Today's Ruminating in the Word of God: The narrow door.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 13:24,

"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to."

This is the response Jesus gave when asked the question, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" Jesus pointed to the many of his day, and of the many down through the ages who will try to enter into God's family, that is, to be saved, but will be unable to do so. 

Oddly, there is a major theological tradition today that attempts to tell us that most people have no interest into the things of God. I find this to be something of a bizarre perspective because of the many religions, cults and -isms and so on that confidently claim to have a hold on the kingdom of God. Many seek the spiritual and many seek God. All the pollsters tell us that atheists comprise just a minority of the population of our country as most believe in some form of "higher being". We are never told in Scripture that man, in his depravity and fallen condition, has no interest in the things of God. While that may be true of many, what Scripture does tell us, as the Lord does here, is that many want to do things their own way. They will try to "enter" but be unable to do so.

Jesus tells us to make every effort to enter through the narrow door. God has laid a "stumbling stone" in man's path. That stumbling stone is Jesus Christ. Paul quotes Isaiah in Romans 9:30-33, "The Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone." As it is written: 'See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.'" In John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

The truth Jesus gave in this passage is that mankind, in his depravity and sinful rebellion determines he is going to do things his own way. Rejecting God's offer of forgiveness through faith to embrace the punishment Jesus took on himself for our sins, faith in him for many simply won't do. So many religions have hoops for folks to jump through with many rules and regulations to prove to God they are worthy of salvation.

You can put lipstick on a pig and in the end, you still have a pig (although cosmetically enhanced). Being a do-gooder will never get us into God's family as it only makes one a well-behaved sinner. Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way. He is the narrow door, the narrow way. Unfortunately most, in their rebellion and sin, want to do things in their own way. Many will try to enter and "will not be able to." As John tells us in John 1:12, "To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."

May we all make every effort to enter through the narrow door!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Ruminating in the Word of God: The patience of God.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 13:8-9,

"'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it [a barren fig tree] alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'"

Here is the response of the man who took care of a vineyard for its owner. In the vineyard a fig tree had been planted and the owner wanted to have it removed after expecting fruit from it but not finding any for three years, "Cut it down!". In this parable Jesus said the caretaker of the vineyard told the owner to give it another year, he would work with it to see if it would bear fruit.

This speaks to me of a few things about the Lord. The first is that he has an expectation that we bring to fruition that which he as created us for. Just as the vineyard owner expected what he wanted from the fig tree, so God expects we fulfill our purpose in this life by embracing him in faith and joining his family. I find that thought captured in a comment Jesus gave his followers, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." John 6:29. 

The second is that just as the vineyard owner decided he wanted to cut down the unproductive fig tree and cast it out of his vineyard, so he will judge anyone who does not embrace him in faith. I am reminded of Jesus words in the sermon on the mount, "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." Matthew 7:19. We read of God's judgment in Revelation 20:15, "If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

A third thought that comes to mind is the intercession of the man who took care of the vineyard in behalf of this unproductive tree. He tells the vineyard owner he will dig around it and fertilize it. Whatever it takes, the man will do his best to bring this tree into a condition where it fulfilled the purpose for which it was planted. Likewise, I am reminded of all Jesus does to draw us to himself, that fulfills the purpose for that which God has brought us into existence. Jesus said in John 12:32, "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." Jesus also said he would send the Holy Spirit, "When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned." John 16:8-11. Jesus does all he can to bring us to the purpose for which we were created. The choice remains ours, but look at what he has done to draw us to himself!

A fourth thought is the patience and forbearance of God. Just as the vineyard owner kept coming back year after year for three years to look for fruit, and assuming his agreeing with the caretaker of the vineyard for another year, so we see God's patience in waiting for us to come to him. In pointing to his reader's need of salvation, Paul says, "Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?" Romans 2:4. Likewise Peter tells us, "He [the Lord] is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9b.

This is a beautiful parable that tells us much about God's patience as well as his expectations of us. I do acknowledge that at the end of it the caretaker of the vineyard told the vineyard owner that if the fig tree did not bear fruit within the next year, "then cut it down." Our God is a loving, kind and patient God. However, there is a limit to God's patience, the end of which is found in a fiery lake of burning sulfur we read of in Revelation 21:8.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Ruminating in the Word of God: Our good God gives good gifts!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 11:11-13,

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Here Jesus points to the goodness of God expressed in the good gifts he gives. If even sinful man can give good things to their children, how much more can our heavenly Father, who is pristine in character, who is called love (1 John 4:8,16), who is without fault give us perfect gifts? I am reminded of James words, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17.

God our Father is good, he is without stain or wrinkle in his pristine character. In his perfection he gives gifts and his gifts are good and perfect. Through the salvation he provides us, Jesus tells us that God gives the good gift of the Holy Spirit. Paul said in his letter to the Ephesians, "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." What a wonderful gift this is!

Jesus himself is the model of perfection of all good, in speaking of Jesus Christ, the author of Hebrews tells us, "Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens." Hebrews 7:26. The gift he provides us brings us perfection, "When this priest [Jesus Christ] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." Hebrews 10:12-14.

Surely our God is good and gives good and perfect gifts!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Ruminating in the Word of God: Jesus Christ - Provocateur.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 11:38,

"The Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised."

I wonder what might surprise me today about the Lord? It is not difficult to see the Lord intended to "surprise" and provoke this Pharisee.

In the following chapter Jesus pointed out that he came to "bring fire on earth", Luke 12:49. In that passage he goes on to say, "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." Jesus came as a provocateur.

The accounts we have of the Lord provide many occurrences where he challenged the well-established religious practices and teachings of the day. The Son of God confronts not only sinners in the midst of their sins but also the religious and the do-gooders in the midst of their labors. The above account of a surprised Pharisee includes an expert in the law who complains, "Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also."

At times I wonder if I am all too comfortable in what I perceive to be those activities I assume must please the Lord. Certainly many were shocked in Jesus' day and even dismayed at the Lord's challenge of the things they assumed God desired from them. I wonder what all we do today the Lord would confront us about.

The Lord has his own agenda and what he seeks is often not what many have assumed. I am reminded of Isaiah 29:13-14, "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

Perhaps some well-needed examination of myself is routinely in order to insure I do not find myself in his crosshairs. Not just in my sin, but also in my "religious" assumptions and activities as well.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Ruminating in the Word of God: The Lord takes what he wants!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 11:21-22,

"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils."

When Jesus was accused of casting demons out of afflicted people by Beelzebub, "the prince of demons", in this case a man who was mute from a demonic presence, he responded, "a house divided against itself will fall." He went on to say that if he drove out demons by "the finger of God", then the kingdom of God had come to them. It was a sobering observation of the Lord that God was moving and the presence of God's kingdom had come to them as evidenced by the things Jesus was doing.

It is this further observation of the Lord that captures my heart. In it, Satan is pictured as a "strong man" attempting to keep his possessions to himself. But now that the Lord is here, as a much stronger opponent, he attacks and overpowers the devil, crushes his defenses, and takes what he wants.

And he wants us! "For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16.

There is nothing in the cosmos that can keep the Lord from what he wants. His disposition of love for us makes this reality something to behold in wonder and excitement! His intentions for us is what life has always been designed to be in the perfection of beauty, satisfaction and fulfillment that could only be designed by God himself!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Ruminating in the Word of God: God responds when we seek him!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 11:9-10,

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

The Scriptures are called "revelation" because within them we find so much about God we would otherwise not know. Additionally, within the pages of Scripture we find the authoritative word on what God is like, what his expectations are, his agenda and what he is doing on planet earth.

There are many today who feel that God has predetermined all that happens. If God has decided you will be saved, then saved you will be! If he has pre-determined you are not to be saved, then anything you do will never be able to change that. It is the ultimate in fatalism. 

However, in the Scriptures, Jesus simply does not present God in that way. Here Jesus Christ says if we seek God out, he will respond. This can only be true if God might not act if we don't seek him. Otherwise what Jesus Christ taught is misleading and without merit.

Jesus Christ's observation on his statement about God responding to our seeking him is that God knows how to give good gifts. He says, "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:11-13. I note the gift Jesus has in mind here is the gift of the Holy Spirit. As we know from many passages in Scripture, as say Romans 8:9-11, he is speaking of salvation here.  That passage in Romans says, "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you." If we ask God, if we seek him, if we knock on his door he will respond to us with his wonderful gift of salvation.

God is interactive with us, just like a real person! If we respond to him, he responds back! Far from a pre-arranged script that unfolds without any regard to the choices, desires and heart-felt expressions on the part of people and God, we find in the Scriptures that if we make the choice, if we make the effort to approach God, he will respond to us.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com

Today's Ruminating in the Word of God: Riches in this life and the kingdom of God.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 12:21,

"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

"This" refers to the fate of the rich man in the story Jesus gave "a crowd of many thousands." In the story a certain rich man had a bumper crop, built bigger barns and decided to "take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." Luke 12:19. As the story goes, God told the rich man, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" Verse 20.

The point of the story is the message of Ecclesiastes. The riches we pursue in this life "under the sun" is an emptiness, a "vanity". It's meaninglessness lies in the reality that whatever we accumulate in this life does us little good for eternity. This life and what it offers is pretty short compared to eternity and all we acquire gets left behind. Jesus reminds us of this in the story of the beggar, Lazarus, and the rich man. In that story Abraham tells the rich man, after he is dead, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony." Luke 16:25.

The danger imposed by riches is that they are deceiving. The pursuit of wealth becomes a great distraction, keeping us from wisely considering the import issues in this life. The wonderful offer of salvation from God's judgment gets choked out by the desire to acquire wealth in this life. In the parable of the soils, the Lord said that one condition of the heart the gospel may encounter is one filled with thorns, "The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature." This is a heart the gospel will eventually fail to resonate with and the person will find himself shut out from the kingdom of God and cast into a fiery lake of burning sulfur, Revelation 21:8.

Jesus never taught a rich man cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he did warn of the dangers riches and the worry of them present to us. In Luke 16:13, Jesus said, "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Regardless of what we have in the way of wealth in this life, the wise man will be "rich toward God."

Here is a message that has been lost by many in our time, as they have misunderstood God's love to be expressed by his blessing of wealth upon us in this life. Of these, Paul told Timothy to beware as they are, "men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain." 1 Timothy 6:5.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com