From Proverbs 3:1-3 “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.”
I so love coming back to this passage in my regular reading. I love being reminded to “keep” this commandment – to not let “steadfast love and faithfulness” be forsaken.
As His Bride, what sweeter thing can the Church do?
The idea here may be, to be sure to be a loving and faithful person as the Father’s commandments lead us. But some posit to think of it in terms of resting in the love and faithfulness of our God. The one who rests content here, who lavishes in knowing these graces are poured out upon them, will live a life far different than those languishing in the hopelessness that captures so many.
It is a pre-echo of “keep yourselves in the love of God.”
It is a call to never let the wonder, the mystery, and glory, the reality of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness toward you ever escape your consciousness.
When we imagine His love to be vacillating or indistinct – or when we doubt the absolute certainty of His commitment to see all of His promises to come to pass – faith suffers its most devastating blows.
We MUST see our God as constitutionally incapable of any of the defects of human love.
In the darkest of hours, He cannot love you any more, nor can He love you any less.
See Him as ontologically unable to fail to keep His word, or to break His promises. He does not merely carry out His promises faithfully, He IS faithful. This is the One with whom we have to do. This is our God. Loving and faithful beyond anything the human mind can imagine. This is the One in whom we place our trust.
Know for yourself Believer, and remind yourself often, of the steadfast love of the Lord, and of His faithfulness. That He cannot fail. And in that, you will become one of steadfast love and faithfulness yourself.
This belongs to all who are in Christ. And it is a treasure we begin to enjoy even here and now – part of the “downpayment” of the Holy Spirit that is ours.
The NKJV renders “steadfast love and faithfulness” – Mercy and truth. And what a glory this is. That our Father always knows the real truth about us, and always reveals the truth about Himself, and He alone knows the full truth about all things. But in knowing the truth about us, He still deals with us in unspeakable mercy. Nothing hidden even in the darkest recesses of our souls turns His heart of mercy against us. We are His – in truth and in mercy.
In vss. 1-5, three things show themselves as absolutely necessary to true understanding (seeing all things as God does) and growing close to the Father:
a. Knowing and TREASURING God’s Word. “Keeping” His Word throughout Scripture is not as much observing the letter of it, as it is seeing it as precious. That which is precious to us, will capture our devotion.
b. Seeking to understand God’s Word, studying it – not simply preserving it like an ancient artifact.
Having a Ming vase that is never used AS a vase, but merely as a work of art, is a good analog. Many approach God’s Word this way. They know it is “precious” but precious in the sense that it is to be put on a self and admired – but not as though it is to be employed in the fabric and situations of every day life.
We cannot approach God’s Word in this way and hope to be truly impacted by it. We must study it not as a curiosity, but as the study of life itself. We must employ it. It will resist being turned into a religious, social or intellectual artifact.
c. Prayer (3). If we are not interacting personally and regularly with our Lord – we cannot hope either to understand Him, or His Word. We must never allow knowledge about Him to eclipse firsthand knowledge OF Him in living discourse. Lose this aspect, and religion freezes into form and mere doctrine at best, and random subjectivity at worst.
Following this – The Writer give us four promises if we will pursue the previous 3.
5-8 / We will come to an understanding the fear of the Lord.
9-15 / We will come to an understanding true righteousness, justice and equality.
16-19 / We will find deliverance from temptation.
20-22 / We will learn how to walk in righteousness.
From Matthew 26:17-25 / A Study in Sovereignty and Personal Responsibility
The doctrine of the absolute sovereignty of God in all things, is the fundamental building block of the Biblical Worldview – of reality. Real, reality as Francis Schaeffer used to call it. There is reality – in terms of all we perceive empirically and experientially – and then there is the truth behind it all which we only receive by means of the special revelation of God’s Word.
I can know the physical universe exists by feeling it, touching it, living in it, smelling it, investigating it, etc. But I cannot know why the universe exists apart from the One who created it revealing His intent. He must speak. And He does so in His Word. It is there alone that we are shown that all things have come from Him, and they exist for Him, and will one day be shown to have served all His plans and purposes.
On top of that basic truth, we find out that all His plans and purposes have to do with eternal things like: “making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” (Eph. 1:9-10)
And there are other such like comprehensive statements in His self-revelation.
Starting with an unprovoked creation of all things – His purposes lying only within Himself – He goes on to reveal that His sovereignty extends to all things. Even us. So we read in a place like Daniel 4:34-35 “At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”’”
It is here we confront a mystery. How is it that God can be so absolutely in control of all things, and yet humankind, made in His image, still be morally responsible creatures, making and carrying out our own decisions?
In truth, God’s revelation does not tell us HOW it is so that both of things are true – it only tells us that both things ARE true. The mechanics behind this dual reality are not given to us. But that this is the truth, was so important to the Biblical writers, that the Scriptures are replete with examples. Not the least of which examples find a place in the earliest teaching of the Apostles. And, in a passage like the one before us.
A useful Old Testament example can be drawn from Isaiah 10. There, God has told Israel that He will use Assyria to punish Israel for their infidelity to Him. The language is remarkable. “Isaiah 10:5–7 “Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury! Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few.”
What is happening? God is pronouncing woe against pagan, rapacious Assyria for its decimation of Israel. But what does God call Assyria? “The rod of my anger, the staff in their hands is my fury.” Astounding. God is using them. He sends them against Israel, which He calls a “godless nation.” That He Himself appointed them to “take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.”
And then we are met with a most amazing insight. Vs. 7 – “But he does not so think.” Assyria is not carrying out this campaign because they are consciously serving God’s purposes. No. It is simply “in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.” i.e. Assyria is acting by its own sinful will, and yet in God’s providence, their sinful actions carry out God’s plan. They are still responsible for acting upon their sinful impulse are morally responsible agents, even as God’s necessary plan is carried out.
So we come to Peter’s preaching at Pentecost: “this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” (Acts 2:23)
And: Acts 3:17 – “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.”
Yet again: Acts 4:27-28 – “for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.”
You can see how central this concept is in the earliest preaching of the Church, so that 2 things are perfectly preserved: God, sovereign over all, and Humankind, morally responsible for their decisions and actions.
From a slightly different angle, there is the story of an old, poor woman, who was always trying to communicate her faith to her wicked landlord.
One day, the landlord passed by her window, and heard her praying earnestly for just some bread. She had nothing to eat. And he sought the opportunity to overthrow her faith.
The landlord went to the bakery, purchased a loaf of bread, and retuned which she was still on her knees. Without her knowledge, he tossed the loaf onto her bed from the window.
Later, in conversation, the landlord prodded the woman about her faith, and she told him the wonderful news that even while she was praying that day, a loaf of bread miraculously appeared on her bread in answer to her prayer.
“Hah!” scoffed the landlord. “God didn’t hear your prayer, I did. And I went and purchased bread and threw it in through your window. What do you think of your God now?”
The old woman blinked and said: “Why He’s even more wonderful than I imagined! For not only did He hear my prayer for bread, He used the very hand of the Devil to provide it!”
So it is we come back to our text today. “The Son of Man goes as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
Jesus had to die for our sins, that we might be redeemed from the curse of Adam and reconciled to the Father. And, Judas’ betrayal was not some forced action against His will. He acted out of His own sinfulness. Thus his actions, no matter how used by God, are not mitigated because of God’s sovereignty over his free actions. Judas remains fully, personally, and singly responsible.
So do you and I. God’s sovereignty is never an excuse for our sins either.
Praise God then for the gift of repentance and the forgiveness of sins, for all who take complete responsibility for their sins – and come to Him with no excuses.
“Then”, is a sometimes a very important word. And in this case, monumentally important.
What is it that seems to finally push Judas Iscariot over the edge? What so offended his personal sensibilities that he was ready to kick Jesus to the curb?
John gives us the needed insight.
He thought the money Mary had just “wasted” on anointing Jesus was too much. And, if it had been sold and put into the Disciple’s coffer instead, he could have gotten his cut; by theft. 30 pieces of silver would have been a little over 3 month’s wages. Only 1/3 of what Mary’s perfume probably cost. No one would miss it given their habit of giving to the poor. And it didn’t seem like anyone kept track of how Judas administrated the purse.
Judas just wanted his due – and not for everything to be about and expended upon Christ. He had a bad case of “hireling syndrome.”
You know the tinge of this yourself don’t you? I know I do. I’ll serve Christ and His people, but good golly, I want my share of the praise and recognition. After all, it isn’t ALL about Jesus, is it? Don’t I deserve my pat on the back? The occasional “well done” by others, before the one I’m to receive on the last day? I mean, I’m not just a servant you know, not a slave. I deserve my cut too. I know Jesus is God and all, and He’s deserving of His glory – but not ALL the glory -right?
This is a particularly dangerous temptation for those of us who preach and teach.
None of this is to ignore the fact that as those ministered to by others, we ought to give them proper recognition. Paul writes to Timothy “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”’”
But there is a vast difference between our recognition of others, and our “need” to be somehow recognized by others.
By the time we get to this point in the Gospels, Jesus had already said this to His Disciples: ““Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’ ” (Luke 17:7-10)
Judas wasn’t having it. Not all the way.
Now is all this to somehow suppress or devalue Christ’s servants? Not in the least! We know His value and regard for us as we gaze upon the Cross. He has set a value upon us that is not intrinsic, due to us, but due to His simple, sovereign love.
It is a marvel to contemplate.
But oh how sin has reversed the tables, and somehow caused us to set some certain value upon Him, based on our personal sensitivities, upon our fallen, self-focused self-love. And can any value we place upon Him be quantified in any way? Obviously not.
Mary had said in effect – “nothing is too good or too much to lavish upon Him.”
Judas had said in effect – “He is wonderful, but only – this much – if it costs me in the process.”
So we ask ourselves – how do we value Jesus? What is our cutoff point, where we’re not getting our fair share?
As I’ve oft quoted before from old John Flavel: “It is a special consideration to enhance the love of God in giving Christ, that in giving him he gave the richest jewel in his cabinet; a mercy of the greatest worth, and most inestimable value, Heaven itself is not so valuable and precious as Christ is: He is the better half of heaven; and so the saints account him, Psal. 73:25. “Whom have I in heaven but thee?” Ten thousand thousand worlds, saith one,* as many worlds as angels can number, and then as a new world of angels can multiply, would not all be the bulk of a balance, to weigh Christ’s excellency, love, and sweetness. O what a fair One! what an only One! what an excellent, lovely, ravishing One, is Christ! Put the beauty of ten thousand paradises, like the garden of Eden, into one; put all trees, all flowers, all smells, all colours, all tastes, all joys, all sweetness, all loveliness in one; O what a fair and excellent thing would that be? And yet it should be less to that fair and dearest well-beloved Christ, than one drop of rain to the whole seas, rivers, lakes, and fountains of ten thousand earths. Christ is heaven’s wonder, and earth’s wonder.
Now, for God to bestow the mercy of mercies, the most precious thing in heaven or earth, upon poor sinners; and, as great, as lovely, as excellent as his Son was, yet not to account him too good to bestow upon us, what manner of love is this!1
From J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on Matthew Matthew 27:27-44
“We must not be content with a vague general belief, that Christ’s sufferings on the cross were vicarious. We are intended to see this truth in every part of His passion. We may follow Him all through, from the bar of Pilate, to the minute of His death, and see him at every step as our mighty Substitute, our Representative, our Head, our Surety, our Proxy,—the Divine Friend who undertook to stand in our stead, and by the priceless merit of His sufferings, to purchase our redemption.—
Was He scourged? It was that “through His stripes we might be healed.”—
Was he condemned, though innocent? It was that we might be acquitted though guilty.—
Did He wear a crown of thorns? It was that we might wear the crown of glory.—
Was He stripped of His raiment? It was that we might be clothed in everlasting righteousness.—
Was he mocked and reviled? It was that we might be honored and blessed.—
Was He reckoned a malefactor, and numbered among transgressors? It was that we might be reckoned innocent, and justified from all sin.—
Was he declared unable to save Himself? It was that He might be able to save others to the uttermost.—
Did He die at last, and that the most painful and disgraceful of deaths? It was that we might live for evermore, and be exalted to the highest glory.—
Let us ponder these things well. They are worth remembering. The very key to peace is a right apprehension of the vicarious sufferings of Christ. Let us leave the story of our Lord’s passion with feelings of deep thankfulness. Our sins are many and great. But a great atonement has been made for them. There was an infinite merit in all Christ’s sufferings. They were the sufferings of One who was God as well as man. Surely it is meet, right, and our bounden duty, to praise God daily because Christ has died. Last, but not least, let us ever learn from the story of the passion, to hate sin with a great hatred. Sin was the cause of all our Saviour’s suffering. Our sins platted the crown of thorns. Our sins drove the nails into His hands and feet. On account of our sins His blood was shed. Surely the thought of Christ crucified should make us loathe all sin. Well says the Homily of the Passion, “Let this image of Christ crucified be always printed in our hearts. Let it stir us up to the hatred of sin, and provoke our minds to the earnest love of Almighty God.”
Ryle, J. C. 1860. Expository Thoughts on Matthew. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9
Truth be known, I’m pretty uncoordinated. I was never going to excel in any form of athletics no matter how hard I tried. I have enough trouble walking and chewing gum at the same time.
Now to some extent, we all have a number of things we do simultaneously. Many of us wear multiple hats at once. Mom’s and wives. Dad’s and employees. Students and children and friends and siblings and participants in sports, music, and all sorts of other activities.
Some of these things can co-exist, and some can’t.
You can be either awake or asleep, but you cannot multitask those two things no matter how hard you try. They are mutually exclusive. You cannot sneeze and keep your eyes open. You cannot stand and sit at the same time. You can’t listen and speak at one and the same moment, nor sing a blow a trumpet. These cancel each other out.
Know what else you can’t do at the same time?
You can’t listen to FOX News, CNN, MSNBC, Glenn Beck, C-SPAN, the BBC, The Drudge Report, etc. – and obey the passage above at the same time.
It can’t be done.
You will have to make a choice.
One, will lead to the reality of the God of peace being with you, and the others, will actually attack that reality and leave you in turmoil, doubt, fear and distress.
Choose.
Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, or immerse yourself in the flotsam and jetsam of this world.
There are few who argue that this passage is not interesting, wonderful and not easy to apply.
It is interesting in the details.
They are gathered in the house of a leper, Simon by name. The company appears to be Mary, Martha, Lazarus, the Disciples and Simon – with perhaps Simon’s family.
To have gathered there, one of two things had to be true: Either this man had been notably cleansed of his leprosy by Jesus; or, the entire group were tossing off convention in favor of being with him. The latter seems unlikely, especially given the way the Disciples respond to the Woman’s breaking of convention. It is most likely that this was a man who had known the mercy and grace of Christ in a most extraordinary way.
It is interesting to see Mary so powerfully moved at this moment, so as to lavish something valued at around a year’s wages on Jesus. How deeply she must have felt at this moment.
It is interesting to hear the Disciple’s objection. As Craig Blomberg notes: “Many people with social consciences find the disciples’ objection the same as their own. Those preoccupied with the oppressed and needy of the world often quarrel with any lavish expenditure of monies for church architecture, pageantry, worship, or celebration, however well-intentioned and honoring to Christ they may be. There are in fact times and places for all of this extravagance. So also with M’Neile, “To the few who today spend themselves mainly on worship and meditation (whom Mary again exemplifies in Lk. 10:39–42) active ‘workers’ are warned not to say ‘To what purpose is this waste?’ ” Or with Beare, “The beauty of uncalculating generosity is not to be measured by the yardstick of utility.”11 Blomberg, Craig. 1992. Matthew. Vol. 22. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
As a pastor I’ve confronted this same mindset several times, especially over discussions surrounding buildings. A strange form of Evangelical asceticism suddenly arises and eclipses any notion of wanting to see things done in Christ’s name done with excellence, in favor of appearing humble. But can we ever really be too extravagant when extolling the wonder of Christ’s sacrifice for sinners? J. C. Ryle writes here: “We can never attach too much importance to the atoning death of Christ. It is the leading fact in the word of God, on which the eyes of our soul ought to be ever fixed. Without the shedding of his blood, there is no remission of sin. It is the cardinal truth on which the whole system of Christianity hinges. Without it the Gospel is an arch without a key-stone, a fair building without a foundation, a solar system without a sun. Let us make much of our Lord’s incarnation and example, His miracles and his parables, His works and His words, but above all let us make much of His death. Let us delight in the hope of his second personal coming and millennial reign, but let us not think more even of these blessed truths, than of the atonement on the cross. This, after all, is the master-truth of Scripture, that “Christ died for our sins.” To this let us daily return. On this let us daily feed our souls. Some, like the Greeks of old, may sneer at the doctrine, and call it “foolishness” But let us never be ashamed to say with Paul, “God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Gal. 6:14.)11 Ryle, J. C. 1860. Expository Thoughts on Matthew. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.
The text is clear, Jesus perceived this as a testimony to His death. And how can we celebrate that death too extravagantly? What can we rightly withhold in worship making His life, death and resurrection known?
It is wonderful in Jesus’ explication of what Mary had done. She had done what she had to “prepare me for burial.”
No, the question is – was she really cognizant of that reality? Or did Jesus put it so? We cannot be sure, but it is reasonable to assume she was acting in some real way aware.
It is quite possible she had heard Jesus announce His impending death as did the other Disciples. If in fact she had been made privy to His announcement that His death was just 2 days hence as recorded in vs. 2 – then what makes her so remarkable here – and what elicits Jesus’ declaration regarding her in vs. 13 is simply this – she really and truly took Him at His word. She believed Him. In a way the Disciples did not.
What is to be declared everywhere the Gospel is preached? That men believe it! That they believe it so as to order their lives around its reality. That they respond in faith. Just as Mary. The Gospel is not just to be heard, it must be believed. And when it is believed, people act on that belief as life-encompassing truth. Those who hear, and say they believe but act as though nothing is different because of glory of Jesus substitutionary death, burial and resurrection – then they have nothing but Jame’s faith without works – which is dead.
Not Mary. Her faith is living, vital, real. And it moves her. She believes her Savior. She learned to do so at the tomb of her brother. And she would never doubt Him again, even if she couldn’t parse out the details. Wherever and wherever this Gospel is proclaimed, what she did, how she received His Word, believed it and acted upon – is to be told as a supreme example of true, saving faith.
Some details in Scripture are so subtle, we can pass right over them without a second thought. I think we have something of that in the verses before us today.
J. C. Ryle frames the situation for us well: “We now approach the closing scene of our Lord Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry. Hitherto we have read of His sayings and doings: we are now about to read of His sufferings and death. Hitherto we nave seen him as the great Prophet: we are now about to see Him as the great High Priest. It is a portion of Scripture which ought to be read with peculiar reverence and attention. The place whereon we stand is holy ground. Here we see how the Seed of the woman bruised the Serpent’s head. Here we see the great sacrifice to which all the sacrifices of the Old Testament had long pointed. Here we see how the blood was shed which “cleanseth from all sin” and the Lamb slain who “taketh away the sin of the world.” We see in the death of Christ, the great mystery revealed, how God can be just, and yet justify the ungodly. No wonder that all the four Gospels contain a full account of this wonderful event. On other points in our Lord’s history, we often find, that when one evangelist speaks, the other three are silent. But when we come to the crucifixion, we find it minutely described by all four.”1 1 Ryle, J. C. 1860. Expository Thoughts on Matthew. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.
While the language here cannot bear more weight than is intended, nevertheless we see this remarkable feature: It is only “WHEN” Jesus had finished all these sayings and announced once more His impending crucifixion, that the opposition which had been mounting all along – finally “THEN” gathered to plot their final actions.
As the Expositor’s Bible Commentary notes as well: “Certainly the opposition had been rising for some time…On the other hand, by placing 26:3–5 immediately after vv. 1–2, Matthew gives the narrative the flavor of God’s sovereign control. The leaders may plot; but if Jesus dies, he dies as a voluntary Passover sacrifice (vv. 53–54; John 10:18).11Carson, D. A. 1984. “Matthew.” In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, edited by Frank E. Gaebelein, 8:523–24. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
O how we need to see the sovereign hand of God in it all.
Many may think that only one thing is going on in Jesus’ death – that wicked men are having their day. That darkness has its hour. That Satan murders the King. And while all those are true, it is also true that God is doing what He had foretold from the Garden on – that the Seed of the woman would at last crush the Serpent’s head. And so the evil of the Devil and those under his influence can only in the final analysis, actually accomplish God’s sovereign will in making the atonement for sin.
Beloved, this is what is happening in your life and mine as well – this very moment.
Yes, the World, the Flesh and the Devil conspire to enslave our souls to sin and keep us from our Redeemer. But the hand of the One who rules all is at work on our behalf. The Christian knows His loving Father’s sovereign hand in the most difficult, confusing, and painful circumstances no matter how involved the enemy of our souls may be.
For us, it is only “when” our God speaks, that “then” even the most wicked forces can act. And then it is we see the wonder of Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
The verse DOES NOT say all things are good in and of themselves. But in our Father’s hand, all that befalls us, is designed and used that we might know His glory, and come to greater good.
We may not be able to see how it is so in some situations, and may never know fully until eternity. But this we know, we can trust Him. And if even the “then” of Jesus’ enemies couldn’t transpire until the “when” of Jesus’ pronouncement – we can know He rules in our lives the same.
Ever heard of it? Me neither. Until just recently. In all places, in a Kevin Hart comedy.
What is it? Www.ADDitude.com defines it thus: “Dyscalculia is a math learning disability that impairs an individual’s ability to learn number-related concepts, perform accurate math calculations, reason and problem solve, and perform other basic math skills. 1. Dyscalculia is sometimes called “number dyslexia” or “math dyslexia.”
Now, why do I bring you this breaking news? Because maybe like me, you’ve suffered from this disability all your life, and it was never discovered. Taking a test today, I finally found out why math, after the rudimentary basics, scrambles my brain into oblivion.
In school, my one Guidance Counselor queried how it was I scored fairly high on my I.Q. Test, but flunked 9th grade math? Algebra was hugely anxiety producing. Both years. I barely passed the 2nd time. Geometry was little better. But one thing I knew, numbers, formulae, etc., were a dark and scary morass I had no business mucking around in.
The assumption and implications were, from teachers etc., that I just wasn’t applying myself. I was acing English. Did OK in History (except for dates, they practically mean nothing to me, I can’t retain them) my other courses were all breeze. But math. Math was wicked. Confusing. Illogical. It just plain made no sense.
Better than most with it, I can balance my checkbook. I can do basic calculations. At one time, I even got pretty proficient with spreadsheets. But beyond that, brother, I panic and freeze and numbers become the ultimate puzzle for which I do not have even a slight key.
It is frustrating beyond words.
But now I know something. I know that this is a diagnosable brain issue. It can be greatly helped by one-on-one tutoring – which I was never privy to. And by God’s grace it has not held me back in most areas – although in The Scriptures, while I can burrow into all things theological, I can barely retain chapter and verse locations. The numbers mess it all up.
It is just a relief to know. To know there is really something there, and I’m not just lazy.
A few years ago, I self-diagnosed myself as a “mathaphobe.” I said I have a genuine fear of numbers. A dear friend, a physics professor recommended I read “The Joy of X” by Steven Strogatz. I bought it, and got through the first 3 chapters and thought – “this is it, it’s all finally going to make sense!” Then chapter 4. Oh, the dreaded Ch. 4. I got lost every time within the first few pages. It utterly defied me. My mind just could not go there. 3 or four times I re-read the first 3 – where all was fine and dandy, and then I hit 4. And I was done. I couldn’t’ go a step further. I finally gave up.
Maybe you’ve got something like this in your life. I know I’ve had to go somewhere with it before God, and where I’ve ended up is Ex. 4 – when Moses told God he could not fulfill his mission because he could not speak well – for whatever reason, we do not know. And as the account goes: Exodus 4:10–11 (ESV): “But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?”
Aha! Even our disabilities fall under the watchful, careful, loving eye and hand of our perfect Father. He designs even our challenges. And does so in perfect wisdom.
Someday, I’ll get the whole story. But for today, I get this: He is my Heavenly Father. And I can trust Him. Even in the things I cannot understand, and have to grapple with.
My God, is good.
I don’t get why I’ve had this particular thing to wrestle with. But I know Him. And I know it is best in His all-knowing and all loving eyes, that it be so.
Mine, is to trust Him. His, is to love me perfectly in Christ.
And of Zion it shall be said,
“This one and that one were born in her”;
for the Most High himself will establish her; The LORD records as he registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.” Selah Ps. 87:5-6
In human terms, it is common for us to both refer to and bear the marks of – our heritage.
I, am a native New Yorker. That brings peculiarities with it. When I am in the South, those things distinguish me. My accent, certain attitudes, etc.
Even more specifically, I am from Rochester – western NY. And that means I know what a garbage plate is, and until recently, Wegman’s (a local grocery chain) was uniquely ours. White hot dogs, the prominence of fish-frys on Fridays. NY pizza. Different from everywhere else. The Lilac Festival, what The Can of Worms was, and all sorts of other things mark me out. Not the least of which is the nasally way we say “Rahchester”.
In Matthew 26, when Peter was following Jesus to His mock trials, some bystanders marked Peter out as a Galilean due to his accent.
But what are the distinguishing marks of those born again into the new heritage of hailing from The City of God? What is our accent? How do our speech, our comportment, our attitudes, responses, values and motivations make us known as citizens of Zion?
Can people note something different about us? Like those in Acts 4:13, will people take note that we have “been with Jesus”?
Will they note what it is we love, and what it is we detest? Will they see us as a joyous people? Peaceful and seeking peace? Patient in trial in tribulation? Inherently kind? Upright in our dealings with others? Loyal and faithful to our Master and one another? Gentle in the face of opposition? And full of self-restraint?
Will they be able to know that we are filled with His Spirit because refuse to be drunk with wine and flee debauchery? Addressing fellow citizens of Zion with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs because we are forever making melody to the Lord in our hearts, and thus perpetually thankful to the Father in the name of Christ?
Bold but not brash. Steadfast but not unnecessarily rigid. Flexible but not compromising. Truthful and merciful at the same time. Seeking the best for the souls of others before the throne of God. Hopeful in the face of a disintegrating culture and world.
Will any be able to say after meeting us: “I know where they are from, they must have been born in Zion, the City of God?”
O may it truly be so. May our accent give us away every time.
ResponsiveReiding 