The Fear of the Lord

Most of us have heard that term for as long as we have been alive. We are told by our parents, pastors, church teachers and leaders that we are to Fear God. I have heard some say it means to reverence God and some say it means to be be freigthened of Him. And frankly, it may include both of these ideas. However, I also think it means to respect Him and to adjust our lives around Him. Positionally we have reverence for our Lord and this reverence becomes practical in how we live and adjust our lives to His holiness. When we exalt His position and adjust practically to His position; the Bible says we gain wisdom.
In a morning devotion I read Prov. 8:13. I am sure I have read it many tmes but this week it touched my heart in a deeper way. The verse answers the question of how we shake out the Fear of the Lord in life decisions. How? We are to hate evil! Simple enough. Hate means to become an enemy of all that is opposed to God’s Way of thinking and acting. The writer helps us by defining what God hates. He says – pride and arrogance, and the evil way. Then he adds – the perverted mouth.
What does all this mean? I think it means that God hates it when we swell up and point fingers at ourselves. One of the definitions of the words pride and arrogance it the word “ornament.” We think of an ornament as something we put on a Christmas tree to be seen and admired. Our Heavenly Father does not like this attitude in our heart. A perverted mouth means to take something and twist it or turn it around to mean something dirty or crass.
The Fear of the Lord acts as a deterrant to this kind of attitude and action. Maybe better said – the Fear of God becomes a guard over my heart and from my heart comes who I really am!!

Father, today may my Fear of You cause me to check my heart and to check my tongue.  Help me to realize that when I try to be funny, I could be trying to draw attention to myself and draw attention away from You.

Exalted Among The Nations

Over the last several years “globalization” has become a frequent word. Whatever happens regardless of where in the world it happens, we immediately are made aware of the event. While at times this globalization can concern us; it does remind us that we have opportunity to take the gospel to the world in many differnt and quick ways. It also reminds us, as believers, that God is comfortably on His throne and in charge, and He is bringing all things to the conclusion He desires for His glory. In Ps. 46:10, the writer says for us to be still (quit striving) and know that God is supreme, and that He will be exalted (made high) among the nations and in the earth. We used to sing a song – This is my Father’s world and indeed it is! Recently I had an experience that reminded me that this globe is really “small.” I was having phone line problems so I called AT&T to help. A technician help me and ran diagonistics over the phone. As we were waiting for the test to finish, he said – I guess we can just talk. In our conversation I asked him where he was located. I could tell he was not from the south and figured mid-west. He said he was located in the Philippines! Amazing, here I was in Arkansas, talking to a guy in the Philippines, and he fixed my phone line in Arkansas. As I thought about it, I realized our world is small and our God is big. He has commanded that we take His gospel to all the world, and today as never before we can do it in many different ways. the challenge is – will we and how will we?

It’s About Him

I enjoy reading different devotional guides in my quiet time.  Recently I read about Louis Neumiller who was president of Caterpiller Tractor Company from 1941-54. He led this giant company through WWII and world expansion. He was a man of humility and integrity and was called one of the greatest business leaders of the twentieth century. He was described in a book – In Their Time: The Greatest Business Leaders Of The Twentieth Century, by authors Mayo and Nohria, as success without fanfare; and his mark of greatness was that he took his identity out of the business and let the company become the hero.
What a wonderful thought! It reminds me of John the Baptist. John knew who he was and who he was not.  He said – I am not the Christ. I am just a voice in the wilderness. He said – Jesus must increase and I must decrease. We would do well in this age of pride, and glitz and glamour to follow the example of Neumiller – take our personalities out and let Jesus Christ be the hero. Instead of being in a “me” culture, why not make it a “Him” culture? Instead of being “egocentric”, let’s be “Theocentric.”

Riding Into The Wind

I enjoy riding my bicycle (except uphill). It provides exercise, time to think and keep “life” in perspective, and time to pray. I remember riding with one of my friends some time ago and we were talking about the wind. When it blows from behind, the easier it is to ride; and when it blows in your face the harder it is to ride. My friend said – when you are riding your bike the wind always blows in your face – and the faster you go the harder it blows. We laughed at that comment but he is right – not just about riding a bicycle but also living life. The wind is always blowing and often it seems in your face when you try and run after God.
The Christian life has been described as a race. Paul said in 1 Cor. 9:24 – …those who run in a race all run…run in such a way that you may win. God has a race for each of His kids. It is a specially designed race, with the course marked out for His glory. Paul, in this verse was encouraging perseverence. As a person of God, we run, we run right, and we run as not to quit or be disqualified. At the end of the day (race), while we may be tired and dirty, and wind struck, we have the joy of knowing we ran, did not stop, and we finished God’s course. The writer of Hebrews reminds us in Ch. 12:1 – that others have run ahead of us and they have left us a pattern to help us and show us how to run correctly. We are to lay aside the weights that drag us down and “entangle” us; and we run as they did with perseverence, keeping our eyes focused upon our Lord.
What encouraging words – “fixing our eyes on Jesus.” This means no one else but Him!
Yesterday I rode 35 miles and it seemed the wind was in my face for 35 miles. I was tired, dirty, and thirsty; but I finished and felt good about what I had done. Keep running the race set before you, keeping looking to Jesus, and keep remembering others ran before and made the way a little clearer.

Christian Veneer

When I was a kid we lived in Hawaii. My shop teacher had us make a coffee table and I chose a piece of Koa wood. For years I have kept the table and everytime we moved, we hauled it with us. Some months ago I began to wonder if I could have veneers cut from the table to make a traditional bow. One of my hobbies is to shoot and hunt with a longbow and recurve. So I took the table to my friends at Black Widow Bows, in Nixa, MO. I asked Toby if I could get a bow from this wood and if it would shoot ok. Toby said – we can get any bow to shoot good using any veneers because it is not on the outside but what is inside that matters. The outside is for looks – the inside makes the character of the bow.
Toby may not have realized that what he said characterizes many in our churches today. On the outside we can look like whatever we want to look like; however it is the inside that counts. On the inside you find the real character of the person and you find if that person is truly born of God or not.  Peter, in one of his letters said – Make your calling and election sure!

The truth of the matter is that a veneer on the outside of the bow is for looks only and gives no indication of the quality or ability of the bow to “fling” arrows.  And, the veneer of a person does not always indicate where that personal is spiritually.  Theologian R. C. Sproul once said that if you think about it, people are all really more like Adolf Hitler than like Jesus Christ.   The Bible says –  ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  If given the opportunity man would choose sin; and that is why sin can only be cleansed by Christ’s shed blood.  That is why the Cross is a necessity.

My friend at Black Widow said a great spiritual truth, perhaps without realizing it.  Veneers are for show.  You have to look inside to see what is real!  The veneer on a life says nothing – or maybe it says a lot!

Like Arrows In The Hand Of A Warrior

NASV – Ps. 127:4 – Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.

Several years ago I made the switch from hunting with a compound bow to a traditional longbow.  I did not realize the learning curve would be neither as long nor as hard as it was.  After a year of intense learning and practice with the kind of bow and arrows used in the Bible, I better understand the words of Psalm 127: 3-5 and how those words relate to raising children.  A bow shooter must have a proper stance if he is going to shoot right.  A parent must as well.  He must be stable and balanced in life understanding the different winds that blow.  Right priorities must govern a parent.   A bow shooter must breathe correctly as he draws the bow and a parent must breathe in life.  There is a time to be serious and a time to laugh.  A bow shooter must have a proper grip with the right amount of tension on the string.  A parent must learn to balance love and law.  A bow shooter must always stay focused on the target; and a parent must realize and teach his children that there is a Transcendent Cause for their life – that being the glory of God.  A bow shooter must always draw the arrow full, and stay anchored; and a parent must stay anchored to the Word of God.  A bow shooter knows that when the arrow is drawn full and the anchor is reached there comes the release of the arrow.  A parent, sooner than he can imagine, also realizes that his children must be released, fully and cleanly.  It is called life!  A bow shooter also knows that his shot is not over until the arrow reaches the target.  A loving parent also realizes this same principle.  While there is a tension as he sees the children “fly”, his love is always watching and praying, standing ready to help should need arise.

After shooting several years I learned that every time an arrow is shot it goes through what is called the Archer’s Paradox.  As the bow is drawn energy is stored in the bow limbs.  Upon release energy is transferred through the string to the arrow.  There is an immediate burst of energy as the arrow is released for the first time.  Finally the arrow is “free.”   As the arrow flies for the first time oscillations (bending) occurs in the arrow.  As the arrow moves to the target the oscillations become smaller.  No matter how “perfect” the mechanics of the shooter, every arrow goes through the bending.  The arrows has never has this kind of energy (freedom) before.  That’s why it is called the Archer’s Paradox, because all the shooter can do is look – and Pray!  It’s the Law of the Arrow. Parents are to train them up – shoot them out for the Glory of God -  and never cease to pray.

2/2/09

On Wednesdays I am teaching through the Book of Acts and this study has really impacted my walk and desire for the Lord.  I am looking at Ch. 15, and I saw something that really blessed me.  As I pastor a wonderful church and as we do life together and navigate through the transitions that come together, I often find myself saying – Father, if You would just pick up a phone and call me, then I will be better able to follow You.  I’ll even pay for the call!  However, following the Lord God is not like that.  He speaks through His Spirit in connection to His Word.

In Ch. 15, Paul and his merry men have just returned from their first missionary journey and get some confrontation from the Jewish brethern.  They have to flesh out the Gentile salvation question.  The unity of the church is threatened.  Four times in this chapter the words “seemed good” are used (vs. 22,25,28,34).  I got to thinking and realized that even during this time of Christian history, they struggled with understanding God’s Will.  Since this was a period of divine revelation and a time when scripture was being formulated, you would think God would have been clearer is helping them discern His will.  Yet, in these four verses, we get the word that means to think, or form an opinion.  Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, it “seemed” like the right thing to do.

That helped me.  Today divine revelation is closed.  We have God’s complete Word to us in the scripture. And often, as we seek His will and diredction for our lives and His church, we just have to pray, study the Word, and then – do as it seems good!  If what you do is for His glory and for other’s good, then He will lead, cover the mistakes, and protect the decisions.

1/17/09

I was reading Joshua Ch. 4 in my quiet time and a few verses really grabbed my heart and caused a pause for reflection.  Joshua instructed some men to bring 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan River to Gilgal.  There he erected a monument for a memorial.  He told them that when their children (later generation) ask what they were, they would be told about the great work of God on their behalf by drying up the Jordan River.  The result is they would know the Hand of the Lord is Mighty and the people would fear Him.

I stopped and asked myself – Tom, what stones do you have that your kids and grand kids can visibly see?  Stones that remind them of how Mighty God is in your life?  Things like big screen TV,s, bows, guns, boats, the the things we think we must have won’t work.  Those things are temporal and will rust and rot away one day.  What stones are there that will lead them to worship?  Stones that will magnify the Lord and show He is mighty, and cause my family to fear and respect my God?  Something to think about!

1/14/09

In studying for my lesson for this evening, I was reminded again about the story of John Mark.  Mark was the cousin of Baranbas and joined Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey.  In Acts 12: 25, he is said to have joined along with these men.  In Acts 14:5, he is their helper.  This is one of the words for minister (under-rower),  In verse 13, he bails out and goes home.  Why?  We don’t know, even though some offer neat ideas.  Maybe the glamour wore off?  Maybe the Gentles getting saved stung him?  Maybe Paul stepping up as leader over his cousin hurt him?  In any event he went home.  Later, in Ch. 16, Barnabas wanted him to join the 2nd mission trip but Paul said no.  It was such a problem, Paul and Barnabas parted company.

What is neat is that maturity heals so many wounds.  Later, as Paul was nearing death, he asked for Mark to come to him, saying he was useful (pleasant, easy).  And we know Mark wrote the Gospel that bears his name.  It just reminded me that nobody is beyond the touch of grace.  Whether salvation or restoration, grace is a gift and God is the giver of gifts.  God specializes in cleaning up messes.  Look in the mirror, do you see His image in you?

1/10/09

When God was ready to “push” the gospel out of Antioch into the uttermost part of the world, He did it in a most wonderful way.  In Acts 13:3, the word “sent” means to release or give liberty.  the church was on fire.  It was an red hot happening place.  But God was stirring Barnabas and Saul, and the church recognized it and gave them liberty.  In Acts 13:4, the word “sent” is a different word.  This word means to push or dispatch.  God just would not let these two guys get comfortable.  That’s how God works in a relationship environment.  He stirs the heart in, and He pushes the person out.  First in Jerusalem and now in Antioch we see the church dynamic and not the church stagnat.  So many today have become stuck and struggle with change but Acts shows us movement and that must characterize God’s church.  Comfort is dangerous!