I have been an outdoor runner for more than half of my life. It does not matter to me whether it is winter, spring, summer or fall; I am outdoors running in the early morning hours, usually while it is still dark. Consistent with winter in the upper Midwest, several weeks have been snowy and icy. One morning I stepped outside to discover about 4 inches of snow on all the roads and streets on which I usually run, with the snow continuing to fall!! What a difficult run it was covering about 6 miles. The snow was flaky so it was like trying to run on loose sand at the beach. My hips and ankles were so sore at the end of the run, it took another 48 hours before I could get out on my next run. However, by the end of that day, all the snow on the streets had been tightly packed by cars and had even turned into some heavy ice patches. Driving home from work that evening was slow but the snow plows were out clearing as much of the snow as possible while dropping a salt mixture on the streets to help clear them. Two mornings later when I went out to run, voila!!! It was still freezing cold but the streets were clear of both snow and ice. They were dry as a bone and I was able to have a more “normal” run on the streets of the city. As I ran, however, I could not get out of my mind the effect the salt had on all the streets!! In 48 hours, the streets had gone from a treacherous condition to a dry, normal pavement!! Amazing!! Call me strange but I decided I was going to look into the characteristics of salt, from both a practical and spiritual point-of-view. I came across some very convicting, but yet encouraging, information.

The verse from Leviticus above has been one of those verses that can be perplexing. Just what is a “grain offering”? What does it mean to “add salt to all your offerings”? Why was the adding of salt so important? What was God trying to teach the Israelites back then and wanting to teach us today?

Before looking at the characteristics of salt, it would be helpful to explain grain offerings which will give an understanding why it was so important to add salt to these offerings. The grain offering is described in Leviticus 2. It was not an atonement offering but was usually offered as an accompaniment to an animal sacrifice. The grain offering could, in certain circumstances, be presented alone. The grain offering consisted of four items: (1) fine flour; (2) oil; (3) frankincense; and (4) salt. The use of fine flour and the expensive spice frankincense indicates that the Israelites, in giving a grain offering, were to give of their very best to the Lord. An important key thought is that the Hebrew word for grain offering can mean simply “gift”, as evidenced in Genesis 32:13 where the Hebrew word for grain offering describes the gifts that Jacob bestowed upon Esau as he was returning after many years working for Laban.

So at this point a key question to consider is this: In bringing gifts to the Lord, whether it is my time, my talents, or my financial resources, have I given my best for the Master? Just what gifts, beloved in Christ, have you brought to the Lord? Are they your first fruits or simply what is left over of your time, your energy or your resources? In answering these questions, I pray you will be honest as you stand prayerfully before the Lord.

Let’s turn the focus to salt. What does it mean to “add salt to all your offerings” or your gifts? Salt represents the characteristics of permanence and incorruption. Grasp this truth. Salt acts as a preservative; for example, salt will keep meat from spoiling or becoming “corrupt”. The use of salt by the Israelites in an offering would demonstrate the everlasting, pure and holy relationship between God and His people. His people would permanently belong to God, and God would permanently belong to His people. As you study the Bible, you will find that salt and permanence were always combined in a covenant as shown in 2 Chronicles 13:5, “Don’t you know that the LORD, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt?”(emphasis mine). This matter of permanence comes through loud and clear in this verse, which was later confirmed when the birth of Christ was foretold by the angel Gabriel to Mary in Luke 1:32-33, “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, his kingdom will never end”(emphasis mine).

So as you bring your offerings and gifts to the Lord, bring Him your very best; bring your gifts with a commitment of permanence and incorruption. None of this half-hearted “I’ll try” stuff. And start with the gift of yourself. Have you yielded your life to Christ in a committed, permanent, pure, uncompromised, incorruptible manner? Look at what the Lord Himself commanded in Mark 9:50, “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other”(emphasis mine). As expressed by Swete in Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament, you are to “……. keep the seasoning power, the preserving, sacrificial Fire, within your heart, and as a first condition of its presence there, be at peace with your brethren”.

Just what are the convicting aspects of salt for the Christian? Here’s a brief list:

·         Salt creates thirst. Have you ever made anyone thirsty for the Lord Jesus Christ?

·         Salt preserves. As a member of the body of Christ, the Church, are you preserving and reinforcing the qualities of goodness, honor, justice, and mercy in a culture that tends to corruption?

·         Salt inhibits corruption. As a member of the body of Christ, the Church, are you restraining the culture’s corrupting influences? Is your salty influence magnifying your personal and the Church’s good works within the culture and thereby rebuking evil to the glory of God?

·         Salt gives zest and flavor. Do you, as a Christian, give a zest and distinctive flavor to your surroundings moment by moment?

·         Salt is a sign of purity. Do you in your private character, with no one in sight, exhibit before the Lord a yielded purity? Do you in your public personality exhibit before the Lord a yielded purity?

Salt is such a magnificent wonder. It is composed of two poisonous substances. How is it possible that salt, which is so necessary to life, is composed of sodium and chlorine, either of which if taken individually would kill a person? God in His infinite wisdom has brought these two substances together in such a manner as to preserve, not to kill. Do you “see” God’s infinite, permanent, pure, righteous and holy love for you? This leads to the second Scripture noted above. What happens if salt loses its saltiness?

According to The New Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, there is a Hill of Salt called Jebel Usdum which is a 15-square mile elevation at the southwest corner of the Dead Sea or Salt Sea. This area has been traditionally associated with the fate of Lot’s wife who was turned into a pillar of salt (see Genesis 19:26). The salt found here is of the rock or fossil variety and because of impurities and the occurrence of chemical changes, the outer layer of salt is generally lacking in flavor and discarded as worthless. The reference mentioned above in Matthew 5:13 is to this kind of salt; rock hard, flavorless, and worthless. Yes, it is still salt but it is worthless salt.

The last convicting aspect of salt is this. You may be saved by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, but do you “have salt in yourself”? Are you exhibiting all that salt is intended to exhibit, a permanent gift of purity and incorruption? Have you allowed impurities to enter into your walk with Jesus such that “chemical changes” have been made to your character and personality rendering you worthless in the cause of Jesus? Does the culture ignore you and, in a sense, simply trample you down?

If your answers to these probing questions indicate you are missing the mark in your walk with Christ, let it be known, dearly beloved, there is forgiveness at the foot of the cross. Run, do not walk, to the old rugged cross and pour out before the Lord your confession of sin. Repent and let His Holy Spirit of revival and renewal fill your heart and restore your saltiness. Then go forth renewed and worthy of the calling He has made upon your life. In Genesis 17:1, Abram was 99 years old when the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty (El-Shaddai); walk before me and be blameless”. This command of the Lord is about who you are – what your character is before the Lord. Is your character pure, holy, righteous and incorruptible before the Lord?  If it wasn’t too late for Abram at 99 years of age, it is not too late for you to repent and to experience the restoration of “saltiness” within as you walk blamelessly before the Lord.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow……….

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.”

Luke 2:8-9 (NIV)

On the night that Jesus was born, the angel of the Lord appeared to shepherds to make the announcement, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

But why the shepherds? Have you ever given this much thought? Many individuals simply think it was because Jesus was born into a humble family, placed in a humble manger, all within a humble barn, in a humble town. Certainly shepherds were one of the lowliest and most humble “professions” known at that time. Even Joseph, when ruling in Egypt, indicated “all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians” (Gen 46:34) and Jesse, when talking to Samuel concerning which of his sons was to be anointed king, indicated his youngest son, David, was but tending the sheep (1 Sam 16:11).

But maybe there is more to the story! Let’s consider a different perspective on shepherds by looking back on the establishment of the Passover in Exodus 12. In this chapter of Scripture, the Lord has given Moses instructions in preparation for the 10^th plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt, that plague being “every firstborn son in Egypt will die” (Exodus 11:5). The Lord has told Moses, “Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of the month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household…….The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect……This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord – a lasting ordinance” (Gen 12:3,5,14).

Now consider this. There are approximately 1,500 years between the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and the establishment of the Passover to the time when Jesus Christ was born. So for 1,500 years, shepherds played a key role in God’s plan to provide enough lambs, year-old males, without defect, so that all Israelite families could remember the Passover and worship God according to His will, purpose and eternal plan. In fulfilling their duties and responsibilities, these shepherds had to be active and intentional in their care of the sheep and lambs. As lambs were born, these shepherds had to maintain careful and consistent watch over the flocks from all predators. Many predators would come but these shepherds were committed to protect and serve the flock. Their eyes were keen to crevices and cliffs as they led the flock. And these shepherds made sure they found green pasture to feed those under their care. And perhaps the crowning event each year in the life of a shepherd was knowing his work provided the year-old male lamb, healthy and without defect so that his family and Israelite community members could worship the Lord God properly in accordance with His will. What an important responsibility! There was nothing passive about the work of a shepherd.

So on the night that Jesus was born and the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds, could it be that God, who had used this lowly, unsophisticated, humble profession of shepherding to provide Passover lambs for 1,500 years, wanted shepherds to be the first to behold the real, true, and eternal “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). This was the Lamb, the Messiah, perfect, holy, righteous, and without defect or blemish, that had now arrived! And in that moment, the eyes of the shepherds were opened and their lives were changed forever. Scripture tells us, “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told” (Luke 2:20). Perhaps these very shepherds became some of the very first evangelists, proclaiming the good news and saving life of Jesus Christ. No more need to slaughter lambs from the flock year after year to secure God’s favor and forgiveness of sin! The once-for-all Lamb of God has arrived!

The lowly shepherds were visited by an angel of the Lord and were the first to see and worship the Lamb of God, even before the Magi came, those wise men from the east! You see, Scripture is so true where it shares the very words of Jesus who said, “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first” (Matthew 19:30). Dearly beloved, like the shepherds of old, I hope and pray that you have come “to see” in the eyes of your heart the Lamb of God. It is His shed blood that provides your pardon and mercy; it is His shed blood that cleanses you of all sin; it is His shed blood that saves you and brings you eternal life.

In Luke 2:19, we are told that as Mary witnessed the visit of the shepherds and their response of worship and praise, she “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Oh that we would do likewise, accepting by faith the gift of salvation and eternal life so graciously given.

“All the days ordained for me were written in your book beforeone of them came to be.”Psalm 139:16 

Many people as they start a New Year take time to make new year’s resolutions. It is amusing that many such resolutions are couched with the phrase “I’ll try…..!!!”. That phrase is a recipe for failure. As soon as the pain or discomfort of the resolution sets in, many individuals simply give up. It is surprising how seldom you hear any resolution put in the terms of “I commit to do……”.  

When you come to that point in life where reality sets in and you realize that your days are, in fact, numbered, then the needed “commitment” for a resolution becomes exceedingly important. As I look forward to start the new year of 2011 and as I have more keenly realized the truth of Psalm 139: 16, an appropriate resolution for my life is found in a song written by P.P. Bliss in the early 1900’s. It is titled “My Prayer”.

  “More holiness give me, More striving within;More patience in suff’ring, More sorrow for sin;More faith in my Savior, More sense of His care;More joy in His service, More purpose in prayer. More gratitude give me, More trust in the Lord; More pride in His glory, More hope in His word;More tears for His sorrows, More pain at His grief;More meekness in trial, More praise for relief. More purity give me, More strength to o’ercome;More freedom from earthstain, More longing for home;More fit for the kingdom, More used would I be;More blessed and holy, More, Savior, like Thee.” 

May this song be a blessing to you and also your resolution throughout this new year of 2011.

     I am not a theologian. But I do find it important to read and study the Holy Scriptures to understand God’s perspective on life, life that He created. One thing I have learned is this: It is not “tolerance” to accept, promote or simply ignore immorality, and it is not “intolerance” to speak out against immorality. Speaking the truth in love represents a passion and concern for the eternal destiny of man. In examining the life of Jesus Christ, he always demonstrated tolerance and love for man, for the individual person. His whole earthly purpose was to walk the Calvary Road in order that individuals may be redeemed through faith in the loving work He accomplished on the Cross. But He also clearly spoke out on the exceeding immorality of immoral behavior throughout His life and ministry. His holiness and righteousness brought light to every circumstance and revealed man’s behavior for what it was and is.

In expressing these thoughts, I fully expect to hear the voices of opposition from the popular cultural scene. There will be one who accuses me of pushing my religious beliefs upon him or her. Not so!!! There may even be one who with shrillness uses the tired and overused accusation of homophobe. But make no mistake; they and all individuals are free to make the choices they desire. However, it is instructive to listen carefully to the objections raised. These voices of opposition demand tolerance for their behavior, no matter how immoral, and when failing to receive it, demonstrate intolerance for these other individuals. This is exactly opposite of the example given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Every individual has freedom to choose his or her religious beliefs and behavior patterns. What is inescapable, however, is the ultimate and final accountability for those choices. It is that accountability which brings me back to the thought expressed above: speaking the truth in love represents a passion and concern for the eternal destiny of man. The Holy Scriptures confront each and every individual and reveals to us the truth of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. With love in His heart and light on His face, Christ is all love for each individual as expressed on Calvary’s Road and the Cross. It is our immoral behavior that makes Him weep.

To be sure she did not have a treatise on systematic theology by Lewis Sperry Chafer, nor did she have the helpful and insightful books written by Chuck Swindoll, Charles Stanley, Max Lucado, Charles Colson, John Piper, Joseph Stowell, John MacArthur, Os Guinness, Billy Graham, Adrian Rogers, Tim LaHaye, or C.S. Lewis!! What she simply had to guide and direct her was the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures. Agnes, at the tender age of 13, had searched the Scriptures carefully and thoughtfully to discover just who Jesus Christ is.

And in searching the Scriptures, Agnes had to come to some very clear conclusions even at the age of 13: (1) she must have recognized her deeply sinful nature and the need she had to be redeemed from that nature; (2) she must have recognized the Scriptural principle given to Adam that sin results in death, not just physical death but spiritual death and separation from God; (3) she must have recognized that the very character of God includes the matter of justice and, therefore, the wrath of God is fully due to those who live in disobedience and sin to His will; (4) she must have recognized that on her own she was doomed and that she had no power or authority within herself to become acceptable to God; (5) she must have recognized that God alone must provide a Savior to her if the wrath of God toward her was to be set aside; (6) she must have recognized that the very character of God includes a generous portion of grace as seen in the giving of His only begotten Son; (7) she must have recognized the perfect, innocence and pure Lamb of God found in Jesus Christ; (8) she must have recognized that the grace of God found in Jesus Christ satisfied the justice requirement of God found in His character; (9) she must have recognized that she must place her faith in that Lamb of God to grasp the redemption for which her heart longed; (10) she must have recognized the peace of God and the forgiveness of God given through the Holy Spirit as she placed her faith in Jesus Christ; (11) she must have recognized her completed and eternal stance before God as a saved saint solely on the basis of all that God had done; and (12) she must have recognized the joyful commitment she desired to make in her heart to be faithful to this redeemer savior no matter what may befall her.

She learned all that……….from the Holy Scriptures. Just how much time do you and I spend searching the Scriptures to discover all the treasures of God that are revealed to us? How often do we set this precious revelation of God aside to read other most worthy Christian books? Agnes has convicted me that I do this all to often. Agnes knew that the Scriptures were fully and completely God breathed. No other book can make this claim. No other book comes close to “the” revelation of God and His precious Son Jesus Christ. Yet we set this precious holy book of godly insights and treasures aside much too often to pursue our own interests. I am not sure I can even come close to the life giving commitment of Agnes apart from spending more time in the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures.

Dearly beloved, I hope you will consider carefully, with me, the place of the Bible, the Word of God, in your life and walk with the Lord. Be committed to it…….don’t be complacent with the Word of God. As I have recommitted myself to a slow and careful reading, studying and consideration of the Word of God, I am finding anew all sorts of treasures and truth that are mine through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. I wish the same for you.

May the Lord bless you and keep you; May His face shine upon you; and give you peace………

By way of historical background, through a military overthrow, Diocletian became emperor of Rome in 284 and went about restoring the empire’s former glory and unity. Christianity was well established in 284 and, as a result, hindered the revival of the pagan religious practices. Caesar Galerius, Diocletian’s lieutenant, convinced him that he had to eliminate all Christians so in 303 he began the last and fiercest persecution of Christianity by the Roman emperors.

Agnes was a thirteen year old believer who had determined to remain a virgin as the bride of Christ, a vow not uncommon in the Christian community at that time. According to fourth century records, young men from prominent Roman families became angered by her refusal to wed and denounced Agnes to the head of the church of Rome as a Christian. The judge initially tried to humor and entice her to recant, but Agnes refused, repeating she would have no other spouse than Jesus Christ. The judge then threatened her by displaying instruments of torture like iron hooks, racks, and fire, but Agnes expressed no fear.

Frustrated, the judge threatened to send her to a brothel to which Agnes reportedly stated, “….you will never be able to profane my body, because it is consecrated to Christ”. So angry, the judge immediately sent her to a public brothel with the instructions that anyone was free to use and abuse her. Tradition states that many young men tried to take advantage of the offer but when seeing her, they were all afraid to approach her. One young man did attempt to take her and when he reached out was blinded by a flash and fell to the ground. Agnes stopped her singing of hymns and knelt next to this young man and prayed that his sight would be restored, which the Lord did.

When the judge heard that all men respected her, he grew more angry and sentenced her to death by beheading. According to Bishop Ambrose, who wrote in 377, Agnes was overjoyed on hearing the sentence and remained so even after seeing the executioner. Bishop Ambrose wrote she “went to the place of execution more cheerfully than others go to their wedding.” He further wrote, “At such a tender age a young girl has scarcely enough courage to bear the angry looks of her father and a tiny puncture from a needle makes her cry as if it were a wound. And still this little girl had enough courage to face the sword. She was fearless in the bloody hands of the executioner. She prayed; she bowed her head. Behold in one victim the twofold martyrdom of chastity and faith.”

That is what “committed” looks like.

But if you find yourself passing this story off as one of those early Church martyr stories, let’s fast forward to April, 1999, just ten years ago at Columbine High School in Colorado. When Cassie Bernall and Rachel Scott were both asked by the murderous Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold if they believed in God, both girls responded without hesitation “Yes” and were shot dead.

Again, that is what “committed” looks like.

Dearly beloved, where are you in your relationship to Christ. Not everyone is called to be a martyr. That said, how would you handle the setbacks of life? In these difficult economic times, how would you react to the loss of a job? How would you react to the loss of a spouse or a child? How would you react if all your earthly possessions were destroyed by a fire or by earthquake or by flood? How would you react if, in fact, you were called before the authorities on account of your Christian faith?

The committed life of Agnes to Christ has resulted in her eternal joy in the presence of Christ and has also resulted in an earthly legacy of Christian encouragement for here today, a mere 1,705 years later, we are rejoicing over the faithfulness of Agnes and drawing strength from her very short life. And the lives of Cassie and Rachel are having the same eternal and earthly legacy as thousands of young people all across our nation are coming to a saving knowledge of Christ and committing themselves to live for Christ with the same boldness and courage as Cassie and Rachel.

Have you settled in your heart and soul your relationship with Christ? Is that relationship a treasure beyond measure compared to anything this world has to offer? Let me close this thought with two verses of Scripture:

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1: 13-14.

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2: 6-7.

I invite you to think clearly and carefully about this matter of “committed” to Christ and how it should look in your life. And this ministry stands ready and prepared to help as you seek a closer walk with Christ Jesus.

There is more to share in future articles and writings. And remember from the last posting…….”Our Father who is in heaven……” The Lord is eternally committed to us. Are we eternally committed to Him?

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Matthew 6:9

Have you ever taken the time to read carefully this first line of “The Lord’s Prayer”? Reflect on the verb tense……”who is…”! This is the present tense!! For the Christian, how glorious and marvelous is this? My Father is involved presently in my life and cares presently about all that is touching me, whether spiritually, emotionally, mentally or physically.

But what individual, in reality, can refer to God as “our Father” or “my Father”? We can only call God “our Father” when we have allowed Him to change our innermost nature through faith in Christ. Adam’s nature, sinful in totality, is replaced by God’s nature, completely holy and righteous, again through faith in Christ. Then, and only then, does God truly become “our Father”. That step of faith in Christ results in God welcoming us into His house because, as the owner of the house, He has adopted us into His family!

But how does this truth play out in my every day life? How does “our Father who is in heaven….” impact my life moment by moment? I have much to say on this issue or topic and will be sharing more “thoughts of a business man” through the coming days in articles titled “Committed or Complacent?”

In the meantime, grasp and meditate on the truth of our Father who is…………!!

1: Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

You know, from God’s point of view, it does matter with whom you “hang out”. Your friends and those who matter to you are an indication of how you look at life. They are an indication of your eternal values and your personal “world view”. If you are truly desirous of God’s manifold blessing, you cannot stay “on the fence”, i.e. claiming to love the Lord yet participating with the worst this world has to offer. God’s blessing requires a commitment as expressed in 1 Corinthians 6:16 – 7:1, “What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God”.

As a matter of desire, practice or habit, to walk in the counsel of the wicked; to stand in the way of sinners; to sit in the seat of mockers is to contaminate your life. The blessing of God requires a separation from the world even as you live in the world.

2: But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.

If others watched you live out your life, what would they say was your “delight”? Watching television? Working or your career? Your family? Money and wealth? Material possessions? What would it be?

What does it mean “his delight is in the law of the Lord”? Perhaps a lesson from Moses would help. In Exodus 33:13, Moses says, “If you [the Lord] are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you”. Now that is taking delight in the law of the Lord. You see, Moses did not ask to see more clearly all the things God does. Moses did not want to know about God. He wanted to know His ways. If that is your delight, you must learn “silence” before the Lord. You must learn the Shepherd’s voice. Why is that important? John 10:2-4 gives us insight: “The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice”. If your “delight” is in the Lord, He will make His voice known to you. Jesus said so; just read John 10. The Bible tells me so! Do you believe that? Then be silent, listen, learn, heed, and follow.

3: He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not whither. Whatever he does prospers.

I have looked upon the trees in my yard. Strong deep roots; a straight, solid trunk; limb structure and leaves that are beautiful. I could drive my car into these trees at 20-30 miles per hour and the tree would be immovable. The car would be destroyed! The winds blow through the branches and rustle the leaves, sometimes in very dramatic fashion yet that tree is immovable. Is your life like “a tree planted”? Though circumstances slam into you at what seems like 20-30 mph, do you remain firm in your faith in Almighty God? Is your relationship with the Lord immovable? Are your life’s circumstances of no matter to you? Tough questions. One should not answer “yes” too quickly to these probing questions. For to glibly and cavalierly answer these questions without grasping the present and eternal significance of these questions is to leave yourself open to distress, stress, great anxiety, and worry when the first serious test of your faith comes along.

Are you, or are you not, a tree planted? Firm, growing, strong, immovable? If you are “a tree planted”, then know and grasp God’s promises in this verse: (1) you will yield fruit in season. Your life will show forth the glory and majesty of God. Like fruit on a tree, it will be seen. It will be noticed. A tree has no voice to shout out what it possesses and what it has to offer but rarely are the fruits of the tree missed by those who observe the tree. What fruit does your spouse see? Your children? Your co-workers? Your neighbors? Other friends and family members? ; (2) your “leaf” will not wither. Does this simply refer to your eternal appearance? Will you always have some youthful look while planted by streams of water? While all that may truly happen within the marvelous grace of God, the “leaf” of the tree refers more to the essence of beauty of the tree. If the leaf does not wither, then all the life-giving flow of water and nutrients are occurring in the life of that leaf. In John 7:38, Jesus says, “If a man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scriptures has said, streams of living water will flow from within him”. What water; what life! No withering going on in that life, in that “leaf”, connected to the living water of Christ; and (3) whatever you do will prosper. Wow! How do I add comment to that promise? What is excluded from this promise? Nothing! Whether it is marriage, raising a family, a career, church involvement, or whatever, a promise to “prosper” has been given. Does this promise speak only to financial prosperity? Hardly. If anything, it speaks primarily to prosperity of relationships that are close, intimate, trusting, and secure, starting first and foremost with the Lord God Almighty and His precious Son, Jesus Christ. Does this prosperity include anything else? It likely includes the prosperity of character traits such as honesty, integrity, compassion, lovingkindness, forgiving attitude, self-control, faith, love, charity, gentleness, joyful attitude, serenity and peace. This is the prosperity that matters for time and eternity. Earthly prosperity may come also, but remember, it is earthly.

4 and 5: Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

These two verses also contain promises from God that will just as surely come to pass and therefore should be considered with soberness of mind. All the promises of verse 3 discussed above are not available to the wicked. For the wicked there can be no fruit, only withered leaves and certainly no prosperity to the many aspects of life. So just who are “the wicked”? The dictionary would tell you it is one who is evil, immoral, and sinful. How could one so described stand before the Lord? They cannot for as the verse says “the wicked will not stand in the judgment”, a judgment that will be conducted by God Almighty, our Glorious Father. What possibly could the wicked even say before God to justify their wickedness? Nothing, absolutely nothing. I can only picture complete silence and an incredible desire by the wicked to get out of the light of God’s holiness. You see, they love darkness, even when faced with eternal judgment. They cannot sit with or be associated with “the assembly of the righteous”. As Charles Spurgeon said, “Husks and chaff being devoid of substance must fly before the wind”. So tragic it will be for as the verse states, “They are like chaff that blows away”.

But let us stop for just a moment. Are these verses written simply as a comparison of promises for the believer as opposed to the wicked? While this comparison clearly shows the blessing versus the condemnation, there is more here than just that.

If, as a believer, you fully, by faith, grasp these wonderful promises, and as a believer you fully grasp the eternal consequences facing the wicked, are not these verses a call for every believer to seek the lost for Christ? Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost”. That was Christ’s purpose in redemption. Do not these verses in Psalm 1 call us as believers to bring that message of redemption to the wicked, the lost? We must not sit by comfortably as Christians with the great promises of Psalm 1:3. We must seek out those in our circle of life who know not Christ as Savior. Like Paul so wonderfully states in Colossians 1:28-29, “We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me”.

As a believer, do I labor and struggle to see one described as “wicked” become one described as “redeemed”? Do you, beloved? These verses are a call to action. Actually, they are a call to belief! Do you understand and believe God’s promises to both the believer and the wicked? I hope you do because of verse 6.

6: For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

I hope you “get it”! Both pathways of life are secure and set in their eternal outcomes. But by the grace of God and through the shed blood of Christ, the wicked can move from the perishing pathway to the pathway of life. Are we surrendered to God in order that we may be a useful tool in His service?

Let us with Paul proclaim Him, the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, 

or curse the rich in your bedroom,

because a bird of the air may carry your words, 

and a bird on the wing may report what you say.”

Ecclesiastes 10:20

In raising our four daughters, I often reminded the girls of this Bible verse. As the girls reached junior high and high school age, Corene and I many times emphasized the importance of honesty and integrity as character traits by which to live. We also stressed the importance of obedience to our parental decisions, even when those decisions seemed unfair from their standpoint. We encouraged the girls to realize that the matter of trust was something every individual earned; if the girls wanted us, as parents, to trust them, then the girls needed to demonstrate they were trustworthy. We did not trust them just because they were our daughters; we trusted them because they earned it! Telling the truth at all times resulted in an outcome where serious, undesirable consequences were avoided by the girls.

What is the point to this little story? It was pointed out to the girls that we, as parents, did not just expect truth, honesty, and obedience to our face and in our presence when various decisions were made about dating, acceptable movies, various activities, and parties. It was important to maintain these character traits at all times, even in the most private spot a teenage has, their own bedroom. It was important to maintain these character traits when they were out with their friends  without Mom and Dad close at hand to check out what they were doing.

We told the girls that we would not be checking out their activities on the weekends as they were out with their friends! Why? Because , based upon the Bible, “a little birdie” would land on my shoulder, whisper in my ear and make the matter known! As their father, I did not need to sneak around trying to find out what my daughters were actually doing after the Friday and Saturday night high school games. I did not need to find out whether they were obeying the decisions and directions that Corene and I had given. But we reminded the girls often that if you lose the trust we have in you, it is very, very difficult to earn that trust back……..very difficult. So responsibility and accountability for the development of these character traits, including self-discipline and self-control, was firmly placed upon their shoulders. Tell the truth; obey and accept decisions; good consequences. Tell lies; disobey decisions; bad consequences. The choice belonged to the girls.

It actually took a couple of instances before the girls realized the truth of Ecclesiastes 10:20! A couple different occasions occurred in which a daughter did not obey a decision and then lied about it. This daughter had failed to realize that the Bible means what it says and that “a birdie” had, in fact, landed on my shoulder and shared with me exactly the activity my daughter had been involved in; an activity in disobedience to a decision that had been made. When the consequences of this bad choice were dealt with, it goes without saying the impact this had on our other three daughters! They came to understand the truth of the Word of God and the fact that He can make matters known through any little birdie He chooses to use!

The best thing about this story is that now my daughters are teaching the truth of Ecclesiastes 10:20 to their children! What a great legacy!! To God be the glory!!

“Suddenly, just as the executioner’s assistants were about to carry out their orders, [Quasimodo] climbed the balustrade of the gallery and clutched the rope with his hands, knees and feet. The crowd saw him slide down the façade like a raindrop on a windowpane, run over to the executioner’s assistants with the swiftness of a cat, fell them both with his enormous fists, take the gypsy girl in one arm as easily as a child picking up a doll and rush into the church, holding her above his head and shouting in a formidable voice, “Sanctuary!”

Within the walls of Notre Dame the prisoner was inviolable. The cathedral was a recognized place of refuge.”

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Victor Hugo – 1831

Victor Hugo way back in 1831 understood what a church sanctuary was as he wrote his famous, classical novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”. In fact, back in 1831 all of society recognized with reverence what a sanctuary within a church represented. Even in my earliest memories of attending church, the place of worship within the church was always referred to as “the sanctuary”. When entering the sanctuary, I remember there was a quietness and reverence seen and felt. It was inviolable from the rest of the world and all the troubles of the world. There were people sitting in silent prayer, preparing their own hearts and minds for worshiping Almighty God as well as praying for the pastor and participants in the worship service. There was an attitude of worship, of reverence, for there was a realization of being in the presence of God; holy, majestic, and righteous God. It was a solemn place of meeting; man with God and God, through the Holy Spirit, with man.

So what is a sanctuary within a church and why is it important to know? A “sanctuary” is a sacred place regarded as holy. It is a place consecrated or set apart to God. It is a place worthy of or regarded with reverence. It is a place of refuge, free from harm. Matthew 18:20 captures this clearly (Jesus speaking), “For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them.” Don’t miss the fact that Christ is there! Why has the church sanctuary down through the ages been looked upon with such great reverence? A survey of Scripture, God’s Holy Word, is helpful.

In Exodus 15: 17-18, after Moses led the Israelites through the Red Sea, Moses declares, “You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance – the place, O Lord, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, your hands established. The Lord will reign for ever and ever.” Moses and the Israelites recognized the sovereignty and power of God as Pharaoh’s army was defeated. And they recognized the Lord’s desire for a dwelling place among the people, that being the sanctuary.

The Lord’s desire for a sanctuary and dwelling place is further seen in Exodus 25: 8 where the Lord says, “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” It is important to see that the Lord had a desire for a special meeting place, a holy place, a place of refuge, and a place of reverence.

It is also important to see that the passage cited in Exodus 15 preceded the giving of the Law while the passage in Exodus 25 was given after the Ten Commandments and was expressed as a part of the Laws and regulations that were to be followed. What is the point? The matter of the sanctuary, the desire of God for a meeting place with His people and the attitude of reverence for the sanctuary is not a matter of following the Law or a matter of legalism. The Lord wants our fellowship and desires for us to meet with him.

Three passages from the Psalms are also helpful. In Psalm 63: 1-2, David writes, “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.” I appreciate the way that David, who became a king yet was often referred to as just a shepherd boy, so eloquently and simply captures in a few words what we all feel and experience in life. As we face family difficulties, financial difficulties, career difficulties, emotional difficulties, and even spiritual difficulties, it seems that no matter where we turn we are faced with “a dry and weary land where there is no water”. So often our bodies, our minds, our emotions are just plain worn out. But it is precisely at these moments of stress and exhaustion that we begin earnestly to seek the Lord; to thirst for His presence. And as we enter into “the sanctuary”, whether a quiet room at home or the center of worship at a church, we enter with awe and reverence for we seek the face of God. As David stated, in our desire to fellowship with the Lord, it is in the sanctuary that we behold “your power and your glory”.

In Psalm 77: 13, the Psalmist writes, “Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; who is as great a God as our God?” What a precious, encouraging passage. Do you want to “see” and have a better understanding of the way of the Lord? Meet Him in the sanctuary. Meet there with Almighty God and approach His throne of grace with confidence, with reverence. In so doing, you will find that, from the hand of the Lord, you receive mercy and you find grace to help in your time of family, financial, career, emotional and spiritual difficulties. You find the living water of God in the midst of your dry and weary land.

Lastly in Psalm 96: 6, David writes, “Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in His sanctuary.” Clearly an attitude of reverence is in order as we step into the sanctuary to worship and seek the face of God.

Is this attitude of reverence what is seen in today’s churches as people come to worship? Let me first, with great clarity, state that these comments are not about whether a “traditional” service is more appropriate than a “contemporary” service. Quite frankly, I find that whole discussion pointless and perhaps disgusting. The worship service is not about me; it is not about us. Nor is it about the form that is chosen in which to worship. The purpose of the worship service is to meet with God along with others of like precious faith. It is not about making me or anyone else comfortable in a church setting.

But let us get back to the question at hand. As we enter the sanctuary of our respective churches, what is the atmosphere and what do you see and hear? Perhaps discussions of the Saturday college games and whether the coaches met with your approval. Perhaps there are discussions going on about lunch plans. Perhaps the youth are discussing the fun experienced during the weekend. In many situations, even the church orchestra or praise band are tuning their instruments for the soon to begin “performance”. If he stepped into our churches today, Victor Hugo might just wonder what we all are thinking!! No reverence for God? No quiet prayer and reflection as we approach the throne of grace? No awareness that others may be greatly hurting and needing a touch from the Lord on this most holy day and in this holy place? No sense that God is there? As we today look around the sanctuary, where is the silence of reverence? Where is the sense of a sacred meeting with God? Why does there seem to be this “buzz” of activity going on in the sanctuary until the worship leader loudly proclaims “Welcome to our service today!”

The Lord’s own words to Ezekiel found in Ezekiel 22: 26 are well worth grasping. In this passage, the Lord is lamenting the sins of the leaders and the people. The Lord says to Ezekiel in verse 26, “Her priests do violence to my laws and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.” In this passage, what does the word “profane” mean? To “profane my holy things” means to look upon them as merely secular and not sacred things; to show no respect for these holy and sacred things; and to show irreverence toward the things of God. In this passage, what does the word “common” mean? To “not distinguish between the holy and the common” means to draw no difference between the sacred things of God and those things which are ordinary, low, vulgar, course, offensive and indecent. Some of our pre-service discussions within the sanctuary fall into these categories.

As believers in the saving, redemptive work of God through the Lord Jesus Christ, we must draw clear lines of distinction between the holy and the common. We must not profane the name of the Lord in anything we do or say. The sanctuary is a holy meeting place for us to meet God. It is the place of reverence and worship. It is the place to set aside the important and not so important matters of the world. And again, with great clarity, this attitude of reverence is not about “legalism”, which for some is simply code for demanding freedom to do one’s own thing. This is about the worship of God and having reverence for His name. The sanctuary is where we meet with God and God meets with us. It is a time of rejoicing, praise, and worship, remembering all that God has done for us as unworthy sinners saved by His grace and mercy. And this rejoicing, praise, and worship should all be done in an attitude of awe and reverence and of prayer and thankfulness.

Psalm 150 is perhaps the most instructive Psalm for us to consider:

“Praise the Lord.

Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in his mighty heavens.

Praise Him for his acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness.

Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet; praise Him with the harp and lyre,

praise Him with the tambourine and dancing; praise Him with the strings and flute,

praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.”

Let us “praise the Lord” with an attitude of awe, with an attitude of reverence in the sanctuary.