For the Fatherless - Malachi 4:6

“And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”- Malachi 4:6

    Any clear thinking individual knows that children raised in single parent homes are more likely to suffer from social problems such as dropping out of high-school, teen pregnancy, alcohol or drug related problems, criminal behavior and/or suicide. As the research shows that the absentee fathers suffer from this epidemic as well (higher rates of drug and alcohol use, incarceration, etc.), the mothers of these children have their share of problems as well, but as is the case in the majority of circumstances the children live with the mother. So what of the children of these single-parent homes?
    “A study using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health explored the relationship between family structure and risk of violent acts in neighborhoods. The results revealed that if the number of fathers is low in a neighborhood, then there is an increase in acts of teen violence. The statistical data showed that a 1 percent increase in the proportion of single-parent families in a neighborhood is associated with a 3 percent increase in an adolescent’s level of violence. In other words, adolescents who live in neighborhoods with lower proportions of single-parent families and who report higher levels of family integration commit less violence.”
Source: Knoester, C., & Hayne, D. A. (2005). Community context, social integration into family, and youth violence. Journal of Marriage and Family, 67, 767-780.
    As we watch the violence unfold in Baltimore, MD. We must wonder if God’s words to the Prophet are not coming back to haunt us. “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.”
 - Malachi 4:1. Root nor branch; father nor son?
    Baltimore in flames? Children running amuck? Attacking and fighting with the police? Yes, the signs are all there. But what is law enforcement’s role in all of this? They are certainly responsible for their behavior; are they not? Are we then without answer? Are we now without recourse or remedy? Our Lord God would not leave us without either; but we must listen to His words to the Prophet - “Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.” - Malachi 4:4. Clearly, God has expressed Himself with a clearness that is hard to undermine. “‘Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.’” - Malachi 3:7.
     We know what fuels the hatred and anger in these fatherless communities. We can only wonder that if the fathers of these young men were present in their lives would these children still be out on the streets causing mayhem? And what of the law enforcement agencies involved? Is there no reasonable way to police a society without the unexplained deaths of our citizens? Let us all pray that the children of these absent fathers and these men who absently father those children return to God as we must too. “Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.”

Paul’s Sharpest Rebuke - Galatians 5:12

 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! - Galatians 5:12

    Paul is on fire. And I mean ON FIRE! But before we delve into the exact meaning of Paul’s rather gruesome remark I think it would be best to remember the reason for his letter to the Galatians in the first place.
    Paul’s mission to Galatia had been successful. The churches he established there were vibrant communities so when it came to his attention that Judaizers had infiltrated the churches there he became understandably upset. You see, more than simply casting aspersions upon Paul’s credentials these false teachers had placed the Gospel itself in jeopardy. So yes, He became upset.
    It seems they wanted to subject these gentile Christian converts to the impossible ordinances of “the law.” And first on the list was circumcision! After Paul had preached freedom in the salvation that Christ had provided, these purveyors of the “works gospel” were creeping in like some insidious disease and Paul wasn’t having any of it.
    Paul’s love for the Gospel was as intense as his defense of it was ferocious. But could he have really meant to suggest that those who infiltrated the ranks of the church and denied the proficiency of the Cross should actually . . .? That, brothers and sisters is exactly what Paul was suggesting, at least in the figurative sense.
    “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” - Matthew 5:29-30. In this passage Jesus suggests a course of action to sinners that parallels Paul’s rebuke of the false teachers. Did Christ actually mean for people to pluck out their own eyes and cut off their own limbs? Literally? No! What our Lord was doing was making use of an hyperbole, and doing so in the most extreme sense. His intent was to make His disciples understand the gravity of their sin and what that sin would cost them. And this was precisely what Paul was doing when he issued his imprecatory wish to the Galatians: he was making the point that he would rather these “wolves” castrate themselves then have their false gospel compel the Galatians to return to a works based religion. Now that’s a hell-fire preacher! I don’t think I’m going out on a limb when I suggest we could use more preachers like Paul in today’s churches.
    May we all share Paul’s  fire for the truth of the Gospel and reject any false teacher who tells us that we need more than Christ for salvation.

God, Manifested - Psalm 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.
 - Psalm 19:1

     We look out upon the creation: the oceans, the stars, the forests, the mountains and we wonder what, where, how, when, why . . . who? Even the least spiritual among men has been filled with wonderment. Despite eons of discovery and revelation those least spiritual are still filled with that wonderment. But their questions have been brought down to how, when, and why because the “who” has been revealed. “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?” - Job 38:4-5 Still, the least spiritual among men deny what has clearly been revealed to them.  “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” - Romans 1:20-21.
    In how many ways has God manifested  Himself to us through nature? “O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions -  This great and wide sea, in which are innumerable teeming things, living things both small and great.” - Psalm 104:24-25.
    Let us continually praise God that we never forget the “who” behind creation and all the wonderment of the earth.   

Our Christian Calling - Matthew 28: 19-20

 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
 - Matthew 20:19-20

    The disturbing rise in Christian persecution around the globe has many of us suggesting that martyrdom is the natural calling for today’s evangelists. I heartily disagree with that notion. We are not called to lay down our lives for our faith. While it is true that in many places in the world, contemporary Christians do face the imminent threat of death, but we fulfill no Christ-given directive if we deliberately lay our heads on the chopping block. In fact, our Lord and Savior gave us an entirely different command in the upper room at the last Supper. “Then He said to them, ‘But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.’” - Luke 22:36.
    Christ’s command here is not intended to be a “call to arms,” as some have suggested. But it is clear that He was referring to self-defense for His disciples. Of course there will be the contrarian who interjects, “What about Christ’s directive in Matt 5:39 or Luke 6:29?” I simply refuse to even entertain a debate regarding the idea of “turning the other cheek.” It is clear that our Lord was referring to simple insult here rather than a physical assault and if it isn’t clear to the contrarian, it should be. “But what about Christ’s command to Peter in Matthew 26:52 to ‘put away’ his sword in the Garden of Gethsemane?” Once again, such an objection is based on a false premise.  Christ’s surrender to the temple guard was to fulfill the prophecies. Jesus wasn’t admonishing Peter for simply drawing his sword. Peter was intent upon curtailing what had been foretold. Christ didn’t say, “Get rid of that sword,” or “throw that sword away.” He simply said, “Put it away,” allowing that it my be needed at another time! Christ’s warning that “they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” (Matthew 26:52 [b]) was merely an admonishment that men whose lives were constantly led by the sword would eventually die by the sword. It was not a condemnation of reasonable self-defense.
    No, our Christian calling is not to submissively lay down our lives; our calling is to spread the Gospel; however, if in the carrying out of that great commission we are to lose our lives then so be it; we will have exhibited the greatest love - “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” - 1 John 3:16.
    We must, as Paul said, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” - 2 Timothy 4:2. We pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in the dangerous places of this fallen world. May they have the fortitude to continue spreading the Good News that is Jesus Christ! And in those moments of threatened physical persecution may they be able to defend themselves  if it is God’s will and may they live and preach another day.

Living Among The Dead - Luke 24:5

Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”  - Luke 24:5

    The women came to Christ’s tomb seeking to dress His body with a spice mixture designed to anoint Him. They came seeking the ravaged body of the man they called “Lord.” What they encountered when they arrived at the tomb caused them great concern: they found the stone barricade rolled back and an empty tomb. Suddenly, two angels appeared to them and asked them a question; the answer to which became a fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith: Christ resurrected from the dead!
    The importance of the risen Christ can not be amplified enough. Theologian, R.C. Sproul wrote, “The resurrection of Jesus is the sine qua non of the Christian faith. Take away the resurrection and you take away Christianity.” (Sproul, R.C. , “Who Is Jesus”1983)
    The resurrection of Jesus give us the assurance of eternal life; a life without pain or fear; a life without sickness; a life everlasting. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” - John 3:16.
    Of course we must believe in Christ Jesus, but faith must accompany our belief in Him. “ . . . that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” - Romans 10:9
    But the question posed in our title verse could possibly be seen from a more subtle and ominous place; one that should bear witness to the unbelieving masses. The final four words “. . . living among the dead.” Posed as a declarative sentence in the present tense, it speaks to the eternity of those who refuse to believe, to those without faith. They will forever live among the spiritually dead. Their existence will be one filled with the darkness and eternal misery of the absence of God. Is it any wonder that we who believe celebrate Christ’s resurrection? For us it means everlasting life, saved by Christ to “glorify God and enjoy him forever.” For us Christ’s resurrection means everything!
    Let us praise our Lord today, Resurrection Sunday, and let us share the Good News with those who have yet to enjoy the assurance of God’s rock solid promise to all who believe in His Son, our Lord and Savior - Jesus Christ!

The Perfect Sacrifice - Romans 5:9

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. - Romans 5:9

    Justification and salvation: Two acts which man is ultimately unable to provide for himself. Two acts which had to come through the one mediator between God and men, Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). Just as surely as there could be no resurrection without crucifixion, there could be no salvation without justification. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” - Leviticus 17:11. Atonement for our sins demanded that blood be shed..
    Many will tirelessly argue that a merciful loving God would never make such a horrendous demand of His only begotten Son. And a less than holy god probably would not, but our God is a holy God and His holiness cannot bear the mere sight of sin. “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness.” - Habakkuk 1:13(a). Our God demands atonement. And not just any atonement, but the perfect lamb of God. Enter Jesus Christ.
    The sacrifice always demanded a lamb that was spotless without blemish, a perfect lamb. And the perfect life of obedience that Jesus lived was evidence of His spotless life, a life without the blemish of sin. His was perfect obedience, and to this spotless and sinless life God Almighty would transfer our sins.
    “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21. This was the effect of the crucifixion: Christ bore our sins and to us was imputed Christ’s righteousness. We are justified by His blood. God laid all the sins of mankind on Christ while God then attributed Christ’s righteous obedience to us. But this was just one aspect of our ultimate salvation.
    After the shedding of His holy blood, Christ Jesus died and was buried. If our story ended here there would be no honor, no glory, no eternal bliss in heaven, no salvation - just a Messiah . . . dead and buried.
     “Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.” Romans 4:23-25. We are forgiven our sins, justified by the blood of Jesus Christ, and saved from eternal condemnation. In Christ’s rising we find our eternal salvation by belief and faith in Christ alone! The cross was for our justification; the open grave was for our salvation. We simply could not have the latter without the former!
    This Resurrection Sunday, may we all give thanks to God Almighty for His unmerited grace to us - an undeserved grace that saves us from what we truly deserve; a grace that gives us eternal salvation through the cross and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Obedience: The Face Of Faith - Hebrews 11:8

 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. - Hebrews 11:8

    We have seen faith defined - “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” - Hebrews 11:1. And we know what faith does - “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” - Romans 3:28. But if it is evidence of things not seen and we are saved “sola fide” (by faith alone) then what does faith look like? What is the true face of faith?  How can we possibly recognize true saving faith?
    “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” - Genesis 5:24. We see from some of the earliest books of the Bible that God favors those who walk in His ways. Enoch was one of the first to illustrate saving faith. But examples of such true saving faith are numerous throughout holy scripture. “But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” - Luke 5:5. Simon Peter, having spent his entire night fishing with no result went back out onto the water at Christ’s behest and at His command . . . at His word, Peter again let down his nets. This time the reward was manifest in a net so full of fish it could hardly be hoisted into the boat. That is another prime snapshot of faith.
    So in just a few examples of three great men of faith we see a pattern developing. These three men all did something which helped to illustrate their faith in God. Abraham “went out”; Enoch “walked” with God; Peter “let down the net.” They all obeyed God.
    Obedience isn’t simply something we add to our faith; it is the very picture of faith . . . according to Jesus Christ! “But He said, ‘More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’” - Luke 11:28. Obedience isn’t merely a command of Christ; it goes to the very heart of our faith. No, we aren’t saved by our works but our faith is exemplified by our obedience. “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” - 1 John 2:6. Here John is calling us all out in plain language to “walk the walk.” Obedience is the very face of faith!
    While many still argue that Paul and James differed on what it took to be saved: faith alone or works. The fact is, both agreed that it was by faith alone, but a faith the bore the fruit of righteous works: obedience. “ But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' And he was called the friend of God.” - James 2: 20-23.  Our Blessed Lord Himself illustrated the importance of walking the walk and not merely talking the talk - “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” - Matthew 7:17. Not some, Christ said, “every good tree . . .”. The great Prince of Preachers, Charles H. Spurgeon once said that “the first fruit of faith is obedience.” Obedience is the face of faith.
    And what were the compelling words of Jesus regarding those who fail to walk the walk?  “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” - Matthew 7:21-23. Mind you, ours is not to sit back and judge the obedience of others. Once again, I quote Spurgeon - “It is not so much our business to be weeding other people’s gardens as to keep our own vineyard.”
    Holy scripture makes it abundently clear that faith is recognizable. Faith does indeed have a face. This is not to say that walking in “the way” is an easy walk. So may we all pray to the Holy Spirit for the strength to help us get up when we have fallen; the strength that will assist us in our endeavor to “walk the walk;” the strength to put on the face of true saving faith - obedience.