyone’s daily menu. Tradition has it that because those shepherds were raising Levitical sheep for the nearby temple, their responsibility of providing the “lambs without blemish” would have had special care from their birth. The selected lambs would have been wrapped in ribbons of cloth at birth to protect them from injury. The process was called swaddling. It was also customary during those times to wrap newborn infants in the same way and hence, the term “swaddling clothes” referred to the wrappings or protection for newborns.

While we do not know the date of Christ’s birth, it is believed to have coincided with a time when the lambs were also being born. Our shepherds, birthing the sacrificial lambs, would have been most receptive and understanding to the significance of their angelic visitor’s message: Luke 2:10-12 “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” The shepherds would have also known of Micah’s prophecy, they would have known about the purpose of the Messiah, the Messianic Hope coming from the city of David, they would have understood the significance of the swaddling clothes and why the “Lamb of God” would be lying in a manger. While the shepherds were responding to prophecy, we know more today: 1 John 2:2 “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

The angel never told the shepherds where to look. In fact, their first reaction was sheer terror. However, the shepherds made a key decision, they could not pass up the opportunity to go find the Lamb of God. It is the same decision that we all make in the world today, to search for God. Remember, it was a short walk, probably less than a mile and they knew where all the stables and birthing caves were located. There they found a child wrapped in swaddling clothes. Their actions afterwards are worth noting. The shepherds not only praised God for both hearing the good news and finding the child, but they also shared the good news with others (Luke 2:17-20 “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”).

Our Scriptures are not just a compilation of historic random events but are a carefully executed plan by a God who cares for humanity! From David, the shepherd boy who became king, through the prophetic hope of a savior born in David’s city, by a miraculous incarnation of God Himself into humanity as a child, we are blessed with a Christmas story that was foretold at the time of Creation itself. Christmas brings us the Light of the World so that we can see our very Creator in action. Amen for the shepherds, they got it right.

Contemplations

• What knowledge or experiences did the shepherds have that gave them the courage to believe what they were told and search for the newborn  Messiah?
  • Ideas to explore: Where they lived, their job and responsibility, their understanding of prophecy, peer reinforcement (multiple witnesses), actually finding the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes (evidence).
• Life itself can be filled with frightening moments. What prepares us to respond in a faith-filled way to fear so that we overcome the fear and accomplish God’s purpose?
  • Ideas to explore: Use the list above created for the shepherds but think about where you live, your own job and responsibilities you have or had, how well you understand the Bible, what your family and friends mean to you for support, how adventurous you are in setting out to discover truths. What has God been preparing you for?
• Sacrifice was a normal part of the culture during those times – What do you think has desensitized people today to the idea of sacrifice?
  • Ideas to explore: The transfer of the idea of sacrifice to a wealth-based view of life, our own affluence, a lack of understanding of the concept of sacrifice, movement away from an agrarian society to a distributed and manufacturing society, advertising, a low value placed on human life.
• The shepherds shared their experience with others. Why is it important for us to do the same, especially when we believe we have encountered Christ? 
  • Ideas to explore: What exactly did the shepherds share, who did they tell, is the shepherd’s story more believable because they were eye witnesses. What story do you have to tell?
• What do you think God’s purpose was  for including shepherds in the Christmas Story in the first place?
  • Ideas to explore: Did God know they would be eager to share with others, God wanted the world to view His Son as a shepherd, God was setting the stage for Christ as a sacrificial lamb.

• 1
  NIV New International Version Translations
• 2
  https://evangelicalfocus.com/magazine/4246/The-fat-of-rams