Unconquerable Hope

It is amazing how God stretches me to learn, to grow; placing people, questions and scripture together at just the right time. I have a friend who is a teacher at YWAM and he recently sent me an email asking about Matthew 15:21-28.
This is a passage I have often wondered about myself but upon study we find so much:

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” She said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” “Yes, Lord” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

First a little context; Jesus and His disciples have traveled about 50 miles to Tyre and Sidon and while still among mostly Jew this territory had tremendous gentile influence. Next, Matthew identifies this woman as a Canaanite and if you remember from time of Judges the Canaanites were not just Gentiles, but were the enemies of Israel (and what does Christ teach us about enemies). Also, we need to consider the people involved; Jews, Disciples, Gentiles so there could be multiple lessons

Picking up in verse 22 - this woman was crying out - the word means so much more than just crying out - there is a sense of loudly talking and praying associated with this word and look how she recognizes Christ as Lord and as Son of David - she recognizes Christ as messiah when most Jews did not or would not accept that so you can begin to see what Hendriksen calls the "great contrast between the unbelief of the Jews and the faith of this woman, born a Gentile". Move to verse 23 and notice how Christ responded (with silence), but the disciples responded and look how they responded…"send her away"…Mounce writes that in this verse the insensitivity to suffering by Jesus is explainable by the rest of the lesson on faith, but the disciples were without excuse; they were annoyed and considered this woman a bother (where was the Christian love).

In verse 24, Jesus explains the he is for the lost sheep of Israel (Jews) so while he seems to refuse immediate help for the woman, and most people tend to downplay this, but notice he also did not send her away; refusing the request of the disciples so maybe this is more for the disciples than the woman. Then in an amazing display of faith the woman kneels before Christ (and reading of different versions help here, look at KJV); that word kneel in Greek is proskyneō - and also means to worship - amazing! So in this verse we see the reverence of this woman in agony worshipping Christ and the intense love she has for her daughter; she simply cries out, "Lord, Help me" - a prayer we all need…

Then comes verse 26 and Christ answering in a somewhat concerning manner - it is not right to give the children's bread to the dogs… SO there are probably two concerns to consider; first, why did Christ use this seemingly harsh phrase and second why did he delay in helping? First, the phrase is certainly cultural and in Greek there are several words for Dog - some mean savage, ugly dogs but not this one - in Greek this word is Kynarion - which is like a little puppy or house pet - well loved! Barclay remarks about this verse saying "we can be quite sure that the smile on Jesus' face and the compassion in his eyes robbed the words of all insult and bitterness" - which brings us to the delay - why delay in helping? Well for one thing this is certainly not the first time in the bible there is a delay in answering/helping - Abraham and Sarah had to wait patiently and persistently; Many of the Psalms written by David cry out on the wait; Jairus in Mark 5; Lazarus in John 11, so we can see this pattern of delay which is usually a lesson in faith. In this case it could be said that this woman displayed great faith, but also that her faith was refined as you can see by her answer in verse 27. Hendriksen calls this verse a "glorious expression of faith" and in this verse you can see her humility - she doesn't resent be called a dog as long as she is loved, you can see her eternal hope as she turns even what seems to be a negative response of no help into reason for optimism (even dogs get crumbs), you can see her "unswerving faith in Christ" as she sees Him as Lord, Savior and Master, and finally you can see her perseverance in faith - oh my! Barclay wrote of this as an "Indomitable persistence springing from an unconquerable hope" - Amen and a lesson for us all.

Then in verse 28 we see the daughter healed instantly and Christ declaring O woman, great is your faith - His love is so great that he praises expressions/examples of faith - another lesson for us all! So while this passage can be concerning there is so much in it - a lesson on the right position of our hearts as disciples of Christ to learn to love well especially those in need, a lesson on faith - patience and persistence in faith, it is a lesson on the great love of Christ and that no matter the trials before us there is Hope in Christ!


Grace and Peace!

Focus

I have a friend who is struggling right now. I am not sure how to help; he wants space. It has caused me to think and pray. You know life is full of stuff – trials, storms, tribulations. Yet, I think that no matter what is going on if our focus is correct we can persevere, we can move forward in this life.

Focus is an interesting word. It means the concentration of attention or energy on something, maximum clarity and a point where there is a convergence of light. So to me the question becomes where is our focus? Pastor Scotty Smith in a recent prayer helps provide me some clarity when it comes to focus.

He said, “It’s only because of your cross, Jesus, that we can be certain that trials don’t come to us as punishment for our sins, but for the purification of our faith. We praise you for exhausting God’s judgment against our sins. We praise you that your cross was our Judgment Day. The perfect love of the cross drives away all fear of judgment and punishment (1 John 4:18). What peace this give us… what hope… what freedom!”

So this stuff of life is not punishment and with focus we can see that the result will be the purification of our faith. With focus on God, Christ and the cross we can have true peace, eternal hope! Amen and Amen.

In Psalm 42:11 we see;

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Downcast, disturbed? Focus on the cross of Christ; put your hope in the Lord. May we all concentrate our attention, may we all achieve maximum clarity, may we find that point where there is a convergence of light. May that focus reveal the Love of our Savior!

Grace and Peace!

Biblical Hope

Does it ever seem just too much? Does it seem the world has gone crazy; economically, politically, with floods and oil spills? If we are honest don’t we just want to scream out enough!

I have recently been reading a book called Engaging God’s World by Cornelius Plantinga Jr. and there is a chapter on longing and hoping. What I am getting from this is that as broken humans we will view things with a self centered bias; we can’t help it. And what we truly need is to view things with a Christ centered lens. Only then can we truly trust and hope.

In this book, Plantinga calls this hope, Biblical hope and says; “Biblical hope has a wide angle lens. It takes in whole nations and peoples. It brings into focus the entire created order – wolves and lambs, mountains, plains, rivers and valleys. When it is widest and longest, Biblical hope looks forward toward a whole “new heaven and new earth,” in which death, and mourning, and pain will have passed away (Rev 21:1,4), and in which the Son of god receives the treasures of nations who parade into the city of God (Rev 21:22-26).”

That really puts hope into perspective for me! My hope is too small and too scattered and as believers who trust in our God there is the greatest hope. So as believers, no matter what is going on in this world, we can trust that our sovereign God is on His throne overseeing all things. We can find peace and comfort and strength and hope. We just need corrective lenses to truly see and God loves us so much he has supplied just that lens in his word.

So as things build up, may we all turn to scriptures to bring our worldview into focus. That brings to mind Psalm 25:5 which says; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Abba Father, we pray for great hope in troubling times, we pray for gospel peace and gospel strength and gospel encouragement for all your people. We pray for those facing uncertainty from things such as floods and leaks and war and illness and economic turmoil praying for the greatest hope of all – Eternity with You! Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace

Forsaken

I have often wondered about Matthew 27:46;

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

I struggle with this verse, it pains me. I struggle with what it means; what are we supposed to get from this? I know theologians have pointed to this verse saying it provides a glimpse into the intensity of Christ’s suffering; I know they point to this verse as a fulfillment of prophecy (Psalm 22:1). However, I have this feeling deep down there must be more.

The definition of forsaken is a good place to start and I kind of blended several different sources to come up with my definition; forsaken means to renounce or turn away from entirely, to abandon, to go and leave, to leave stranded or isolated with little hope of rescue. So for our savior to cry out in this way just shakes me to my core!

I have trouble describing how this verse makes me feel. I understand that at times we may all feel a little “forsaken”, but this was a real physical and spiritual forsaken that our Lord was suffering through. Charles Spurgeon writes; “since even the thought that He has forsaken us gives us agony, what must the woe of the Savior have been when he exclaimed, My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Can you begin to feel the emotion of this verse; yet what are we to take from it?

Spurgeon helps here as well writing; “No man can enter into the full meaning of these words. Some of us think at times that we would cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” There are seasons when the brightness of our Father’s smile is eclipsed by clouds and darkness; but let us remember that God never does really forsake us.”

What a thought, that Christ suffered, was abandoned, renounced, stranded, and isolated with little hope of rescue; so that we as believers will never be! Amen and Amen. Christ was forsaken in order that we may never be forsaken. What hope we now have; no matter the circumstance, no matter the tragedy, no matter what!

Hebrews 13:5b tells us; because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Abba Father, thank you for your Son who was forsaken so that we will never be forsaken. What a loving God you are and what a loving Savior we have forever and ever.

Grace and Peace!

A Guiding Prayer

Good and Gracious God,

In the Psalms you tell us; for this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end. Father, we praise you that you are our God for all time; you are our most high guide providing our path in this thing called life; providing our everything and all this despite our shortcomings, our many failures, our sinful natures. Father forgive us as we cry out with thanks!

Oh, how you must love us; what a wondrous and loving God you are and for that we say thank you.

Thank you for your son Jesus Christ; our Lord and Savior, the one, who restored our path; the one whose sacrifice makes forgiveness possible; thank you for your Spirit; our comforter and counselor; the one who helps us see your path. Thank you for laughter and fellowship; thank you for your Church that beacon of the only true and eternal hope and we pray that your church will continue to be ever expanding and ever glorifying; Thank you that we all have a place to praise you, to worship you and we pray that each of us will grow in our love for You, in our love for one another, that we will reach out to our neighbors in love and service.

This day we lift up our missionaries around the world that you would protect and provide as they spread the good news. We pray for safety, encouragement and that their gifts will be used to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. We pray for our country as we face untold pressures, we pray that there would be a spiritual renewal; an awakening; and a turning to you for all things.

We pray for for those battling illness, we pray for healing and comfort and strength; for those facing economic troubles we pray for guidance, assistance and resolution; for those in despair we pray for encouragement and support and something we all need; Hope!

Lord, you are the God of Hope and that is our prayer for all. Praying as Paul did in Romans;

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lord, may we all overflow with hope!

We pray for so many things, but mostly we pray your will be done.

Abba Father we love you and pray these many things in the most holy name of Jesus. Amen

Grace and Peace!

The Fall

Recently I have been reading Tullian Tchividjian’s book entitled; Unfashionable. In this book he eloquently describes how living the Christian life can be counterintuitive, countercultural; in fact it can truly be “unfashionable”.

There is a point in the book where Tullian (I hope he doesn’t mind me calling him that) discusses the fall. He points out Romans 8:20a which tells us;

For the creation was subjected to frustration


He is pointing out that because of the fall the entirety of creation has been upset. As beautiful as things can seem; there is still this level of frustration in creation. He quotes Vern Poythress who says;

“As a result of the Fall human beings who have descended from Adam suffer sin and death, and end up hurting one another in the sin and misery. But the curse that God pronounces because of Adam’s fall also results in alterations in the broader created order. One thinks of mosquitoes, tapeworms, rabies, all the carriers of diseases so debilitating to human beings. Who can guess all the ways in which the created order may have been put out of joint as a result of the Fall?”

Out of joint – doesn’t that just describe how life can feel sometimes? He further quotes Michael Wittmer who describes it;

“Life a stone tossed in a pond, the corrosive curse of sin rippled out to destroy the entire world: human society, the animal kingdom, and even the ground itself began groaning beneath the weight of sin.”

We can find reference to this in Romans 8:22;

22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

All this has just helped to show the level of frustration, the futility of a groaning life without hope. But, there is hope! The hope of a savior, the hope of salvation, the hope of redemption, the hope of restoration. We can begin to see the hope in Romans 8:23-25

23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.


So as Christians we have hope for an eternity of better things and we wait patiently. As Paul concludes in Romans 8:38-39

38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Christian, isn’t that so comforting? Even with the frustrations of life, the suffering, the groaning; nothing and I mean nothing will ever separate us from the Love of God through Christ! Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace!

Winner Either Way

I have a good friend and recently we were talking and he was so excited. He told me he just had a great weekend and had gotten to see his parents perform. They are part of a gospel/bluegrass group in North Georgia. Part of the performance included a song that just touched him. It was called “Winner Either Way”. He told me the lyrics just touched him and encouraged him that no matter what as believers we have such hope! I think I agree with him. He gave me a copy of the lyrics;

A LOVED ONE KNEW HE'D REACHED THE END OF LIFE'S JOURNEY, BUT HE'D BEEN HOLDING TO GOD'S HAND A LONG, LONG TIME AND AS I KNELT BESIDE HIS BED, MY HEART WAS THRILLED AT WHAT HE SAID," IF I GO, OR IF I STAY, THE VICTORY IS MINE."

NONE OF US REALLY KNOWS ABOUT TOMORROW, WE MUST PREPARE TO GO TO HEAVEN ANYDAY BUT WHILE WE'RE HERE LET'S TRUST THE LORD, HE'LL LEAD US SAFE TO OUR REWARD AND BY HIS GRACE, WE'LL BE A WINNER EITHER WAY

I'M A WINNER EITHER WAY, IF I GO OR IF I STAY FOR I'LL STILL HAVE MY JESUS EACH PASSING DAY I'LL HAVE MY HEALING HERE BELOW, OR LIFE FOREVER IF I GO, OH PRAISE THE LORD, I'M A WINNER EITHER WAY.

You know there is great encouragement there and it brings to mind Paul’s trials and there is a passage in Philippians 1 that I often dwell on;

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[d] 20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

Can you see the hope of believers? Paul in Jail, facing trial and possible execution sees the hope and it is “better by far”. Life is tough and there will be many bumps in the road, but if we trust in Christ we will be “winners either way”.

Abba Father, thank you so much for your Son; our Lord and Savior, your word and your great plan of remdemption, so that we might have true hope and rejoice no matter our circumstance.

Grace and Peace!

Shine Like Stars

Our home fellowship group is studying the book of Philippians and what a wonderful study it is. Philippians is one of the shortest, but most joyful and instructive books. James Montgomery Boice describes Philippians and reminds us that even though Paul was facing possible execution for his faith; “no book in the Bible is so filled with joy as Philippians. Yet Philippians is not just for people who are feeling discouraged – or even joyful. It is a rich book with a great wealth of themes. There are only 104 verses in Philippians. But in that short scope most of the major doctrines of the Christian faith are covered, and there are many profound statements of Christian love, hope, aspiration, joy and confidence.”

Our group is currently studying Chapter 2 and gaining great insight. There are many great truths here, but three verses have just stuck with me. You have to stop and really reflect on this passage. Look at every word, think, pray, read it again. The verses are 14 through 16;

14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

What an amazing passage. Great instruction for those set apart; great instruction indeed, but so difficult to achieve. Look at verse 14; Do everything without complaining or arguing. How many of us can achieve that? I heard a pastor giving a sermon on this passage and he shared an illustration that Rabbis use in their teaching.

It is the story of two young men on the exodus with Moses and as the Red Sea is parted the two young men are trudging their way across and notice that their sandals are becoming caked with mud and begin to complain; all they can see is the mud and the mire. Their heads are down when all they have to do is look up and see the wonder of God’s grace, mercy, and love. All they have to do is look up and see the miraculous walls of water allowing their exodus.

So as we run and labor through this crooked and depraved generation, may we all look up! As we deal with life, families, work, neighbors instead of seeing the mud and mire; let’s look up and notice the great Christian hope! The hope provided by the sacrifice of Christ. Every breath we breathe, every blessing we receive, every step we take is a gift from God.

I am reminded of Psalm 40;

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.


With such a firm place to stand may we all “Shine like Stars”!

Grace and Peace!