Facing the Log

"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:3-5).

After John 3:16, this may be the second most known passage of Scripture. People who rarely darken the doors of a church will know this verse, and will even be quick to apply it when someone confronts them about sin in their lives.

And church-goers will use it to dodge their responsibility of caring enough for the needs of their brothers in Christ to confront them in their sin.  "What right do I have to confront them, when I have such a big log in my own eye? I better retreat and not do anything."

Which usually means, not do anything about the speck or the log.

Maybe some not so obvious lessons would help us to understand and apply this passage better.

1. Both parties have a problem.

2. Both parties know that the other person has a problem.

3. Both parties need help.

4. Both parties need to work on their own sins and help the other with his.

So why do we find it so hard to deal with the log in our own eyes?

"We can only do this when we rest in the gospel, trusting in the finished work of Christ. Apart from Him, we trust in our own record. We're convinced that it's up to us to measure up. We refuse to admit failures because they impugn the record and reputation we're so desperate to establish. And anyone who tries to challenge us on sin is a threat" (Sexual Sanity for Men, by David White, pg 159).

We desire to hide behind a false front.

We want everyone to think that we've got everything under control.

We aren't resting in the finished work of Christ.

We think our sins are too big for God to forgive.

We believe that God's Word and His Spirit aren't really strong enough to help us have victory.

And the log keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger.

"Embracing that simple truth (the atoning work of Christ on the cross) enables us to face the worst things about ourselves because on one hand we know that our sin was atoned for. And on the other hand, as we trust in the peace and reconciliation we have with God, we are free from the slavery of our own record and reputation. We have the love and approval of the only One who ultimately matters. We have a surety in the finished work of Christ that gives us the courage to face the log in our own eye and get out the ax" (Sexual Sanity for Men, by David White, pg 160).

The School of Satisfaction

"My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
And my mouth will praise You with joyful lips,
When I remember You upon my bed,
And meditate on You in the watches of the night,
For You have been my help,
and in the shadow of Your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me."

Psalm 63:5-8

Satisfaction. Like at the end of a Thanksgiving dinner. Feeling good and ready to relax.

That's the type of relationship we crave with others, but most importantly with God.

How did David get to that point? How did he reach the point of being satisfied with God?

He was satisfied with God as he remembered the work of God in his times of difficulty.

He could look back over the trials and remember how God had delivered him. That brought satisfaction to him.

No one else stood by him when he fought Goliath.

God alone rescued him over and over from the hand of Saul.

Even his brothers ridiculed him.

Now as he looks back, he is satisfied in God.

But what did it take for David to learn to be satisfied? What was required in the school of satisfaction?

Trials.

If David hadn't stood before Goliath, he wouldn't have seen God's hand of deliverance.

If David hadn't been running for his life from Saul and his army for over a decade, he wouldn't have experienced God's protection.

If David hadn't been ridiculed by his brothers, he wouldn't have experienced God's companionship.

None of us want trials, but it's through trials that we learn to be satisfied in God.

When everything else is taken away from us.

When we find no answers.

When hope has vanished.

That's when we learn that God is our only source of satisfaction.

And then our souls can be satisfied as with fat and rich food.

God is a God of Pleasure

"You make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence there is fullness of joy;
At your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Psalm 16:11

Isn't that a bit hard for us to understand?

God gives us joy. Fullness of joy. Not just a happy feeling, but FULLNESS.

And pleasures?

Really?

I thought God was a spoiler. A giver of lists of what we should and should not do.

At your right hand - easily accessible to Him. Powerful. Important to Him.

Forevermore. Never ending pleasure. Not going to end like a day at the fair.

But we seek to fulfill our pleasures from so many other sources.

Relationships. Money. Power. Sex. Drugs. Alcohol. Tobacco.

Fast cars and fast women.

Prominence. New house. New job.

Those things may give us a brief high. But they aren't going to give us fullness of joy or pleasures forevermore.

"Our desires aren't insatiable - they are infinite. He intends them to be focused on Him. Only His infiniteness will satisfy the depth of our desires. Only an infinite love will ultimately bring contentment to your soul. Hear His promise from Psalm 107:9, 'For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things.'

"Will you surrender to this King who in love entered your suffering, walked through the pain of your trials, offers you the grace to know His joy in the midst of this life, and in the world to come offers beauty and pleasure that infinitely transcend your imagination?" (White, David. Sexual Sanity for Men, p 128).

A Deuteronomical Conundrum

"For if you will be careful to do all this commandment that I command you to do...then the LORD will drive out all these nations before you..." (Deuteronomy 11:22-23).

Doesn't that contradict Deuteronomy 9:4-5 and yesterday's post?

In chapter 9, Moses tells the people it's because of God's righteousness and God's promise that He will drive out all the nations. Now, just a few minutes later in the same sermon, Moses says that if they obey, then the LORD will drive them out.

Has Moses spent too much time in the desert?

Did God change His mind?

Is it all about God? Or all about Israel's obedience?

Or is it 50-50? God will do His part, if Israel obeys?

The beginning of the chapter is important for understanding this apparent contradiction. Moses had recounted incidences of Israel's rebellion and God's acts of power in chapters 9 and 10.

Chapter 11 begins, "You shall therefore love the LORD your God and keep His charge..."

Israel's rebellion. God's greatness. Therefore, love and obey.

Their rebellion was an evidence of their lack of love.

God's great acts of deliverance was an evidence of His plan and promise - in spite of Israel's rebellion.

Israel's proper response is not to continue in disobedience, but to love and obey.

God is great, faithful and loving, even when His children choose to disobey.

The response is not to continue to rebel, because God is going to be great, faithful and loving anyway.

The proper response is to love and obey. Turn from the rebellion because God is great, faithful and loving.

God was going to drive out the nations, because it was time to punish their sin and to keep His promise to Abraham.

Israel's choice to obey and love God was not going to change God's plan.

So why this condition? "If you obey, I will drive out the nations."

Anyone got a solution?

It's Not Because of You

When things go well, we like to take credit. And it's easy to turn it into a spiritual victory.

We probably wouldn't say these things aloud, but how easily do we think them:

"I've been giving generously, so God has blessed me with a raise."

"I've disciplined my children, so they turned out well."

"I've been faithfully witnessing, so this person got saved."

"I've been praying for a long time about this, and God answered my prayers."

We act and talk and pray as if our good deeds deserve the attention and reward of God.

We think it's all about us.

Preparing the people of Israel to go into the Promised Land, Moses warned them:

"Do not say in your heart, after the LORD your God has thrust them out before you'It is because of my righteousness that the LORD has brought me in to possess this land," whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out before you...and that He may confirm the word that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob" (Deuteronomy 9:4-5).

It wasn't their great military strength.

It wasn't their stalwart spirituality.

It wasn't because they deserved a break today.

God would drive out the inhabitants for two reasons: to punish sin and to keep His promise.

It had nothing to do with the Israelites and everything to do with God.

And so the people would remember, Moses recited the numerous times of rebellion in the years in the wilderness.

Likewise when good things happen to you, it has nothing to do with you.

It's not because you were faithful to God, your spouse or your church.

It's not because you prayed long, gave more, or witnessed often.

It's because God has a plan.

It's because God keeps His word.

It's because of God's grace.

It's because of God's mercy.

You just happen to be a part of His plan, a recipient of His promises evidenced through His grace and mercy in your life.

When the View is Blocked

In Psalm 57, David is writing on the run. He has just escaped Saul from whom he has been running for quite a long time already.When we read the accounts of this part of David's life, it doesn't seem like it was very long. But he was on the run for about 15 years!

David knew that God had appointed him to be the next king of Israel. He knew God's big plan, but didn't always understand what God was doing that day.

Isn't it the same way when we are going through difficult times?

We know that God has a plan. We know that He is trustworthy.

But how am I going to get through today?

Read this psalm and look at what David did.

He didn't deny the problems. He didn't try to solve the problem.

He focused on God.

Look at his description of God:

God is merciful.

God protects.

God hears prayer.

God has a plan and will fulfill it.

God will deliver.

God will show His unlimited mercy and  unlimited faithfulness.

God will be exalted and glorified.

In the midst of trials, it's very easy to look at ourselves and have a pity party. But that's not helpful.

Rather, we need to look at God.

Make a list of His attributes.

Add to that list how you've seen them in your life - even in the last week.

Don't let Satan obscure your vision of God by directing your focus to yourself.

Glorious Freedom

Just heard this song on Spotify, sung by the Gaither Vocal Band. I didn't realize it was a classic - almost 100 years old.

A great song about the freedom from EVERYTHING through Christ. Romans 6:22; 8:2.

Once I was bound by sin's galling fetters,
Chained like a slave, I struggled in vain;

But I received a glorious freedom,

When Jesus broke my fetters in twain.

Refrain:

Glorious freedom, wonderful freedom,

No more in chains of sin I repine!

Jesus the glorious Emancipator,

Now and forever He shall be mine.

Freedom from all the carnal affections,

Freedom from envy, hatred and strife;

Freedom from vain and worldly ambitions,

Freedom from all that saddened my life.

Freedom from pride and all sinful follies,

Freedom from love and glitter of gold;

Freedom from evil, temper, and anger,

Glorious freedom, rapture untold.

Freedom from fear with all of its torments,

Freedom from care with all of its pain;

Freedom in Christ, my blessed Redeemer,

He who has rent my fetters in twain.

- Haldor Lillenas and Alfred Judson, 1917

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

Today's sermon was from 1 John 2:7-11.

"He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes" (v 9-11).

John is continuing his argument, laying proofs for knowing whether or not you are truly a Christian.

Here it's pretty clear: If you say you're a Christian, but hate your brother, you're a liar.

One of the cross-references that Pastor used was Leviticus 19:17-18.

"You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself."

He brought this up to support 1 Jn 2:7-8 - this is not a new commandment. It's as old as Moses!

It also gives us some practical insight into what it means to love your neighbor.

Don't hate him in your heart, but reason frankly with him, lest you incur sin because of him. That parallels Ephesians 4: Don't let the sun go down on your wrath. Don't let Satan gain a foothold.

When I love someone, I will have to talk with him.

Rather than become bitter because of something he said or did, I may have to ask for clarification and let him know of his offense against me.

I may have to ask him for forgiveness.

I may have to pull him away from his sin, so that he doesn't pull me in with him.

I may have to ask for help so that I don't go down the path of self-pity and loneliness.

I may have to offer help, rather than ignore his challenges.

"You shall not take vengeance."

If I love someone I won't seek to get even for a wrong they did.

"You shall not bear a grudge."

I will forgive him and not bring it up against him, before God, before myself or before others.

I will be patient.

I will be understanding.

I will be encouraging.

Love is more than Sunday dinner around the table - though food and fellowship are always helpful toward building relationships!

It's an attitude that permeates our interactions with others.

Humble before Man and God

In Numbers 16, Korah led a rebellion against the leadership of Moses and Aaron. He stirred up 250 leaders to challenge their authority.

"We are all holy. What gives you the right to rule over us?" was their argument.

Moses and Aaron responded by falling on their faces before these men.

They humbled themselves.

They plead with these men to remember the position of service that God had given them in the tabernacle. And then they challenged them to a duel.

"Come in the morning with your censers and we'll let God decide," was the challenge.

The next day, God told Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the people. He would wipe them out for their rebellion.

Moses and Aaron responded by falling on their faces before God.

They humbled themselves.

They plead for mercy, asking God to punish those who were guilty, not all the people.

Korah came before the tabernacle. Moses said to the people that if these men died natural causes, then they were innocent. But if the earth swallowed them up, then they were guilty.

The earth swallowed them up.

Some of the accusers challenged the authority even further by refusing to come to the duel.

They were burned by fire from the tabernacle.

The next day, the people came back to Moses and Aaron and grumbled, "You have killed the people of the LORD."

Again, God told Moses and Aaron to separate from the people and He would just kill them all.

Again, Moses and Aaron fell on their faces, pleading for mercy.

Moses sent Aaron out into the camp with the censer to appease God and stop the plague that had already started.

About 15,000 people died in those two days.

Moses and Aaron illustrated humble leadership.

They put the honor of God and the benefit of the people before their own power.

They could have stepped aside and said, "Okay, God. We're tired of them, too. Let's move on without this dead weight."

But they remembered God's promise to bring this people to the promised land. They remembered the glory that God had revealed in Egypt and how that glory would be diminished if the people died.

They remembered that they were servants of God, not partners. They were to do His will, not their own.

How are we leading in the realms where God has placed us?

Taking Thoughts Captive

Our struggles with temptation begin in the mind.

We let our thoughts wander toward something that we don't have.

A new car.

A new house.

A new spouse.

Paul instructs by example: "we destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Cor 10:5).

It's important to note that it's not "take every thought captive" as a stand alone. The last three words are vital for victory over temptation.

"To obey Christ."

It's not just a matter of choosing to control our thought lives.

It's a matter of obedience.

When we choose to follow our temptations into sin, we are choosing to obey our temptations, our lusts, our desires, ourselves.

When Jesus was tempted by Satan, He answered with Scripture: "It is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve'" (Luke 4:8).

That should be easy to remember. That should help us to take our thoughts captive to obey Christ.

When faced with a temptation, I have to decide to worship and serve God, not myself.

When I give into temptation, I'm worshiping and serving myself.

When I want to flee temptation, I have to choose to worship and serve God.

That's even a good question to ask ourselves when faced with temptation:

"If I follow through with this temptation, will I be worshiping and serving myself, or worshiping and serving God?"

Two choices are on the shelf.
Serving God, or serving self.

Boldness of a Little Old Lady

"And coming up at that very hour she (Anna) began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him (Jesus) to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem" (Luke 2:38).

Anna was a familiar face in the Jerusalem Temple. She had been going there every day for decades. the priests and the Levites knew her. No doubt, even those who lived in the country and only came into the Temple for the festivals had talked with her and heard her story.

When she sees the Messiah, the baby Jesus with Mary and Joseph, she has a new story to tell.

"She began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him."

Can't you just see this sweet little old lady beam as she realizes that God is fulfilling His promises?

Then she turns to those around her. Those people who had seen her all their lives saw something different in her that day.

"Here He is! It's the Messiah! The one prophesied about in Isaiah! He has come to deliver us!"

Am I that excited to talk about the Messiah?

Do I boldly speak out, giving thanks to God outside of my family and church?

Lord, give me the excitement of this little old lady.