compassion

Pride and Humility

1Peter 3:3-4 Your adornment must not be merely external–braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

1Peter 5:5

Before we look at verse 5, let’s review verses 1-4. Peter addressed the elders, specifically those who were older in age and leaders of the church; perhaps this would have included those who were also older in the faith. The word used for elders is presbuteros which literally means older or a senior. He includes himself with them showing his humility, addressing himself as their fellow elder. His general instruction to the elders was to shepherd God’s children – exercising oversight, according to God’s will, with eagerness. This charge was not to be felt as a burden but rather an opportunity. God did not commission them to control the flock; instead, they were to lead by example, all the while looking forward to their promise of Heaven. Moving on to verse 5-

1Peter 5:5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

Beginning in verse five, Peter addresses the younger men – those who were newer in the faith or youthful. The word used for younger is neos meaning youthful or regenerate, in age, newer to the faith. He begins with the word Likewise, meaning similarly. In other words, take heed to the instruction given previously and submit to the elders, same word as in verse one, presbuteros, meaning older, or a senior, especially an Israelite Sanhedrist or Christian elder. being subject to them, obeying them. This subjection is not under duress, but by choice.

Ephesians 5:21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Having the fear of Christ is a reverential love for Him which motivates us to please Him in obedience. The reason for our willing attitude of subjection towards those in leadership is our love for Jesus. Think! If we all seek to serve one another, holding one another as precious in God’s sight, recognizing we can learn from one another, then we are all blessed.

Why would this be good practice?

Often there are those around us who have already gone through similar experiences; those older than us or more mature in the faith, who have learned through application of God’s word, what to do and what not to do, what it looks like in real life circumstances, what actions glorify God and what to avoid, how to encourage others with Truth rather than be a discouragement to others. We have tools that help us stay the course, yet we must be willing to recognize that we do not have all the answers and we benefit from the help, direction, and examples of others.

Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

Peter goes on to include everyone in his instruction – and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another. Each person is to willingly place themselves in subjection to one another – unless we are asked to sin. Let’s not miss that tiny word all. No one is exempt, this applies to everyone, in any manner and means, always, every day in every way, whatsoever and whosoever. All means all! This is an important instruction to grasp because we will run across people who seem more difficult to serve for one reason or another. It is those who are struggling most who need our compassion and unconditional love. Consider the example of Jesus.

Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

John 13:14 "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

1Timothy 2:1-6 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.

We should cultivate a mutual respect for one another’s thoughts and decisions. Sometimes we think we have the best idea or understanding of a situation, however, it is so important that we are able to lay aside our own preferences in order to keep peace and unity in leadership. You may feel strongly about your plans, but others feel just as strongly about theirs. It is possible you may not always agree with decisions that are made, yet unless it is sin, we can choose to follow, praying and trusting that God is working in the lives of those who are leading. Without this humility towards one another, it is difficult for anything to be accomplished or to move forward. For example, the Bible tells us to honor our father and mother. There are probably an infinite number of ways this can be done; therefore, it will look different for everyone. Circumstances vary, so there is not one way to do this. How I might fulfill this command may look quite different than how you follow this command. Neither is the best way; neither is wrong, unless you simply refuse to obey God’s command.

Ephesians 5:21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

When we think of clothing ourselves with a garment, we are covered with something. What others see on the outside – our actions – should be proof of our humility in our heart, the inside. The words, ‘clothe yourselves’, are perhaps alluding to the outer garment or apron commonly worn by slaves. “They were to be willing to take any place, and to perform any office, however humble, in order to serve and benefit others. … they were to be willing to occupy any station, however humble, by which they might honour God”, Barnes.

Are you willing to serve in any way? Sometimes we may have an idea of where we want to serve; often, God has a different plan. We need to be willing to go through whatever doors God opens for us, even if we do not see it as our strength, or it seems like it might not be as fun as other ministries. God knows where He can use us best.

What examples in the world do you see where there is a problem with individuals insisting on their own way?

Why do you wear clothing? What does it mean to ‘clothe yourself with humility’?

Practically, it means to gird oneself for labor, the apron being a badge of servitude (Strong’s Greek Dictionary), being ready to serve. Think of it as being prepared. The words ‘clothe yourselves with humility’, mean to esteem or regard another as more important than yourself, it is a courteous regard for people’s feelings, a disposition or tendency to yield to the will of others. It can mean to oblige others or to have a mutual respect for others. Humility should become such an integral part of our character that we are continually clothed by it in our thoughts and actions. Are your thoughts and actions covered in humility; is your motivation a humble heart?

1Peter 5:5 goes on to explain why we are to have a heart of humility. It reads, for God is opposed to the proud. Pride is not the character quality you want to be described by if you are a Christian. Pride is a product of the world’s thinking. People like to be important, they become proud of their accomplishments or position. In general, people like glory to be focused on them. They take ownership of their abilities rather than giving glory to God for what He is doing in their life. But the Apostle Peter says this is not in accordance with God’s teachings. Instead of ‘look at what I’ve done’, it should be ‘look at what God has done’.

Think of what it means for God to oppose you, to be against you. I have two reactions towards this thought. First, it terrifies me to consider not only the absence of God’s blessings, but the sting of His wrath. Second, it saddens me to consider the thought of rejecting His most precious gift to us, given out of love. You may understand what it is like to live life without being obedient towards God’s commands and without the understanding of His grace towards you – fear and hopelessness is a fair description of that time.

But gives grace to the humble. God grants His favor to those who are humbled so that they can continue to walk in humility through difficult circumstances.

Proverbs 3:34 Though He scoffs at the scoffers, yet He gives grace to the afflicted.

This verse does not mean I need to be afflicted to receive God’s grace, it does mean that when I go through trials, when I look to God for deliverance, He will give me the grace needed to walk through a difficult situation in a way which glorifies Him.

James 4:6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Pride in oneself opposes God. It is okay to have a correct estimate of your strengths and abilities, yet we need to recognize that all we are and all we have is from God to be used for His glory. We are to put no importance on ourselves, understanding our desperate need for humility so that we are constant in our desire to lift God high rather than ourselves. We are nothing without Christ.

Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

When we are clothed in humility, our actions, thoughts, words, and motivations are directed by a submissive spirit to God. How can we tell if we are not acting humble?

Are you able to subject yourself to others, receiving direction and correction with humility? – Even if you disagree. Or do you insist on your own way?

1Peter 3:3-4 Your adornment must not be merely external--braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

"Let your minds, behaviour, garb, and whole frame, be adorned with humility, as the most beautiful habit you can wear; this will render obedience and duty easy and pleasant; but, if you be disobedient and proud, God will set himself to oppose and crush you; for he resisteth the proud, when he giveth grace to the humble." Observe,

1. Humility is the great preserver of peace and order in all Christian churches and societies, consequently pride is the great disturber of them, and the cause of most dissensions and breaches in the church.

2. There is a mutual opposition between God and the proud, so the word signifies; they war against him, and he scorns them; he resisteth the proud, because they are like the devil, enemies to himself and to his kingdom among men, Pr 3:34.

3. Where God giveth grace to be humble, he will give more grace, more wisdom, faith, holiness, and humility”. MHC

Hope Replaces Fear

We are to offer our praise to God alone who is deserving, our prayers to God alone who is able, our service to God alone who is the embodiment of love, and our gratitude to God alone who has saved us through His Son.

Look at the last phrase of 1Peter 3:14, ‘AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED’, taken from Isaiah 8:12-13, "You are not to say, 'It is a conspiracy!' In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, and you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it. "It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, and He shall be your dread.

Let’s be reminded of the context in which this was written. The Apostle Peter was writing to encourage the dispersed Christians to keep moving forward in the truths which had been revealed to them even though they suffered because of their transformed lives.

This encouragement of moving forward in truth is easily applied to modern-day believers. Think of all the things that allow you to be distracted from what is truly important. Our natural desires cause us to want to fit in, to be liked, to be comfortable, and to have positive experiences. We avoid trouble, criticism, and the thought of being different. Others around us may become easily bothered by the injustices they see in their communities, government, and the world. They may feel that a personal call to action is necessary to right these wrongs. And when you do not jump on their bandwagon, you may be ridiculed, or ostracized, for not caring about their passions. However, if we follow the example of Jesus, we will stand firm in truth, yet promote peace for the purpose of sharing the Gospel.

So how do we not succumb to the fear and intimidation of others?

In order to answer the question above, we need to understand why we are intimidated. I think we can easily be caught off-guard; we forget that we are to expect those who do not know Christ to think we are different and perhaps a bit weird. We sometimes allow ourselves to be surprised that others may not think the same as us. We become intimidated when we think others speak wrongly of us, when we are misunderstood, or when others have the power to make our life miserable.

Our security must come from Jesus alone – we are His children, purchased by Him for His glory, justified through His sacrifice. Whenever our security comes from men, doors of doubt will open.

We need to be reminded consistently of who we are in Christ and remember our mission in Him is to share His gospel to those who are unsaved, and to encourage those who are like-minded. We need to fight the temptation of wanting to be accepted by everyone. We should not be intimidated by those who disagree with God’s word. We should also not be intimated by those who do claim to be Christians yet disagree with us. The reality is that we are all different; we see circumstances differently, and we think differently. God is the one whom we serve and follow. God shall be our fear; God shall be our dread.

Matthew 10:28 "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Luke 12:4 "I say to you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!

Pray for a heart of humility – remembering we are saved only because of God’s grace, not because of anything we have done or deserve;

Pray for true compassion for those who do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior – their end is eternal suffering;

Pray for gentleness and boldness in sharing the truth of God’s love for all mankind and His coming judgement of all who refuse Him.

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

Let’s read our text again. 1Peter 3:14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, [you are] blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,

Troubled means to be stirred-up, or agitated. Most of us know others who are easily angered; perhaps even you struggle with this. These are the individuals we typically avoid because they are ready to explode at any moment. We tip-toe around them for fear that something will set them off!

Think! What often causes an individual to become agitated? Perhaps things don’t work the way they think they should, or people don’t respond the way they want them to. People can become anxious when they realize they are not in control, or they have made an error, or caused a problem – maybe the right words were not used to convey thoughts. Also, anxiety ensues when there doesn’t seem to be enough time to accomplish what is expected. You can probably pinpoint several situations where you lose the ability to remain calm and peaceful in your soul. 1Peter 3:14 is clear, it says we are not to be troubled. Remember, this was specifically written to those Christians who were being persecuted because of their faith. Most of us will never experience a direct threat to our physical body as a result of our faith. It seems then, our concerns are but a mere trifle in comparison, and the test to remain at peace and trust God in all things should be easy. But we are weak, and our sin nature produces a challenge for us. God is gracious to give us the solution to our negative responses.

“… the Gospel gives the believer a heart assured of God's favor, and therefore unruffled, amidst all adversities. Not only be not afraid, but be not even agitated”, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary.

“If we are true Christians, we have really no reason to be alarmed in view of anything that can happen to us. God is our protector, and he is abundantly able to vanquish all our foes; to uphold us in all our trials; to conduct us through the valley of death, and to bring us to heaven”, Albert Barnes’ NT Commentary.

“A most certain counsel in afflictions, be they never so terrible, to be of a steady mind and to stand fast. But how shall we attain to it? If we sanctify God in our minds and hearts, that is to say, if we rest upon him as one that is almighty that loves mankind, that is good and true indeed”, 1599 Geneva Bible Notes.

Consider Isaiah 8:13 again, “It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, and He shall be your dread”. If we are truly God’s children, then we know He is mightier than any foe, He is supreme above all forces from without and within, He is our perfect peace and protection, He is holy and righteous in all His ways, He is merciful and extends forgiveness to those who love Him. There is absolutely no fear in any difficulty if we fear Him. God always knows better, always acts in pure holiness, He is stronger than any foe, sees every situation perfectly clear, understands each heart motivation, and holds all in His hands for His glory.

We are unable to always see things clearly, which means quite often we do not fully understand. We do not need to understand everything in order to function with a heart set on eternity. We do need to trust in God’s strength, His plan, and His faithfulness. In those areas where you feel anxious or stifled, take the 5th – choose to be silent and not add your thoughts, instead pray that God will clear your thinking of what is not important and give you peace that He is in control of all things.

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

Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? – No one!

If you do suffer for the sake of righteousness, consider it a blessing.

There is no reason to fear intimidation; nor are you to become agitated.

How can you apply the above truths?

Look at verses 15 and 16, which offer a solution to how we are to respond to those who are against us.

1Peter 3:15-16 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

Being fearful or angry requires energy! Concerns and bitterness can eat up our time and thoughts. Instead of being fearful or angry, spend your time and thoughts in ways which are pleasing to God.

Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.

We are to always be ready to share the hope of the Gospel with an attitude of humility.

What does it look like to sanctify Christ in our hearts? How do we do this? What does it look like to be ready to share our hope?

How do we respond to others in humility?

How does showing reverence relate to gentleness?

Are you able to explain your hope?

“Such a sanctifying of the Lord in our hearts will save us from fear. We dread danger, we dread sickness, we dread death, we dread the eternal world. We are alarmed when our affairs are tending to bankruptcy; we are alarmed when a friend is sick and ready to die; we are alarmed if our country is invaded by a foe, and the enemy already approaches our dwelling. The sentiment in the passage before us is, that if we sanctify the Lord God with proper affections, we shall be delivered from these alarms, and the mind will be calm”, Albert Barnes’ NT Commentary.

Keep a good conscience.

It is God who has saved us. We are to be certain we are above reproach, remembering we are witnesses of Jesus. The reality is we cannot take care of everyone else. we are only messengers, witnesses for Jesus. We are not the ones who effect change in someone. God is the One who changes hearts and lives. So we are to be focused on living for Him. We are to pray for others to be enlightened. We are to be an example of God’s grace, looking for opportunities to share the truth of the Gospel.

Think! There is no room or purpose for argument or insult when speaking of our hope. We can only be thankful that God has, in His great mercy and grace, saved us, and share the reasons for our hope, and evidence of our faith.

Does your life speak of Jesus? Are you a defender of the Truth? We can lose our focus and spend our time and energy defending ourselves, but this is not what we are to defend. We are to make a defense of our hope.

Psalm 119:46 I will also speak of Thy testimonies before kings, and shall not be ashamed.

2Timothy 2:24-26 And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses [and escape] from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

“Ever remember that he has wisdom without error, power, without limits, truth without falsity, love without hatred, holiness without evil, and justice without rigour or severity on the one hand, or capricious tenderness on the other. In a word, that he neither can be, say, purpose, or do, any thing that is not infinitely just, holy, wise, true, and gracious; that he hates nothing that he has made; and has so loved the world, the whole human race, as to give his only-begotten Son to die for them, that they might not perish, but have everlasting life. Thus sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and you will ever be ready to give a reason of the hope that is in you to every serious and candid inquirer after truth.” Adam Clarke’s Commentary

We have hope because of Him. Our thoughts, actions, and words should esteem God as holy.

“No man ought to entertain opinions for which a good reason cannot be given; and every man ought to be willing to state the grounds of his hope on all proper occasions. A Christian should have such intelligent views of the truth of his religion, and such constant evidence in his own heart and life that he is a child of God, as to be able at any time to satisfy a candid inquirer that the Bible is a revelation from heaven, and that it is proper for him to cherish the hope of salvation”, Albert Barnes NT Commentary.

Hope in Tragedy

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I cannot imagine dropping my child off at school in the morning then returning to pick them up only to hear that they will never come home again. I can’t imagine wondering ‘did I hug them tight enough when I said good-bye’, ‘did they know they were shot and dying in that moment’, ‘were they alone’, ‘did they cry or scream’. As someone who is watching this current tragedy unfold, I do not pretend to even begin to understand the grief parents and families are feeling. What must be the depth of sorrow which has entered these lives? Words alone seem empty. Words will not change the events; they will not bring these children back to their families.

As a collective member of society I am horrified at our selfishness which leads to the action of taking another’s life. I wonder why it is that God doesn’t just throw fireballs at earth and end this people who have desecrated lives He chose to give, to sacrifice His only Son for? So what do we do? What can we offer someone whose heart has been ripped to shreds?

There is only one healing ointment that can touch a broken heart and begin to mend a crushed spirit. The source does not come from man but rather from the Creator of men – Jesus Christ. The search for comfort, peace, and Truth will only be found in Christ.

This doesn’t mean you will understand completely, it doesn’t mean you will heal completely, it doesn’t even mean you will not feel pain. It does mean that above all Jesus loves you, He cares, and He sorrows for the sin that causes tragedy.

I have heard the passionate pleas of some governing officials stating that words are not enough, action must be taken. You could go in many directions trying to corral lawlessness. But the center of our problem is sin, selfishness, greed, and pride. We cannot ‘fix’ these things with more laws or more security. God alone can, God alone has. His name is Jesus. These are the only words which are not empty; His is the only action which offers a real solution.

Because God loves us, in spite of our depravity, He gave His Son. My prayer is for those who know Jesus to lean on His grace, His mercy, His comfort, and His peace. The most important action we can take is to share the Truth of the Gospel boldly with all those who will hear. There is forgiveness in Christ alone. There is mercy in His compassion for the lost. And folks, as a nation we are so lost. It is evident we cannot do this ourselves. The best efforts have failed and have only resulted in blaming one another for failure, taking sides, and hurling accusations. It is not difficult to recognize the alarming repetition of crimes against humanity. But there is hope for change; there is hope for the future.

This hope is not corny, it’s not a crutch or weakness, and it’s not a religion. It is the only solution to man’s sinful behavior – it is God alone. Because of His Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone. Please pray for humility of heart that people recognize their need and willingly bow before their Savior.

Then through tragedy, God will be glorified.

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

2020 Election

For thousands of years, even before time began, God has been on the throne. Nothing has changed in the hierarchy of Who is in control, Who is in charge, Who calls all the shots, Who we can trust, and Who gets the glory.

Election Results are In!

Everything has passed that God has allowed; nothing has passed that was not part of His plan.

God is on His throne – always has been, always will be. Psalm 90:2, “Before the mountains were born, Or Thou didst give birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God”.

God is Most High. Psalm 83:18, “That they may know that Thou alone, whose name is the LORD, Art the Most High over all the earth”. There is no need to despair, the future is certain. The world definitely looks unsettled to many of us, it may seem like things are unraveling and unrest can be felt. Yet, God has a plan which is perfect.

God knows all things. Psalm 139:1-3, “O LORD, Thou hast searched me and known [me.] Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up; Thou dost understand my thought from afar. Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, and art intimately acquainted with all my ways”. Proverbs 5:21, “For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He watches all his paths”. There are no surprises, and no contested results.

God sees all things. Psalm 139:7-10, “Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Thy hand will lead me, And Thy right hand will lay hold of me”. There are no tapes for God to review. He knows and He sees with perfect judgment.

God is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful”. No matter how bad it may seem, God will not bail! The opposite of faithfulness is being a traitor, not holding to your promises. We witness this all around us. However, God is always true to His word. Deuteronomy 31:6, "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."

God is merciful and longsuffering. Exodus 34:6-7, “Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave [the guilty] unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations”." God is holding His hand out through His Son to forgive you of all offense. Will you grasp it, receive His grace and proclaim His majesty?

God is King of all, Ruler of all. Who do you worship? The world and all it contains, or the Creator of everything? 1Timothy 1:17, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, [be] honor and glory forever and ever. Amen”. Isaiah 44:6 "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.

It is amazing that a perfect and holy God continues to have compassion on the world. The truth is, He desires all to be saved and has a greater love for His creation than we can imagine. This love was made manifest in His Son, Jesus Christ. Trusting in Him alone will result in peace no matter the circumstances. Will you continue in confusion or live for Christ?

Isaiah 25:1 O LORD, Thou art my God; I will exalt Thee, I will give thanks to Thy name; for Thou hast worked wonders, plans [formed] long ago, with perfect faithfulness.

Focus Heavenward.

Immeasurable Power, Compassion and Protection

Ps 136:13-15 To Him who divided the Red Sea asunder, For His lovingkindness is everlasting, 14 And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; 15 But He overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean. It lies between Africa and Asia. It is more than 1,300 miles long and its widest point is 220.6 miles. The average depth of the Red sea is over 1,500 feet with a deep trough running through the center. This information is taken from Wikipedia which also states that approximately 25% of this body of water is considered shallow, being under 164 feet deep.

In these verses we continue to see the power and protection of God towards His children.

Ex 14:21-22 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided. 22 The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

Ps 78:13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through, And He made the waters stand up like a heap.

We see God’s power in directing the water. Can anyone you know cause a body of water to part, making a pathway to cross over and forming a wall of water on each side? Consider the scene. The children of Israel, finally being let go under Pharaoh’s rule in Egypt, take off into the desert, basically running for their life. Pharaoh’s army begins the chase and the Israelites come to an impasse – the Red Sea. They were tired, they were scared and now it seemed there was no way to continue their exit.

We see God’s compassion as He performs a miracle causing the deep waters to part. God not only provided a way of escape but, after all the Israelites had crossed, God then caused the waters to flow once again engulfing the entire Egyptian Army.

Read Spurgeon’s comments on this text, “Men deny miracles; but, granted that there is a God, they become easy of belief. Since it requires me to be an atheist that I may logically reject miracles, I prefer the far smaller difficulty of believing in the infinite power of God. He who causes the waters of the sea ordinarily to remain as one mass can with equal readiness divide them”. (Treasury of David)

God also gives His children the faith to walk through difficulties. Can you imagine stepping onto a path surrounded by high walls of water? The path set out for the Israelites was unknown. They were to walk down into the deep center of the great sea and then trek up again as they crossed to the other side. While they were stepping forward in faith, God kept a dark cloud between them and the Egyptian army.

In Christ, we can do whatever He deems necessary for His glory. Our God is great. Our faith needs to be great. We can step forward without fear in the paths set out before us. What we might see as an obstacle, God will use for His glory.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Isaiah 41:10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

Psalm 78:53 He led them safely, so that they did not fear; but the sea engulfed their enemies.

“…and thus the Lord makes his people willing to pass through afflictions, he being with them; and able to bear them, he putting underneath the everlasting arms, even when in the valley of the shadow of death. He carries them safely through them, so that they are not hurt by them; the waters do not overflow them, nor the flames kindle upon them; nor are any suffered to be lost: but all come safe to land.” --John Gill.

When we think of defeating an army, our mind conjures up pictures of a great battle and loss of life on both sides. Battles in the world begin with no guarantee of victory to either party. Strategy and strength and number and weaponry help to overcome the enemy.

Psalm 136:15 says God overthrew Pharaoh and his army, meaning He shook them off or tossed them up and down. Visualize a dog playing with a stuffed toy, shaking it from side to side as if it were nothing! God has no problem subduing His opposition.

Ex 15:4-5 "Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; and the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea. 5 "The deeps cover them; they went down into the depths like a stone.

Ex 15:10 "You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

There is never a debate if God will win. Victory is easy for Him. In this specific reminder of His care, not one Israeli life was lost and the entire Egyptian army was eradicated. This is the God I trust. Is this the God you know? Have you placed your complete trust in the one true God of the Bible? Would you, by faith, follow Him through a path that was unknown and made no sense in your human understanding?

Again, each of these three verses ends with the words, “For His lovingkindness is everlasting”. God does shower His mercy upon those who love Him but He is also great in His judgement against those who reject Him.

In Psalm 136:13-15, God’s power is seen in His command over the Red Sea; God’s compassion is seen in giving the Israelites faith and courage to move towards something inexplicable; and His judgement is seen as He renders His sentence over the wicked. Although this account took place in mid-15th century B.C., we see God’s amazing attributes all around us today, working in our lives and the lives of others.

God commands all nature; compassion from God towards sinners is constant; and He will judge sin in complete righteousness. God is all-powerful and His protection is over those who follow Him. He will give to us the faith we need to step forward on the path He leads. Praise His Name!

Joseph

We sing about the kings, we sing about the shepherds, we sing about Mary, and of course we sing praises to Jesus, our Lord and Savior. What about Joseph, Mary’s husband? He is an unsung hero in our nativity scene. What can we learn of him, who was he?

Mt 1:16 and to Jacob was born Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Joseph had future plans of a wedding to Mary. He was a carpenter (Mt 13:55), so we can conclude he was a skilled worker. Picture him, going about his plans, working towards this future time of marriage, then the bomb drops!

Mt 1:18-19 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her away secretly.

We don’t know exactly how or when he found out about Mary’s unique pregnancy, but we do know he was rightfully a little taken back. He acted mercifully towards her which gives us a picture of a compassionate heart and tender feelings for Mary. He wasn’t going to hand her over to Jewish law and its consequences. He chose not to throw her ‘under the bus’. So he decides to quietly, (rather than publicly), end his betrothal to her and avoid her shame. Think for a moment, Joseph and Mary’s betrothal was not a secret, it was publicly known that they had plans for the future to be together. Suddenly this would change and no matter how discreet Joseph chose to be, the word would get out. Certainly, people would talk and his name, along with Mary’s, would be up for questioning and raised eyebrows.

Matthew 1:19 says Joseph was a righteous or just man. Yet we also see he is thoughtful, ‘not wanting to disgrace’ Mary.

Consider. We live in a world where accusations are quick and biting, often without merit. People’s reputations can be ruined. It seems, in general, our society has forgotten the choice to remain silent and show mercy towards those found in difficult and even guilty circumstances. Perhaps we can be reminded of the necessity to act in a manner that is righteous but also tempered with a large dose of gentleness, humility and mercy towards others.

Fact – God continually shows mercy to us in His faithfulness to forgive.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

According to Albert Barnes’ New Testament Commentary, the punishment for adultery, in the Middle East carried extreme public shame. “Adultery has always been considered a crime of a very heinous nature. In Egypt it was punished by cutting off the nose of the adulteress; in Persia the nose and ears were cut off; in Judea the punishment was death by stoning”.

Joseph had every right to bring a public accusation against Mary, yet he chose to ‘put her away secretly’ preserving her shame and character.

Ps 112:4-5 Light arises in the darkness for the upright; [He is] gracious and compassionate and righteous. 5 It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in judgment.

Consider. We often hear the words, ‘It isn’t fair’. Perhaps you have personally thought the words, ‘This is not right’. The temptation is to defend yourself against something that looks bad for you. Our example in Joseph is to put another’s protection above our own ‘rights’ and even our own innocence.

Think back upon how God ordains each of His children’s steps. Before all time, God chose Joseph to be a player in the miraculous birth of Jesus. God knew that Joseph would react towards Mary’s circumstances with a heart of care and protection, even in his own distress from what seemed to be his future wife’s betrayal. So while he could have her persecuted, he chose to preserve her.

Read this interesting comment about Joseph’s character written in the British Family Bible: “he purposed to put his spouse away privily, that he might preserve her reputation. In so doing he was a pattern of charity, and reads to us a rule for our deportment towards erring and lapsed persons, that we should treat them with meekness, and pity, and fear; not hastening their shame, nor provoking their spirit, nor making their reformation desperate by harsh treatment. Bp. J. Taylor.

We do know that God comes to the rescue of Mary’s reputation and encourages Joseph to remain and follow through with his plans for their future. However, a personal application is apparent first.

Consider. Before an ‘angel of the Lord’ appeared to Joseph in a dream and enlightened him on the true facts of Mary’s condition, Joseph acted with a heart of kindness and mercy towards her. Before Joseph was convinced of the truth of the matter, he chose to quietly put her away rather than openly shame her. Before God’s plan was revealed, Joseph chose Mary’s protection over his own rights.

“Mary was espoused to him, and he was saddened and perplexed when he learned that she would become a mother before they had been actually married. Many would have thrust her away in indignation, and put her to an open shame; but Joseph was of royal mind as well as royal race. He would not expose what he thought to be the sin of his espoused wife: although he felt that she must be put away, he would do it quietly. When we have to do a severe thing, let us choose the tenderest manner. May be, we shall not have to do it at all.” Spurgeon’s Commentary on Matthew

We all have choices to act in a manner of mercy towards one another. We all have choices to protect another’s name and well-being. Often, we weigh ourselves and our benefit first. How tender are our actions and thoughts towards the mistakes and circumstances of others?

Clemency is not a word often used today. It conveys the meaning of being lenient and showing compassion towards others who are guilty when you are in a position of bringing down a judgement or sentence.

God’s intervention and lovingkindness is shown towards Mary and Joseph in their precarious relationship. As Joseph was pondering what to do with this situation of Mary’s pregnancy, divine intervention eased his thoughts.

Mt 1:20-21 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 "And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins."

Seriously?! So here we have a carpenter from Nazareth, engaged to be married to a young women whom he finds is expecting a child before they have had a physical relationship. Joseph decides to act in a discreet manner towards this news to avoid Mary’s shame. He will call off the engagement and pray any ‘talk’ will settle down quickly. Problem solved, or so you would think!

Joseph has a dream which enlightens the true events and he is pulled into the scene which is to unfold. An angel tells him to move ahead with his plans to betroth Mary. He is given this fantastical – meaning ludicrously odd – news that the child Mary is carrying has been conceived of the Holy Spirit. I’m not sure how you would wrap your head around this information.

Consider. Joseph must have had a faith that transcends our understanding. How would you respond to impossible, and humanly speaking, the improbable news of this dream? Joseph’s thoughts must be akin to when Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel to tell her of God’s plan for her to carry His child – although she knew no man (Luke 1:34-35).

What is Joseph’s response? He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.

Mt 1:24 And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took [her] as his wife

A carpenter from Nazareth in the hills of Galilee had plans to marry a young woman from the same city. His plans take a turn that was definitely unexpected and incredibly difficult in human understanding. Yet, Joseph’s faith proves true as he moves forward into unknown territory with a heart of obedience towards God. Think of Joseph’s humble character as he accepts Mary as his wife, and prepares to step-father a child not his own, all the while, trying to wrap his head around a story that would be difficult for anyone to grasp. He will go ahead with his betrothal to Mary and take a significant role in the Savior’s birth and early childhood.

I have to pause a moment here as these words shout in my own head – How big is your God? How amazing and incredible is your God? How perfect is your God who knows and plans each moment in each minute of all mankind – all to His glorious name?

This story has more twists and turns than any modern day screen writer could imagine. Yet, it is ultimately true and divinely inspired as the plan of salvation for the entire world.

In several instances, we read of Joseph’s obedience to Jewish Law (Lu 2:1-4; 21-39, 41; Mt 2:13-15; Mt 2:19-23; Lu 2:42-51). The greater commendation is his obedience to God and acceptance of God’s plan for him.

Joseph was of the lineage of David. He lived in the city of Nazareth in Galilee (Luke 1:26-27). Although he was not the physical father of Jesus, he acted as a father to Him (Luke 4:22). He is last mentioned in the journey to Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve years old. According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ‘it is commonly supposed that he [Joseph] died before the commencement of the public ministry of Christ.

Joseph, Mary’s husband. We are shown only a glimpse, a small window of his life. Yet, the inspiration is great. He is a person, drawn towards God and used by Him. A carpenter from a town in the hills of Galilee with a heart of compassion and integrity and thoughtfulness. Joseph is willing and obedient to the plans of God and humble in his acceptance of God’s direction. There is no way he would be able to comprehend such an incredible plot yet he finds himself in the midst of the true story of God’s redemption for the entire world.

The figure of Joseph is commonly placed next to Mary in a Christian nativity scene, simply because we know he belongs there, he is a factor in the account of Jesus’ birth. Yet, as we take a closer look at his life, we can see clearly how God used our ‘unsung’ hero. Think upon the example we have in Joseph – a heart full of compassion, humility, faith, and obedience – a man used by God for God in His plan for humanity.

Mt 1:25 and [Joseph] kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

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Tag: compassion

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