God is Good!

Asa was king of Judah (which consisted of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin) during a time when the Hebrew people were divided. There was a separate group (the other 10 tribes) who were led by the king of Israel. Friction developed between the two kingdoms. They both had a common enemy in Syria. Israel tried to tamper down Judah's movement. Asa went to the King of Syria with money from of the Lord's house and the king's house treasury to get him to help him against Israel. The prophet Hanani then

paid Asa a visit to Asa with some words from God: 

7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.

8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the Lord, he delivered them into thine hand.9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. II Chronicles 16:9

Hanani reminded Asa of God's help in the past. In the conflict between Judah and Israel, Asa should have consulted God for the right solution. He hadn't checked in with God. Asa walked himself right into a position vulnerable to more and more wars as a result. God didn't inflict him, he set it up the dominoes for himself. 

God is all good. He desires the best for people and loves to bless those that follow him and recognize his son Jesus Christ. and the reason he came into existence. In the book of James, it is quite clear that God is good to his people and not evil:

13 Let no man say when he is tempted (challenged to not do right), I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 

Asa chose to do things the way he decided they should be done.  He had started out as a good ruler by taking down the idols in Judah.  In the frictional relationship between Judah and Israel, God had a bird's eye view into the present and future consequences of making deceptive alliances with the enemy. Asa lived during the Old Testament Covenant.  We have greater resources today through Jesus Christ and the gift of the spiritual connection which has given us the tools of walking in God's superabundant power:

16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 4:16-17

God loves all people, but he can only help those who want his help. He is not the cause of evil in our lives and we should never blame him for the stuff we may bring on ourselves by accepting deception from other sources. 

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin (of ignoring him), and will heal their land. II Chronicles 7:14

These are not words that we can just plaster all over the internet to warn each other with during this unprecedented time in our own history. We need to take this seriously.  We need God's viewpoint and his wisdom. Only then can we act with complete confidence and be truly happy. This is what being 'woke' should really mean. 

Let This Mind Be In You

 

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Philippians 2:3-4 

In verse three, we are warned about doing things from strife or empty pride. We are encouraged to act humbly toward others. Jesus Christ, as God's son, could have claimed a huge right to status but he didn't. 'He made himself of no reputation'.  He was a humble man and became a servant to to others. He spoke the truth as a servant of God. Humility is not weakness, it is the  exact opposite. Humility emanates from the ultimate godly source of strength. It reveals God's love and power and sound mind available to everyone.

The word 'also' in verse 4, is inclusive. We not only look on our own things but also the things of others. Human love has limitations, but divine love explodes those limitations.

God's love is spelled out in I Corinthians 13. In the context of chapters 12 and 14, love propels the work of the spirit of God available to each of us. We are able to love at a higher power source than human love. These three chapters of Corinthians embody the gold of the  'higher powers' described in Romans 13. (For those who think Romans 13 is a civic lesson, check the context of Romans 12 and Romans 14. God didn't put the chapter markings in any of these books; man did it. Context is everything).

The Greek word for 'charity' represents the love of God, not what we give to the United fund or the Red Cross as the word is used today:

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing.

4 Charity suffers long (patient), and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts (boasts) not itself, is not puffed up (arrogant), 5 Does not behave itself unseemly (inappropriately), seeks not her own, is not easily provoked (offended), thinks no evil (does not begrudge nor contain resentment or evil);

6 Rejoices not in iniquity (injustice), but rejoices in the truth;7 Bears all things, believes (entrusts) all things, hopes all things, endures (awaits) all things. I Corinthians 13 1-7

I Corinthians 13:8a

 

 

 

God's Feet Are Busy

Recently I made a claim that I found my 'happy place'.  Last night, however, when I was sitting on a plane full of a lot of travelers after a layover in Charlottesville,  and a long wait on the tarmac as a result of a double trip through the plane de-icing pad, I experienced an exhilarating whoosh up through the clouds and into the pre-dusk skies. I realized the 'happy place' was still around.  It was either in my carry-on or in my head and heart. Hallelujah! When I looked below, the houses and factories and highways got smaller and smaller. I love flying; it gives you a proper perspective on life. That is where I realized my happy space was everywhere and it followed me everywhere I went.

Looking out the window of plane, I became entrenched in chasing the clouds and capturing them on my cell phone. When I got home, I decided to read a little before I went to sleep so I checked in to the book of Nahum in the Bible. I have been continually drawn lately to this little book in the Old Testament. Low and behold, in the first few seconds of reading I read: 'the clouds are the dust of his feet'. My first guess as to what is meant would be that clouds can remind us how busy (feet=movement) God is at work as a loving and just God. Just before landing there were seemingly clear skies. Clear skies are good too! It's just all good!

The following is what I know so far about the book of Nahum. It centers on Nineveh, a city in Assyria. Jonah was sent to Nineveh years before to cry against it. Nineveh was an enemy of Israel and Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh and save it. Finally after a trip through the belly of a very large fish deep at the dark bottom of the sea, Jonah was revived and made the decision that God needed him to go confront Nineveh and Nineveh turned to God. Fast forward to many decades, Nineveh slipped into its old ways again when it had risen to its high position as an empire. It is always wise to be thankful when everything is going good and continue to believe God. Many people at that point forget about God and other things sneak into their lives that are not so great. Nahum prophesied to Nineveh of its coming doom because as a nation it had forgotten to continue to believe God. This must have brought comfort and consolation to the people who loved God that God was at work.

The name, Nahum, means 'compassionate or consoler'. The book of Nahum represents 'God's stronghold in time of trouble'. In these recent years, I would say there is plenty of trouble in our atmosphere to push down on all of us. It will be an interesting to work the cloud phrase which I will do to get a clearer picture of what is meant! It is nice to remember God's work in our lives when it's cloudy or clear.

The key verse for those who love God in the book of Nahum is in chapter 1:7:

7 The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

The Old Testament gives us a peek into the New Testament and the meaning of Jesus Christ in our lives. He is our place of safety in the day of trouble because he has connected us to the power of God through the spirit.