breaking the cycle

I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died, in order to test Israel by them, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the LORD as their fathers did, or not.

Judges 2:21-22

God sovereignly allowed a consistent cycle to regularly test the faith and obedience of Israel in the book of Judges. The total conquest of Canaan was supposed to take some time as God wanted Israel to grow in obedience as they took possession of the promised land. However, the tribes had a severe obedience problem. Repeatedly tribes chose compromise: Manasseh “did not drive out” (Joshua 1:27). Ephraim “did not drive out” (Joshua 1:29). Zebulon “did not drive out” (Joshua 1:30), Asher “did not drive out” (Joshua 1:31), and Naphtali “did not drive out” (Joshua 1:32). Instead of defeating Canaanites, they kept them subservient as forced labor, conveniently thinking their own plan was better than God’s plan. 

Israel quickly become not just disobedient, but unfaithful, turning to worship the gods of the enslaved Canaanite people as pagan culture seeped into Israel. And this began a vicious cycle: Israel would fall into idolatrous, evil worship practices. God would use the Canaanites to rise up in power and oppress His people. Israel would then cry out in repentance to God. God would deliver with a judge. And then over time Israel would lapse again, repeating the entire cycle.

God wanted to see His people remain faithful even among the Canaanites still in the land. He showed His power and deliverance time and again. And time and again faithless Israel failed the test. They needed a greater deliverer than any of the judges could ever be. Ultimately the book of Judges shows us how much we need Christ. We too are “prone to wander”… “prone to leave the God I love”.

Jesus,

I praise You, my Deliverer, my Savior, My Lord, and my God. Empower me to obey. Deliver me in my heart’s wandering. Fix my heart upon You!

Amen

men and women

Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.

1 Corinthians 11:11-12

There is a wonderful principle (unfortunately often overlooked) in this passage that can yield great joy in marriages. But first… a brief excursion into a quite unnecessary theological debate. When it comes to understanding gender roles in marriage and in ministry, there have been over the last half century or so two theological camps that have taken sides and made an issue of it.

Complementarians (full disclosure: I am one… with some humble qualifiers) would see scripture clearly teaching that though completely equal image-bearers of God, men and women have certain created roles in home, family, and public church settings. They are complementary roles, not limiting or competing, and neither men or women have a more important role than the other. Complementarians can however go off-track scripturally if they forget to emphasize equality in Christ and the beauty of how each role reflects God’s image uniquely.

Egalitarians also rightfully emphasize oneness in Christ and the image of God, but then explain away every place in scripture that shows gender distinctiveness… calling them “cultural” or now eradicated because Christ has made all things one in His work. Interestingly enough, the theological view can be traced to the timeline of emerging feminist thought. This view goes awry when it obliterates ALL gender distinctives whatsoever. In fairness there are degrees of Egalitarian theology as well.

There is however an area of common ground for both views, found amazingly enough in this very gender distinctive passage of scripture in 1 Corinthians chapter eleven. Here Paul makes it obviously clear… men and women are different but not independent of one another. Marriage and family show this to be true, as does Creation as scripture describes it. Eve was made from Adam’s rib… women are not independent of men. All men are born from mothers. Men are never independent of women. There is a wonderful and necessary inter-dependence in marriage and in church that should always be celebrated. It is worship to need one another as God has designed!

You know this heart.

If we had forgotten the name of our God

or spread out our hands to a foreign god,

would not God discover this?

For he knows the secrets of the heart.

Psalm 44:20-21

There was a segment of the temple worshipers (the sons of Korah, composers of this song) who apparently stayed faithful in the worship of Yahweh even as the rest of Judah turned away and the Lord brought judgment to Jerusalem. They had kept the covenant. They had worshiped God. And as God brought His consequential justice, they were hurt most by the experience of it, knowing God’s beauty and worthiness while simultaneously realizing His right to judge. They would have to endure covenant curses because of the faithlessness of Israel, even as they remained faithful, worshipful, and concerned for God’s holiness. Still, they know and believe that God knew all this because God knew their hearts.

God knows my heart. He knows my commitments and my struggles. He knows my sorrows and my joys. He sees me trying to place my past into the present while also trusting Him now and for my future. He knows that I am not perfect. He sees my stumbles, my hidden battles with distrust, anger, uncertainty, past losses, and willfulness. And yet God knows also that I, by His Spirit’s enablement, have not forgotten His name. God knows how I confront the siren song of false gods that offer empty promises. In mercy, He forgives me as I turn away. With grace He brings blessings undeserved.

Lord,

Even as my heart struggles to be faithful, You are always faithful… always true. You know this heart of mine. You convict me, You lead me, You comfort me, You confront me, and most importantly, You are constantly transforming this old heart of mine. I thank You, my God, with all my heart. Keep me true!

Amen

escaping and enduring

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

I have read this verse, memorized it as a child, and shared it constantly in discipleship contexts and pastoral care. But I’ve never journaled it before. It contains five powerful truths that help Christians not just survive sinful temptations, but defeat them if we will cling to these truths and apply them when we are tempted… which is daily.

1. Temptation is common. Although what I may feel in temptation is uniquely personal, the reality of temptation is common to all people because all of us are born sinners. That means that I am not alone. It hints at shared strength that is available in the community of believers… things like confession of my sins and temptations to other believers and accountability with saints to fight against this experience that all people have. I am never tempted with something novel. In context, Paul argues that Old Testament examples of failure… sexual temptations and idolatrous practices among them… help present day believers engage the enemy. Scripture shows us temptation’s commonality, and shows us how God judges AND how God can deliver.

2. God is faithful. I am never tempted outside God’s view or His provision. He is right here, faithfully with me, even as a temptation wants to pull my focus from Him. And He will ALWAYS stay here beside me to help me fight and win.

3. Temptation has limits. God has set those limits and because He is present, powerful, and faithful, no temptation is TOO powerful. When I succumb to a temptation it is because either I forget this reality or a choose to disbelieve God is faithful and has set a limit to what can attack me.

4. God provides escape. This is how God is faithful. This is where temptation finds a firm limit. If I cry out to God, open His Word, lean into His community, believe His power, then escape is right there… every time I am tempted.

5. Every temptation can be endured. When I trust God, find Him faithful, see the common nature of my temptations, and find escape in a situation that is limited because God is infinite, God will lead me to endure it. This is growth. Temptation is regular, but so is deliverance! This is holiness at work in me, making me more like Jesus Who defeated the devil, defied temptations, and reigns in power over all the devil’s works, transforming this world to align with His kingdom!

A God Who Shouts

God has gone up with a shout,

the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.

Psalm 47:5

O God Who shouts,

You do not hide 

Your deliverance.

You make Yourself known

shouting as You do so

so Your creation will know

You have gone up with a shout!

O God Who declares

Your power and might

when saving,

the world can clearly see

salvation’s history

when You died upon that tree

and rose again in victory!

You silenced the grave with a shout!

O God Who returns

in glory and strength

to judge,

the clouds will break away

as You arrive on that day

all justice to display

arriving with a shout!

gospel flex

I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

1 Corinthians 9:22b

Flexibility. Webster’s dictionary gives these synonyms:

PLAINT: capable of being flexed.

TRACTABLE: yielding to influence.

The dictionary also gives this definition: characterized by a ready capability to adapt to a new, different, or changing requirements.

It is this definition that appears to best describe Paul’s attitudes toward ministering the gospel in his culture. He sought points of identity with people without compromising the gospel. Paul flexed into the gospel to find ways to befriend people. This allowed him to win and to make disciples of both Jews and Gentiles, those weak in conscience and those strong of conviction, men or women… it did not matter because the gospel taught Paul to flex.

And we see that as he planted churches. He met women at a river for prayer and study of the scriptures. He argued with philosophers on the Areopagus. He reasoned through the Old Testament in synagogues with Jews. He defended the gospel before magistrates and politicians. He made friends with slaves and with wealthy entrepreneurs. He evangelized as a prisoner, as a castaway, and Paul preached to sailors and to Caesar. Paul could flex and left us an example to do the same wherever we can.

I noticed while reading up on flexibility that Merriam-Webster.com has named “polarization” the Word of the Year for 2024. We live in a sad time where people easily polarize and attack other sides that are not like “their tribe”. So it is vital that Christians learn and practice what Paul knew over 2000 years ago: The gospel flexes. Jesus ends polarization. The gospel flexes and breaks down barriers so let’s learn to become “all things to all people”. “Gospel flexing” may be the Christian term for 2025!

grace, love, and deference

This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.

1 Corinthians 8:1b

This observation leads Paul into instructions on issues of Christian liberty in the Body of Christ. The Corinthian church already had been taken to task for their arrogant divisiveness (1 Corinthians 3:21; 4:6-8; 4:18-19). The issue of food, a portion of which had been part of a pagan idol sacrifice while the rest of the meat was butchered and sold at market, is another example where divisive arrogance had damaged the church. Some, proudly claiming superior knowledge, bragged about eating such meat. Others, who were sensitive to the pagan origins at the butcher shop, would not eat it. Paul advocates for understanding for both sides, and demands an end to the arrogance.

Those who were arrogant about the issue needed humility and respect for the viewpoint of the “weaker brother”. Love, not “knowledge”, needed to guide those who felt free to eat. In love, even though a “stronger” believer knew the idols were not gods and the meat was just consumable protein, deference would guide the church to respond to the conscience of one who was unable to eat that same meat. Love would thus build up an experience of unity in the church by respecting all viewpoints in a matter of conscience. To not do so was to sin against another or to call another to violate a personal conviction. This was arrogant and wrong.

Paul ultimately sources love for the conscience of another in the love of God (1 Corintians 8:3). And the reward of respecting the conscience of a fellow believer is that we are “known by God”. When I learn to love my brother, God loves me, draws close to me, and blesses me. It isn’t about “my rights” or “I know better that you do”. It is about growing close in knowing one another and respecting our consciences in the church so that together we might know the love of God in Christ.

Lord,

I embrace the gift of a New Year. I ask You to help me know You in this year. I ask You to help me know and respect my brothers and sisters. In issues of conscience where Your Word gives a range of understandings, may grace, love, and deference unify me and Your Church, O Lord!

Amen