One Race

 Biologically, God created one race. The human race started with Adam and Eve. So why don't we all look the same?  Man in the middle to late 19th century began to understand the genetic material known as DNA and have continued to  learn much about how different traits came about. We have learned about dominant and recessive genes. The various combinations of genes can produce a variety of hair color, eye color and skin color. God built into the DNA of Adam and Eve different types of genes to provide the variety of human beings that we see today. 

24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: Acts 17:24-27

So where did racism come from?  There is so much depth scientifically in these verses about the times and bounds of habitation. Never the less there is still one race in God's eyes. The Bible says we all descended from one blood. Man has come up with the idea that there may be as many as 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 races. Racism didn't come from God's creation of one blood/one race. Racism has arisen because of the differences in the way men see things based of color of skin. Humans are responsible for racism.

Many years ago, my husband and I were involved in a fellowship in an urban community outside of Chicago. We were running a class on how to understand the Bible. We were the only ones in the room with white skin. I sat next to a wonderful lady who was very quiet at the start of class. During one session, the verses above in Acts 17 were taught and this beautiful woman elbowed me and then threw her arms around me smiling with joy. She got it and she knew I got it! It was something I will never forget. I realized then how powerful the Word of God is when it comes to dispelling racial issues. 

Many groups down through the ages of history have been marginalized and persecuted due to color of skin, religious beliefs, culture, status, wealth, profession and many other unsound excuses for men to divide against each other. There are racists in every culture, black, brown, white and red and yellow.  Jesus Christ was supposed to have dark skin. Does that mean that if a group doesn't have dark skin they have less of a relationship with him because they are white? That is silly. Human nature causes divisions not God.  We are all equal in God's eyes and everyone has the responsibility to believe and act accordingly. Life is pretty simple when it is viewed from God's point of view.

 

Individual Freedom

The Bible says quite clearly the 'the truth will set you free'. What does that mean to us really?

31 Then said Jesus to those Judeans which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:31-36

Jesus was addressing the Hebrews that recognized who he was. He told them they had to continue to soak up the word he spoke. He told them to stay at it.

Worldly wisdom offers "Yes, buts"  to the truth. The Hebrews asked a question that sounded like a "Yes but".  Jesus answered their question with the reason he was there. Abraham wasn't going to carry them, he was/is dead, but Jesus Christ was there now and after his death he was raised and is alive forever. God's word should not go in one ear and out the other. We need to think about enduring truth and find out what we can about how to apply it.

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Matthew 13:13-17

Also in Matthew 13, Jesus speaks the great parable about the sower that sows seed. It a great record why some get it and some don't; why some hearts wax gross, have ears that are dull to hearing, and have shut their eyes.  The fowls represent the adversarial worldly wisdom that competes with the truth for our minds and tries to steal it away.. The seeds are the truth.

Birds on alert for food

There are some people who get excited hearing the truth but they fail to keep it and when something negative arises they just give way to the negative. Another thing that really chokes the truth is the 'deceitfulness of riches' when people get lulled into a self-sufficient sleep and are too busy for truth. There is nothing wrong with having money, but the love of it is a trap.

God does not offer traps! He wants us free and he wants us to see those things ahead of time that take us down a thorny path. He sent his son to help us live life to the fullest. Gloom, hurt, guilt, depression, anxiety, anger, frustration, fear are nasty weeds that need to be pulled. When we truly understand the reason for Jesus Christ we will be unequivocally free INDEED! (Matthew 13 is a great read in its entirety)

Christian Individuality

Recently, I saw a beautiful video on how snowflakes are formed. No two of these beautiful crystal formations are alike.  At one point in the video, a long-haired dog runs through the snow catching  the small white sparkly patterned pieces of frozen water molecules in his fur. The author described this cute frolicking canine as a literal art museum of thousands of works of divine art.

Humans are also very individual in design. We all have unique patterns of DNA arrangements. Our minds are all different and compounded by a variety life experiences.  I have three sisters and even though we were born into the same family, all four of us are uniquely different. We don't have the exact same pattern of DNA nor do we have the the same exact life experiences.

Every born-again believer in the New Testament era has the opportunity to receive the gift of holy spirit. Through Jesus Christ we have full access to this gift and it uniquely resides in each of us. Each one of us develops as a member of the body of Christ to worship God and love others in very unique ways (I Corinthians 12:11-27). Through the spirit, God works within us to do his works of love.

Our individuality to God is priceless. God loves to speak to the heart of an individual. He loves to strengthen  and encourage individuals.  In the Old Testament God spoke to people through others. God speaks to us now through the spirit and through His word. He can still talk to us through others when he needs to, but God prefers to come to each of us.

The 'church' of God is not a building but a collection of those who are tapped in to God. 'Church' can be at home, in school, at a playground, on the beach, in an elevator, even on the telephone, in texts and zooms or just about anywhere those who love God gather. The 'church' lives within and around the hearts of his spiritual sons and daughters.

Know ye not that ye (plural) are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

The groups of people who gathered around God's word at the time of the 1st century were very different from some of what we see in some 'churches' today. Jesus said that where ever 'two or three are gathered in my name' that he would be among them (Matthew 18:20). People in the time of the book of Acts  got together daily. The word was interwoven in their lives and conversation often was in the form of thankfulness. Each person in the community had a unique contribution to each other. When people support, encourage, and remind one another how involved God is in their lives, people absolutely flourish, increase in strength and enjoy life more.  That is what the 'church' is meant to be.

God's View And Our View

God's view is bigger than ours

In the Old Testament, there is a familiar record of the man who owned a coat of many colors. His name was Joseph and he  was a member of a large family.  His father, Jacob, had 12 sons by four mothers.  Family dynamics provided fertile opportunities for sibling rivalry to abound. Joseph was a favorite son and as a result was thrown into a ditch and left to die by his brothers. Could a God who gives all men free-will, stop them? God saved Joseph by another route, since he could not by force the brothers to change their minds. A traveling caravan rescued Joseph and took him to Egypt where he rose to the top becoming the Pharaoh's right-hand man. Joseph, who had the spirit of God working with him was very resourceful in agricultural and economic wisdom to prepare for a future famine that would change the known world at that time.

When the famine eventually came and reached his family back home, they had to find sources of food. They heard that Egypt was doing well and traveled to Egypt for help. They did not know Joseph was alive and prosperous leading Egypt through the crisis. Though several interactions, his family realized who he was and they were thankful for his help. He lovingly responded:

20 But as for you, you meant (weaved) evil against me; but God meant (weaved) it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Genesis 50:20

Did God cause his brothers to do evil so that good could come? Did he allow it to happen? People interpret God's role in many different ways.  A closer look at this verse and looking at the word "meant", which is used in verse 20, clarifies what happened. While it is recorded that the brothers devised a plan to get rid of Joseph; we read that God devised a plan and weaved all the circumstances together to produce good. God did not have one thing to do with the evil that was imposed on Joseph.

Strong's Concordance shows this word to be the Hebrew word 'chasab' and they define it as: "A primitive root; properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (gen.) to fabricate;...."

Many people question the goodness of God when they don't understand the writings of the Old Testament. They discredit the Bible because of misunderstanding. This particular point about the meaning of a word in another language is just one of the ways misinterpretation of the Bible occurs. Other examples of language confusion result from not understanding Hebrew idioms like the 'idiom of permission'. There are also other categories like historical background, oriental culture, or understanding God's point of view versus man's point of view. However when we just sit down and read, we become distinctly aware of how loving God is. Why would the Bible declare so much about the goodness of God? There is no evil in him or darkness or heavy pressure in his love. The Bible does not contradict itself.

God is also the author of freedom.  Free-will choice is a big deal to him. Over and over in the Old Testament, there are stories of men and women who freely chose to walk with God and those who chose otherwise. There are also records of imperfect people who did things that were contrary to God and God continued to help them when they chose to do things that God recommended for their best interest. David is a great example.

God doesn't cause evil! Evil is not omniscient. God has a heavenly view of all things and works things for the good (Romans 8:28) for those who love him and look to him for help. Human nature hasn't changed through the ages, and, more importantly, God hasn't changed. If we see the things going on around us through the media's eyes, politicians or even each other, we lose. Religious opinions will also fool us: 

2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Romans 10:2

When people don't humbly look to God for answers things spiral out of control and we miss out on the genuine joy and other fruits of trusting God. Read the rest of chapter 10 of Romans, it is very enlightening to the heart!

 

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. 

 

"Jesus Loves Everybody"

Recently I have heard many politicians reminding people that 'Jesus loves everybody'.  Jesus does love everybody. He sacrificed his life for every human being that has ever lived on this planet. With this in mind, we also have to  understand of how biblical love is defined by truth. It is not  to be misconstrued for the purposes of manipulation and politics. Man is not the author and definer of love.

Jesus spoke the truth in love. Love is inseparable from truth. All one has to do is read the four gospels that record the comings and goings of Jesus, to know that he loved people with the truth. He loved people when he confronted the Pharisees and called them 'whited sepulchers' and told them they were of their father, the devil.  He spoke the truth in love to the woman caught in adultery (John 8) when he drove away her accusers and told her then to 'go and sin no more'.

 

One incident that I love in the gospels is when he walked through the temple throwing over the money-changer tables because they were merchandising God:

                                                         

12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.Matthew 21:12-13

He didn't mince words and his 'zeal' in this record is encouraging. It was a big deal.

Almost on every page of the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, there are admonitions and warnings about how to stay out of the proverbial soup. He spoke teaching and guidance not legalism. He knew God's word and he spoke it.

There is no love that is greater than God's love. It is only God's love that satisfies the deepest longings of our hearts.

Righteous Confidence

When a person has righteous confidence, the reaction to fear, criticism, gaslighting, mockery and disrespect all seem to become more and more insignificant. Yes, there are gray areas where we wobble at times. but there are tools like truth and believing that help us to push them away.

 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved (made complete, whole spiritually, mentally, and physically). For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Romans 10:1-3

It is important that we get our sense of what is right from the best source. There is no source better than God; the whole creation testifies to his goodness and love. Our minds can deceive us as to what we imagine to be right especially when we try to develop our own rules. The things we want to happen may not serve us well. Certainly we can learn from experience and watching others; but these practices can also engender pressure and deception. 

God's word is pure and helps us to focus on the fair, just and right way of doing anything. When we understand God's love and faithfulness, we get assurance that exceeds anything we could imagine. Confidence, when it is right or even if it is based on small details or on 'least commandments' have significant importance in our success in life:

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:18-20

In belonging to a kingdom, a person has the rights and privileges of that kingdom. Certainly, we want the privileges and rights that only God can give. God's grace through his son has given us the opportunity to be in a relationship with the Creator of the universe!

During the time that Jesus walked this earth, the law was fulfilled by his sacrifice and resurrection. His ascension brought forth a new contract with God through the action of the gift of holy spirit in each individual life that believes.   

The religious leaders at that time had other agendas. The scribes studied the law and the Pharisees taught the law and it was in their elite position of the authority of the law that they increased their power and literally 'stuck it to' those under their authority. That is not what God had in mind. God had grace in mind.

When Jesus said those words in Matthew 5:20, he wasn't setting up a competition between the believer and the Pharisees to see who was better able to do the law. He was calling the believer to the grace walk of completeness in righteous confidence. When a person has that type of confidence, God is his authority and he lives a life of peace, unfettered by what goes on around him. There's a common idiomatic expression we use today about being 'comfortable in your own skin'. The love of God goes way beyond its meaning. It's about being comfortable in your own mind, body and spirit and produces a truly beautiful peace.

Good reading on this: The 3rd Epistle of John

Politics and Religion and the Public Square

 The two subjects not to be talked about in polite conversation are politics and religion. Jesus Christ was not a political figure. He was sent by God  to redeem Israel, but he was viewed as a threat to the politics in his time as well as the religion of the day. He was a thorn in the side of the religious elite Pharisees and also to the political Herodians. The Romans were the rulers of the area, but the Herodians had their section of rule that they wanted to maintain. The Herodians and Pharisees were diametrically opposed to each other, but when Jesus developed a following among the people both groups united against him. It was a strange union but they had a common enemy due to their ambitions and desire for power.

One day Jesus entered into the synagogue and saw a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees watched Jesus to see if he would heal him on that sabbath day. Any work or action done on the sabbath was considered contrary to Judean law. They wanted to catch him and accuse him publicly. Jesus spoke to the man with the withered hand and told him to 'Stand Forth'. Let's just say his sense of loving righteous justice was elevated. Then he said to all those around him:

"Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?" But they held their peace (remained silent).
5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. Mark 3:4-5

Yes, Jesus at times got angry and experienced inward grief. Their hard hearts bothered him. It was love to confront them and expose their conspiratorial thinking. Then he did the one thing that proved what God is all about, he told the man with the withered hand to stretch it out. The man was emboldened to do just that, and as he did, his hand was healed.

So the Pharisees jumped for joy and praised God and realized the truth about the sabbath. No! They didn't! They got angrier!  Their sabbath was really about law and not the grace that God had in mind:

 The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Mark 2:27

It was a day of rest.  In fact take the 'Chapter 3' heading out (chapter markings were added by man and weren't in the original texts) and this verse provides some context for Mark 3:1-4.

The pharisees then joined with the  Herodians to go after Jesus. It was an 'enemy of my enemy is my friend' sort of relationship. Two opposing parties united to go after a common enemy, Jesus. 

It happens all the time and is very common today. People like to pull people to their side against some  cause. It is all over social media and extremely prevalent on FaceBook and Twitter.  God does not work that way. There is a great record (Joshua 5:13-15) about when Joshua was about to enter the promised land with the Israelites and when he faced opposition, an angel of the Lord with a sword appeared to him. Joshua asked the angel: "Are you for us or our adversaries?" God is faithful to his word. That is where he is. He has one side and it is truth. We all need to keep that in mind. I know I have to constantly remind myself of that. Jesus talking to the Pharisees is a great example of using truth as a basis for conversation. The Pharisees wanted to be the righteous ones, but Jesus directed them to God's wonderful grace and truth. When they took council against him, he withdrew himself. Those that followed him received the benefits of truth.