Content To Be A Brick

Have you looked at a brick wall recently?  Very few individual characteristics stand out about each brick. You tend to notice the wall, the strength, the solidarity, the togetherness, and not each individual brick.

The Bible says that we are like living stones, built into a spiritual house for the Lord.  May we be content to be just one of those bricks, leaving to the Lord our individual reputation or our individual accomplishments, and glad to be a part of the larger whole of his Spirit indwelt church, his holy temple on earth. 

Of course, you would notice a gap, where a brick should be. 

Cain, Abel, Jealousy, and Jesus

The Cain and Abel story reveals the progression of sin in Genesis.  Sin, initiated by Adam and Eve's desire to contend for supremacy with God, progresses outward as human beings contend for supremacy with one another. Cain is angry because God has regard for Abel's offering, but not for his own.  Genesis 4 is a living parable of James' words in James 4:1, " What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder." 


Abel had God's regard, a commendation from the Lord, and Cain wanted it.  Of course to want such a regard was not a bad thing!  (There is even a place in the Bible for a godly jealousy that longs for righteousness and is angered when sin, Satan, or the world, consumes what should bring glory to God.)  But rather than produce humble self-reflection and an active mortification of his own sinful jealousy and hardheartedness,  Cain turned this passion toward his brother in a murderous rage.  The logic of his own heart seemed to be: "unless I can have what you have, I will destroy you."
Countless quarrels and fights in our own lives are reflected in the story of Cain and Abel.

"You took my parking space, so I mutter or scream at you."
"You took away the relaxing evening I wanted, so I withdraw from you in sullen anger."
"You received the recognition that I want, so I internally meditate on all of your failures."

All of our quarrels, internal and external, reveal that we haven't gotten something we desperately wanted--wanted enough to fight for it.   In some of these conflicts,  the other person has simply thwarted our desires.  In other fights, the other person has received (or taken!) the very thing we want so badly, and jealousy arises out of the heart.  "You have what I wanted!"--is the heart cry of the jealous person. Perhaps this is why jealousy conflicts are so full of rage, so emotionally charged, and why jealous people are willing to go to such lengths to punish the person or take back what they demand.

The objects of jealousy are legion--they could be attention, prominence, position, possessions, relationships, recognition, legacy, intimacy, and a host of other desires-become-idols.  In all fights of jealousy, the fundamental craving is the same:  "You have what I should have and I demand to have it back, or, if that is impossible, I demand that you not have it anymore."   The jealous person will fight to have their idol restored, and if denied, will simply begin to fight against the person who has it, looking to destroy anything, including the person, the object of the desire, and anyone else who gets in their way.  This is what happened to Cain.  This is also the story of the two women who came to Solomon for judgment--the jealous woman would rather the surviving baby be destroyed than that the other woman have what she could not have.  This is the story of the high priests and Jesus--they were willing to destroy him, willing for the people be deprived of his ministry, rather than see him have the popularity they wanted.  Jealousy is seen even in the original desire of Satan. Wanting to attain to God's throne,  he would rather destroy God's world and everything in it than that God receive the glory that he wanted.  Lets us be sobered by this: Fighting because of  sinful jealousy is acting just like Cain, just like that murderous mother before Solomon, just like the high priests, just like Satan.

Jealousy is so powerful the Proverbs writer even uses the danger of jealousy as an incentive against sin toward others: For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge. He will accept no compensation;he will refuse though you multiply gifts. Proverbs 6:34-35 In other words,  don't be foolish enough to make a person jealous against you because of sinfully wronging them!

Proverbs also says this about the power of jealousy: Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? Proverbs 27:4

Sinful jealousy burns like a fire. We must quench even the smallest flames of it in our heart lest it build into the conflagration that consumes us.  How do we do this?

Let us take our jealousy to the cross of Jesus Christ.  On the cross, Jesus gave up what he rightfully deserved to bear the punishment that we should have received.  Jesus suffered from the jealousy of others in order to pay for the jealousy in our hearts.  Even as he died for the raging, wrath-deserving jealousy of his people, he prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."  The blood of Christ speaks a better word than the blood of Abel: Abel's blood cried condemnation for jealous Cain, but Jesus' blood speaks forgiveness for the jealousy in our hearts.  Our Lord is indeed faithful to forgive us and cleans us of all unrighteousness.  Let us go to Him, and consider his death on our behalf. Views of the cross, with a heart watered by the Spirit, quench the flames of jealousy.

Let us see and tremble at the spirit of Cain within our hearts, and let us return in faith to the blood of Christ that has cleansed us from such sin, and pray continually for His Spirit to produce within us the humble, God-trusting, patient, enduring, servanthood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

A Tribute to My Love on Our Anniversary

Eleven years ago today,  my wife and I were married.  On that day we celebrated the grace of God in providing us to each other.  Today, after a decade + 1 of marriage, I am even more astounded at God's generosity to me in her.  Here are a few reasons why:

1.  Lory loves the grace of God.  One thing I know for certain about my wife:  she has no confidence in herself, and gladly declares that her salvation and her preservation, and every in between moment of loving her husband and family is a testimony of God's grace. 

2.  Lory is passionate about God's kingdom.  Lory has crossed the country with me three times, from Texas to Maryland to Arizona and back to Texas.  She does not consider this world her home, and she wants to invest our family in eternity.

3.  Lory is committed to building God's church.  She loves Biblical preaching, energetic worship, Biblical community, hospitality, ministry times, and testimonies of God using his people in the lives of one another.

4.  Lory is a conduit of God's Word to me.  She has spent 11 years bringing me Biblical truth--encouraging, challenging,  envisioning, motivating, convicting, reminding truth--in which I hear the echoes of God's Word hidden in her heart and his voice calling me to honor Him with my life.

5. Lory is a fun wife.  The Bible says that its possible for a wife to be like a"constant dripping"--so I am so grateful for how much fun Lory infuses into our marriage! She is funny and laughs hardest at herself; she notices the goofy moments that happen around us every day; she still loves watching Disney cartoons; she loves the childish sayings of our children; she celebrates the joy in the normal memories of being a family and being a couple. 

6.  Lory is a romantic wife.  Lory has never been satisfied with seasons in which we are partnering in our home more than loving each other.  She always notices when our attention has drifted to our responsibilities as parents and away from our affection as husband and wife.  She loves little tokens of affection and big romantic surprises. She would gladly get away together for three days or spend a quiet evening at home when all the kids are asleep. 

7.  Lory is a transparent wife.  She is determined to tell me her hopes and joys and struggles and needs and expects me to provide leadership and care and direction and protection.  She knows that I will need God to be a faithful husband to all that she is, she counts on it, and holds nothing back.

8.  Lory is an interesting wife.  She loves history and horses and food and cinema and travel and exercise and conversation and parties and culture.  My life could never be boring married to her!

9.  Lory is a fantastic mother.  She loves the kids, schedules the kids, reminds them, teaches them, trains them, corrects them, feeds them, cleans them, prays for them, envisions them, encourages them, plans for them, hopes for them, cries for them, warns them, waits for them, surprises them, comforts them, and faithfully releases them to the hand of the Lord. 

10.  Lory is my friend.  In heaven, (don't quite know how to anticipate this yet),  Lory and I will not be married, but she will always be my best friend.  There is no one I would rather walk through this pilgrimage with than you, love. 

11.  Lory is patient with me.  I'm putting this last, because as I look at the years of marriage ahead of us until death do us part, I am deeply aware of my need for God's patience to flow through her to me.  I will sin, forget, be critical, be harsh, fail to love, fail to protect, fail to honor, neglect, again and again, despite my best intentions to do the opposite.  I am so grateful that Lory is patient--that God's love is patient, and that Lory allows the patient love of God to flow from her to me.

To you my love, with all my gratefulness and affection.  I love you. 

God is Patient

What does it mean that God is patient?  It means he waits when he does not have to wait.  It means he postpones what he does not have to postpone.  It means he experiences what he does not have to experience. Of course sometimes we have to wait, postpone, and experience things because of actions outside of our control. Our patience is often more about whether we will respond with joy and peace when our desires are delayed.  I can't change traffic, but I can choose to respond with patience toward my fellow drivers. Sometimes,  we do have the choice to postpone, wait, or endure something or not. I can choose to be patient as my son slowly puts on his shoes or impatiently inform him that he's already taken too long.  Sadly,  we often prefer ease to patience. 

God is under no limitations or restrictions that come to him from the outside.  God never gets stuck in traffic. No force controls him, but himself. He never has to wait for anything.  He chooses patience.  He chooses to wait for our full glorification. He chooses to postpone the full vindication of his glory and power.  He chooses to experience the stumbling and foolishness of his people and the blasphemy of his enemies.  He chooses patience, not because he has to, but because he wants to.  He even chooses to be patient with impatient people. Why does he want to?

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.  1 Timothy 1:16

He chooses to be patient to display his mercy, to reveal his love, to give time for many to turn to him in repentance. He is patient again and again and again, days innumerable, until the end of time.

Thank you, Lord, for the beauty and marvel of your patience toward us.  You patience is truly a wonder to behold. 

Be Like David or Trust in Jesus?

Let us consider the David and Goliath story for a moment.  What is the main point of the story?  Are we to conquer our own Giants of Fear and Doubt just like David did?  Is courageous faith the main point of the story?  Such a summary neglects the main point of the Bible: the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. Therefore,  it must be reformed. 


Ok, so the main point of the story must be: trust in Jesus.  Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed one, and the ultimate New Testament fulfillment of the storyline of 1 Samuel which reveals the value of a righteous, victorious, King-Deliverer.  David was this king temporarily. Jesus is this King permanently. We should identify with the cowering Israelite soldiers in need of an anointed Messiah, someone who could conquer the towering grim reaper of condemnation and death who was facing us.  Jesus is our Savior in an even greater way than David was the savior of Israel. Trust in Jesus.  Yes,  this is certainly the main point of the story. If nothing else is said about David and Goliath, this must be said.  Without this point, the David and Goliath story misses its mark.  Jesus is clearly the ultimate King-Deliverer of whom David was an anticipating shadow.

But then, what do we do with Hebrews chapter 11 verse 32.  And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gidoen, Barak, Samson, Jepthah, of David.....who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises...  

The author is clearly telling us to follow in the footsteps of these men, to imitate their faith.  Oh no!  Doesn't this take us right back to our first point--be like David?  Have faith like David? But isn't this just Old Testament moralism that neglects the primary purpose of the Scriptures of pointing to Jesus?
Here is an attempt at a solution.  The New Testament is very clear on several points that help us in interpreting the Old Testament.

1.  Jesus is the ultimate point of the Bible.  Trusting in Jesus as our Savior must be the ultimate goal of Old Testament interpretation.  David defeated Goliath means trust in Jesus.
2.  There are no works of faith or righteousness that we add to the finished work of Christ.  David defeated Goliath doesn't mean that you and Jesus save you together.  Jesus paid it all.
3.  In union with Christ we should strive to reflect his power over sin and Satan in our daily life. 

David defeated Goliath means that Jesus defeated your greatest enemy on your behalf and in Him you can fight against spiritual enemies in your life.  We do this as he empowers us by his Spirit, as he works in us to will and to work for his glory. In other words, it's not wrong to want to be like David, but a better way of saying it would be--seeing David defeat Goliath should make you Trust in Jesus and trusting in Jesus should make you want to be like Jesus in your daily life.  The "being like" doesn't save you.  The "trusting" doesn't negate the value of "being like."

Another way of describing this interpretation would be the phrase multiple fulfillment.  There are actually a number of examples of this interpretation in the New Testament.

For example:

Jesus is the new temple,  but in Christ we are a temple of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is the final, complete sacrifice, but in Christ we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices of worship to God.
Jesus is the only priest we need, but in Christ we are a priesthood of believers.
Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith, but in Christ we are to have faith until the end.
Jesus bears the only cross of our judgment and condemnation before God, but in Christ we are to take up our crosses and live for his glory.

This does not mean Jesus  +  our righteousness = salvation.   There is a primary and a reflective fulfillment here.  Jesus is the primary fulfillment. He is the main point.  But His glory is extended further as he continues to accomplish His work, through His Spirit, in His bride, the church.  It is no surprise, since we are united to Him,  indwelt by His Spirit, and His witness in the world, that our calling takes its definition in reflecting Him.

In saving us, His person and work are unrepeatable and complete.  In our calling, we reflect Him and in so doing continue to reveal His fulfillment of the Old Testament which anticipated the person and Work, and ongoing work, of the great King-Deliverer, Jesus Christ.

Trying to be like David without trusting in Jesus is legalism, and hopeless.  Trying to trust in Jesus without becoming like Jesus, and therefore like David in his better moments, is impossible, and unbiblical.  Trusting in Jesus for all of salvation, and seeking to be like him in grateful worship, is the right answer to our Bible question.

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

Refrigerators are very useful inventions–they’re vastly superior to salting our beef, buying ice in large blocks, and keeping cold cellars full of semi-perishable food stores.  However,  there is one serious downside to the refrigerated box sitting in my kitchen.


Refrigerators deceive me into thinking that I can store up for my needs for the future.  I am under the illusion that I already have enough resources to sustain my life, at least for the next few days.  The reality is very different. My existence is continually dependent on the Lord.  My every breath comes from him as does my daily bread.  Pulling food that I purchased a few days ago out of my fridge might subtly induce me to forget my daily, continual dependance on the Lord.  I’m guessing that the pre-modern cultures were a little more aware of this ongoing need than I am.  They were a little more in touch with the need for daily bread.

This realized dependance is all the more important because Jesus used bread as an illustration for his provision of salvation to his people.  He called himself the Bread of Life.  And my union with Him is not something I need occasionally–I can’t put my union with Christ in the crisper to be pulled out when I want it.  Though his Spirit I am continually relying on my union with him for the existence of my spiritual life, just as I depend on his sustaining power for my physical life.

So, the next time we open the fridge door today–let’s take a moment and declare our joyful trust in our Bread of Life, the one who provides for all our needs, the one by whom and through whom, and to whom are all things.

Give us this day, Lord, our daily bread.

Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament

Our church is preaching through the Old Testament book of Jonah right now.  After Jonah is completed we will begin a series through Genesis.  Based on the teaching of the New Testament, we believe that all of the Old Testament--narratives, poetry, law, wisdom, prophecy--teach us about the person and work of Jesus Christ.  These OT images of Christ are limited.  Not one represents him in his perfection, but they invite us to meditate on the fullness of his glory and to consider his complete fulfillment of God's plan of salvation.  

One way to walk through the Old Testament and see Jesus is to ask how the characters and patterns anticipate Jesus by comparison and how they anticipate him by contrast.  Similar to the negatives-and-pictures of the old film process, sometimes these people and patterns reveal what Jesus will be like and sometimes they reveal what he will not be like or how much better he will be.

Take Adam, for example.   Like Jesus, he is responsible to represent humanity before God. Like Jesus, he is called to  cultivate God's creation and to bring about God's perfect plan for mankind.   Like Jesus, he had to bear the curse of sin and be banished from God's presence. In Adam's call, we see God's call of Jesus.  In Adam's banishment, we see Jesus on the cross and in the grave. This is seeing Jesus in the positive comparison of an old testament character.  The ultimate reason for Adam's role was to anticipate the greater role of Jesus. 

We also see Jesus in contrast to Adam.  Unlike Jesus, Adam surrendered to the lie of Satan and disobeyed and disbelieved God.  Unlike Jesus, Adam sought to transfer responsibility for his role to someone else (Eve) and did not want to shoulder it himself.  Unlike Jesus, Adam was cursed because of his own sin rather than becoming a cursed exile only as a substitute for others. Frequently, when we see a character in the Old Testament showing contrast to Jesus, they are simultaneously revealing the need for Jesus' salvation that anticipates our condition as well. Like Adam, more than that, in Adam, we desperately need a Savior.

In comparison and contrast,  thinking about Adam helps us to see the calling and perfection of Jesus Christ and the prefect Savior he is for us.

A Christian reading Genesis 1-3 should not just be thinking, "What an interesting historical story..." or even "how should I be like or unlike Adam?".  Those thoughts are not wrong--but they should progress to the ultimate meditation:  "How should I respond to the picture of Jesus that I see here?"