Our Just Judge

This past week we have been going through lessons 16-18 in a wonderful OT Bible curriculum called “The Roots of Faith”.  And this week we studied story of the Tower of Babel, God’s promises to Abram, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. 

The story of God’s destruction of Sodom was quite fascinating as well as sobering.  Through it we came to see four attributes of God – He is Holy, Merciful, Just and Longsuffering.  (Wayne, this is the skinny)

But in our study of this particular story in scripture, we saw God as the just judge, always judging in the most fair and just way.  Listen to what the LORD says before He goes down to Sodom and Gomorrah – “Then the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.” (Gen. 18:20-21, ESV)

So I asked the students how they saw God as being just in this passage.  Their answer, “well just as a judge will take into account what is being said about the one on trial, he will also take into account what he discovers about the one on trial.”  A man is tried by his actions as well as tried by what others say about his actions.   And God is showing us that even though He knew Sodom’s actions, He heard the accusations about this wicked city and He was personally, as judge, going down to observe for Himself the actions of these people.

I take great comfort in knowing this.  We have a just judge who will not only hear the accusations but will look on the matters Himself.  Do you know there is one who accuses us every day?  He is called the “accuser of the brethren” and is consistently calling up the wrong we have done or even falsely accusing us.

God then looks on every accusation that is made about me and when He comes to look on the matter concerning me (or anyone who has placed their trust in Jesus) He only sees His Son and the righteous payment His Son made through His blood for us.  He just does not hear the accusations and acts on them.  He is the just Judge who fully investigates any and all complaints.  

Praise the Lord for our great God and just Judge.  Praise the Lord for our great High Priest and Advocate, our Lord Jesus Christ.

(This also causes me to pause and pray for a dear friend, Ron, who is just in all his work as a lawyer.  His dad, Don, has had some serious health problems lately and this brings to mind to pray for him.  And Ron just sent me a note about another friend who is getting a double lung transplant and would welcomes the petition of the saints.)

The Manner of God's Love

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not parish but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

This week I have been thinking about the conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus and this is one sentence in Jesus’ discussion that has been used probably more than any other New Testament verse in the Bible and yet remains as mysterious as the day Jesus uttered it.  Most English translations are similar to the one above – “God so loved the world…” and many who share this verse think of the “so” as “so much” or the volume of God’s love– therefore the idea would be – “God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son…”  Now it is possible that this is meaning but more likely the “so” means – “in this manner” or “in this way”.  If this is the case, the verse would go something like this – “God loved the world in this manner, He gave His only Son…”   The manner in which God showed His love or demonstrated His love or communicated His love is in the sacrifice of His one and only Son.  The Son who said, “I have come to do the will of my Father.”  The Son who is the only expressed image, exact representation, the “carbon copy” of the Father.  The Son who was the only one honored by the Father when He said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”   This is the One who was in the Beginning with God, who was with God, and who was God.  This is the One who did exactly as He had been instructed by the Father and did as He saw the Father do.  This ONE is God in the flesh, God with us, God the One and Only. 

And in this manner God loves the world – He sacrificed this ONE for someone like me?  For someone like you?  For someone like the people in this world?  This does not compute in our economy.  If I had the rarest, most brilliant, largest cut, and purest diamond in the world would I trade that diamond in for a diamond or diamonds less in value?  If you had the best or perfect of anything, would you give that up for anything that was of less value?  But we see in this verse that God loved the world in this manner – He gave up the ONE who was dearest, perfect, and of greatest value for something (someone) less.  He gave His Son for us.  This is a mystery and this is glorious and this is humility and this is love and this is only God. 

When I think on the way God loved us, I am changed in every way.  How could He love a wretch like me in this way?  How could He have his most Precious sacrificed for by far less significant sinners like you and me?  From man’s economy this would not add up.  But I am so thankful for God’s economy, an economy that we may never fully comprehend.  Who is like our God and who can compare to Him?  No one will ever figure Him out and all will rejoice in Him and praise and thank Him forever more.

Thank Jesus Day

It has been a while since I last wrote on this blog (because of my lack of tech skills somehow I was not able to get to my blog site - tried every sequence and nothing worked so I say, "thank you Lord, for you work out all things for good." Romans 8:28) But today, somehow, I was able to log on. (Deirdre), the one who set up this account for me, would be pleased to know that I was able to finally figure it out - if only I can remember the sequences...
Today is Thanksgiving day, a holiday, as one of my previous Pastors (Tom) would say was his favorite holiday because it is the only holiday that has not been totally secularized, although recently I have been hearing more people call the holiday "Turkey Thursday". It is a day in which we as a nation give thanks and in giving thanks we bare as a people a virtue that will go on forever because, for those who love Him, we will forever give Jesus our thanks for saving us (Phil. 2:9-11) and conforming us to His Holy image (1 Pet. 1:14-16).
Today is a day that the Reddings especially give thanks, for a year ago I had just gone through cancer surgery and was in NYC with my family (Lynda, Bethany, Kenny, Meredith and Alex.) We had a thanksgiving meal at a restaurant (Luka's) just 2-3 blocks from hospital. What a wonderful meal the Lord provided that day through the people (Jose and waitress from Poland) who worked at that cozy restaurant.
A whole year and what a year. Too much to say in a short space as this. God is gracious and mighty and continues to do amazing things day in and day out. So today, I want to declare it "Thank Jesus" day. He deserves all the glory and to Him all praise. He is so worthy. As I go through my greetings today, I want to remind myself where our thanks is going today as well as any and every day.
Thank Jesus for the breath that He has given us to breath today.
Thank Jesus for the food that He has provided for us to eat today.
Thank Jesus for the family and friends that surround us today.
Thank Jesus for the health and strength that He sustains us with today.
Thank Jesus for the new life that He has imparted to us today.
Thank Jesus for the way He does work out all things for good and for the Father's glory today.
Thank Jesus for the joy we experience knowing that He is with us where ever we go today.
Thank Jesus for the Holy Spirit who continues to remind us, teach us and convicts us through His word today.
Than Jesus for His soon return for us, His bride, His people, His church.
Thank Jesus...
"I love you Jesus and am truly thankful and grateful for YOU. You are my strength, my song, my life, my all. You have saved me and all those who have called on your name as You promised in Romans 10:13. Words fall so short in our gratitude for all that You have done, are doing and will do. To You be glory and honor and blessings forever, Amen."

Our God Hears us!

Psalm 65:2- "O You who hear prayer..." As I read Psalm 65 this morning, I was able to reflect on this - Our LORD hears prayer. No gods or idols hear. They can not hear. They are deaf and mute. There is no power in them to do anything. But our God - He hears our prayer. An not only does He hear our prayer, but He atones for our transgressions (vs. 3). No gods or idols can atone for transgressions. They can not even move or cause anything to move. They are still. But our God atoned once and for all for not only one sin but for the sin of the world (John 1:29). Not only does our God hear and atone for sin but He also preforms awesome deeds (vs. 5). Vs. 7 speaks of Him stilling the roaring seas and waves. No god, idol or man has this kind of ability. Only our God and we read in Mark 4:35-41, Jesus doing the very thing Psalm 65:7 speaks of. No god or idol is like our GOD. And it is to God, we run to every day to hollow His name, looking for His return, desiring His will, supplying our daily needs, forgiving our sin, leading us not into temptation (and leading us into the paths of righteousness) and delivering us from evil. This is our God who hears us.
"Thank You Father for hearing our cry. Evening and morning and at noon hear our prayers (Ps. 55:17) and we thank You in advance for doing the impossible day by day. We love You because You first loved us. Amen"

His Unfailing Love

I have been musing over the importance of reading and studying the word of God these past few months (as I prepare also for the Jr. High Bible classes). And one thing that keeps coming to mind as I read the scriptures is there must be a desire to be in His word. We can read out of duty, but that is kind of odd. Would I say I spend time with my wife because I feel like it is my duty? Of course not, I spend time with her because I can hardly think of a better way to spend the day. I long to have moments with my bride. So it is with the word of God. Time in His word is spending time with Him.
Jesus put it this way, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." (Matt.5:6) Desire is vital to having a good start to reading and studying the Bible.
Today as I was reading Psalm 143 (vs. 8) I stumbled upon another reason for remaining in His word daily. Listen to this verse and then think about it for a moment - "Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love,..." (Now think about this before reading on. What might you find a bit peculiar about his words to God?)
David had found himself between a rock and a hard place. If God were to judge him (or any man) he could not stand, for no living man is righteous in God's sight (vs. 2). On the other hand, he had his enemy breathing down his back, ready to wipe him off the face of the earth (Vs.3). This rock and hard place caused David to do the only thing David knew how to do when facing impossible situations - Call on the LORD. That is what Psalm 143 is - his prayer to God in the midst of this dilemma.
Think again now upon David's request. "Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love..." "Unfailing love", he is talking to the promise keeping God who would never fail or never break His promise. He is talking about a love that is promised and never to fail. He knows that God's love is there. So why would he have to hear, the first thing in the morning, of God's unfailing love?
We are relational beings created by God almighty who is relational and created us to have a relationship with Him (Gen. 3:8-9). We know He loves us, but to hear it... again. That is sometimes like rain falling on the sun baked ground (vs.6). It is refreshing and invigorating. And sometimes we just need to hear it once again. Not that we do not believe it, but that it restores and replenishes us.
Think of parallels to this fact. Dad and Mom, they love you, but isn't it good to hear that from time to time. Brothers and sisters, they love you, but isn't it good to get it straight from their mouth. Friends and kin, they love you, but isn't it good to get a note or word from them. We all desire to hear the obvious and be reminded of the truth. We somehow forget or think that the other has forgotten and when we hear those words - "I love you" we are ready for whatever is next.
Take time today to be in our Lord's word today. It is something you don't want to miss. Thank Him too for giving you a hunger to be in His word (whatever the reason may be.)