For the past six weeks I've been studying the rebuilding of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem. I love the story of God's gracious discipline of the people of Israel to teach them the importance of radical obedience. In the book of Ezra we learn that God raised up King Cyrus of Persia to release the exiles in Babylon to go back and re-populate and rebuild Jerusalem.
The first two chapters of Ezra talk about the return, and how it was the people God called by his Spirit who chose to take the risk of obedience and journey towards Jerusalem. At the conclusion of Ezra 2, we read about an offering that the remnant offered God upon their safe return.
Ezra 2:68-69 says,
"When they arrived at the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave free will offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site. According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 drachmas of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priestly garments."
While studying this passage of Scripture, I read these comments by Warren Wiersbe: "This was undoubtedly a thank offering to the Lord for giving them a safe journey. The people gave their offerings willingly and according to their ability, which is the way God's people are supposed to give today."
When I read that quote it struck me as odd. As I processed my reaction, I quickly realized that my response was odd, not theirs. Their response was actually ideal.
Why did a group of people giving a thank offering to God make me feel strange? As I mulled over my surprise, I concluded that it was a by-product of Entitlement Christianity. Entitlement Christianity is a frame of mind that expects rewards for obedience. If the Israelites had been afflicted by this entitlement perspective they would have never given a thank offering. Instead they would have paused and waited for God to dole out free passes to the circus because they were assets to his organization.
The Israelites who offered thanks got it right. They understood that the opportunity for obedience demands gratitude. They recognized that the fruit of a successful journey is the by-product of the grace and mercy of God. It was God who gave them the opportunity to go, and it was God's power that enabled them to finish.
God help me understand the sacred privilege of obedience and deliver me from the self aggrandizing sense of entitlement that plagues me.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Is that God I See?
Periodically I receive some really weird stuff through email. I know you do, too. But I'm not just talking about those forwards from that guy who just popped into your mind. I'm talking about some bizarre stuff--like stuff God told somebody to tell me so I could tell you.
Yesterday I got something from a prophetess. Her name is Linda Somethingoranother and on August 29 she received the following warning "...from our Saviour about a pending apocalyptic event: 'A Methane explosion and tsuami (apparently the prophetess doesn't have spell-check) is going to bring complete devastation to the entire Gulf region. Reports about a pocket of methane the size of Mount Everest near the Macondo well-site are true. Wide speculation about an enormous methane explosion is well founded."
At one point in the correspondence the prophetess goes on to say, “My Lord, these are the words that the Darth Vader look-alike speaks...." Seriously, I couldn't make this stuff up!
While some of this stuff provides entertainment, there is an aspect of it that saddens me. Most of the people I know who are God-fearers would like nothing more than to hear from God, or see God, or somehow experience a breakthrough with God that assures them of His active presence in their circumstances. But because of people who are supposedly hearing from God through Star Wars action figures, we are less than confident of our interpretations of His activity in our spheres or his voice in our ears. Even if it turns out that a giant mountain of methane wipes out the gulf, I am going to struggle to believe that a Darth Vader-like character was the mouthpiece God chose to alert us. The sad part is that since Sister Somethingoranother is out there spreading her good cheer, we lose confidence in seeing and sharing God's work around us because we aren't interested in being associated with anything of the sort.
However, in my quiet time this morning God reminded me that He indeed still demonstrates His whereabouts and His activities to those who are watching. I was studying in the book of Zechariah, and in chapter 11 the prophet told the nation of Israel about a covenant God initiated with all the nations which was being revoked. In verse 11 he wrote, "It was revoked on that day, and so the afflicted of the flock who were watching me knew it was the word of the Lord." I am reminded of two important truths
Yesterday I got something from a prophetess. Her name is Linda Somethingoranother and on August 29 she received the following warning "...from our Saviour about a pending apocalyptic event: 'A Methane explosion and tsuami (apparently the prophetess doesn't have spell-check) is going to bring complete devastation to the entire Gulf region. Reports about a pocket of methane the size of Mount Everest near the Macondo well-site are true. Wide speculation about an enormous methane explosion is well founded."
At one point in the correspondence the prophetess goes on to say, “My Lord, these are the words that the Darth Vader look-alike speaks...." Seriously, I couldn't make this stuff up!
While some of this stuff provides entertainment, there is an aspect of it that saddens me. Most of the people I know who are God-fearers would like nothing more than to hear from God, or see God, or somehow experience a breakthrough with God that assures them of His active presence in their circumstances. But because of people who are supposedly hearing from God through Star Wars action figures, we are less than confident of our interpretations of His activity in our spheres or his voice in our ears. Even if it turns out that a giant mountain of methane wipes out the gulf, I am going to struggle to believe that a Darth Vader-like character was the mouthpiece God chose to alert us. The sad part is that since Sister Somethingoranother is out there spreading her good cheer, we lose confidence in seeing and sharing God's work around us because we aren't interested in being associated with anything of the sort.
However, in my quiet time this morning God reminded me that He indeed still demonstrates His whereabouts and His activities to those who are watching. I was studying in the book of Zechariah, and in chapter 11 the prophet told the nation of Israel about a covenant God initiated with all the nations which was being revoked. In verse 11 he wrote, "It was revoked on that day, and so the afflicted of the flock who were watching me knew it was the word of the Lord." I am reminded of two important truths
- The afflicted should look for God because he is our hope.
- Those who look with the eyes of faith will see God.
Affliction has a way of forcing us to prioritize. When we experience pain or deficiency of the worst kind, we are compelled to eliminate distractions. The wise choice in pain is to prioritize God who is our one true hope. Through the true prophet Zechariah, God reminds us that when we look for Him through the eyes of dependent faith and hope, we will see Him and understand what He is doing.
Whether you are experiencing affliction or have been graced with a season of favor, let me encourage you to "watch" God today. Ask Him to show you exactly what He is up to. When he does, send me a note and tell me about it. As long as Darth Vader is not involved, stories of God's activity in the lives of His people always strengthen my faith.
On the lookout!
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