Jesus controlled even His own death.

 

When Jesus said to them, “I am,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

John 18:6

At His arrest, Jesus shows His power over the evil men who had come to begin the events of His execution. He speaks just two words and they lose courage and fall to the ground. He states His identity not just as Jesus of Nazareth, but as "I AM"... the God of Israel's covenant. Jesus is clearly in control, even as the leaders of the religious elite move to take His life.

By stating His identity as "I am", Jesus is clearly claiming to be God. He has already boldly made this claim (John 8:58-59) and the Jews wanted to stone Him then. Now as they arrest Him intent on His murder, He states the truth that they hate one more time.

The crucifixion of Jesus was no accident. Jesus was no victim. He gave His life, as clearly seen here where with two simple words He stunned His accusers into momentary inaction. Had His hour not come, they could not have killed Him. But now, as the Passover Lamb gives up His life, He is the One clearly obeying His Father's will and giving Himself up for the sins of the whole world. He did so yielding to the will of the Father.

wise team guidance

 

Plans are established by counsel;

by wise guidance wage war.

Proverbs 20:18

Not all strategies are wise. And certainly human advice has its fallible limits as part of the effect of the Fall. But generally, wise counsel from experienced, godly people will yield better decisions and solid, successful strategies for living. Solo soldiers usually are the deranged, lone gunmen. It takes a strategic team to fight a battle that completes an objective to win in war. I believe the same is true about life. I will fail without the wise guidance of other men and women.

I have perhaps a decade and a half left of energetic fruitful ministry ahead of me, should the Lord tarry and give me life and health. I would like to invest that time in team development for strategic advancement of the gospel in the local church wherever I am, and around the world. I never want to see a pastor stranded, soldiering solo, without brothers in arms to assist him. I never want to be alone in that way either. By God's grace, I have the joy of being part of a team that I hope will be serving the kingdom with a God-blessed impact beyond our generation!

That will only come by wise counsel from a team that is biblically saturated, centered on the gospel, dependent on prayer, strategic on specifics, and deeply caring for each other so that everyone is equipped and encouraged. My prayer today: God bless the church with wise teams.

 

the difficulty of resolving conflict

 

A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,

and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

Proverbs 18:19

This little proverb reminds us of the amazing amount of effort we must take to resolve conflict. It is never easy. I know this too well from the conflicts that I have contributed to over my life. I know it from the conflicts I have resolved. I know it from the incredibly hard work the ministry of reconciliation has been, particularly as I have engaged in it pastorally through specializing in counseling over the past ten years.

I've been a pastor for nearly three decades. And there has never been a season in ministry where it has been easy and without at least one conflict to resolve. That doesn't mean it hasn't been rewarding... it certainly has. But gospel ministry is hard work because I'm a sinner, under grace, ministering to sinners with the grace of the gospel.

I have seen the grace of God bring an unyielding brother or sister to the cross, and back to another person in reconciling forgiveness. That makes it all worthwhile. But I've also seen unyielding offended people walk away unable to forgive. That breaks my heart. 

Oh Lord Jesus, how I long with You to see the castle bars fall off and the city walls crumble so that reconciliation would flow through Your people! Make us tender to Your call to repent, and seek forgiveness from You and one another. Start with me, Lord. Amen

keeping my big mouth shut

 

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,

and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Proverbs 17:27

Our words give away what is in our hearts, and the benefit of God's wisdom is most often known in our control of the tongue. The character of wisdom conveyed in this proverb is self control. And that is not an easy virtue to attain when it comes to the heat of conversation. In the "click to reply" fast-paced word of social media, restrained words are few, and there is no emoticon for silence.

The way this proverb amplifies self-control is instructive. It starts with our words, but is maintained by a "cool spirit". So the key to wise speech is a heart not wildly given to responding with emotional mood swing speeches. It would seem that "venting" or "speaking my mind" is thus a very bad idea.

Since self control is the better part of wisdom according to this proverb, I will seek that. I am naturally a very foolish sinner spouting all kinds of sinful nonsense. I need God's grace and Holy Spirit to help me restrain my foolish heart from pouring over my lips, or dripping across my keyboard. And so I will seek the discipline of God's truth to guide my thoughts and thus purposefully restrain my heart and words, so that God's wisdom can rule in my soul.

Truth in the Words

 

For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

John 17:8

Jesus spoke the words the Father gave

His disciples received them and were saved

by the truth they came to know

and the love that Jesus showed

they believed

the truth received

and were saved

Jesus spoke the truth in words

because only Jesus is The Word

sent from God, the only Son

so that from sin some could be won

truth in the words

truth IS The Word

believed on in the world

And in this truth we're sanctified

saved, kept, until glorified

in the Son the truth is known

prepared for life and eternal home

from God He came

new life He gave

now I am saved

He sees me.

 

The eyes of the Lord are in every place,

keeping watch on the evil and the good.

Proverbs 15:3

This solid statement is both encouraging and convicting. It is encouraging to me because it is great to know that God knows it all, sees it all, and discerns the rightness of all human thought and action. This is true both of presidential debates and of parents interacting with toddlers. I could never be able to do what God does because only He is God. At a seminar yesterday I was struck by the wisdom a church leader shared about the difficulty of getting to what he called "the last 10%" of the truth. It is incredibly hard to get that from people. It's true. We all hold back from one another at some level. But we can't hold back from God Who sees and knows it all.

This proverb is convicting to me because of my own tendency to hold back 10% (at a bare minimum) of the truth and to craft reality to my needs and wants. God sees and knows my evil and my good. I can't spin with Him! I can't reserve back my tithe of the truth from Him! That's crazy! No way can we withhold the facts from an almighty, all knowing, always present everywhere God. That forces me to accept my sin as wrong and repent of what His Word and Spirit show me... especially my attempts at personal sovereignty by withholding truth in any relationship.

God whose eyes see all I do and Who knows all that I think...

To You I turn in repentance. To You I look for wisdom to live beyond my massively messed up sinfulness. In You I will see how to serve, love, and live.

Amen

two pictures of the fear of the Lord

 

In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,

and his children will have a refuge.

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,

that one may turn away from the snares of death.

Proverbs 14:26-27

These two proverbs give two unique pictures of the benefits of a life of fearing God. Of course the fear of God isn't about being afraid or in terror of God. Fear of God is about respecting, obeying, and living as God in His Word gives us guidance. It is about walking with the Lord, loving Him, and obeying His commands.

The first picture puts us in a place of security, a castle protective of extended generations. Those who fear God can be confident that God will take care of them. Those who by example show their children how to do the same will find a secure refuge in their faith and strength in righteousness. It can keep a family safe for generations.

The second picture is one of a peaceful water spring of life. Fearing God is like a bubbling cold water spring of pure water that nourishes us. As long as we stay in its flow, we are promised to be saved from harmful and deadly traps. Knowing, loving, and obeying the Lord brings refreshment and life to the soul that fears God. It is as pure and lovely as a clear spring of cold water flowing through the center of our lives.