The son of Herod the Great, Herod Antipas provides a very important lesson for us about hearing and responding to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Herod Antipas was the ruler over Galilee during the time of Jesus and John the Baptist. Like most of the Roman rulers during that time, he was ruthless and without conscience, but he also showed an unusual interest in spiritual matters. Mark 6 tells us the story of how he arrested John the Baptist, but frequently listened to his preaching. In fact, in verse 20, the ESV says that Herod heard him gladly.
In other words, Herod enjoyed listening to John talk about spiritual matters including eternal life and the power of God. But he is the ultimate example of someone who listens and even enjoys hearing about the Gospel, and yet goes on to commit unspeakable evil. It was Herod who became so controlled by his lust for his stepdaughter that he made a promise to give her anything, up to half of his kingdom. It was the same Herod who enjoyed listening to John that ordered his beheading.
Clearly the enjoyment of listening to the Gospel is no sign of salvation or even impending salvation. It can be experienced by those who continue to pursue a self-centered life and even a life of ongoing evil. Each person who hears and enjoys the Gospel must come to a point when they must either reject or accept its message. That involves coming to a full understanding of the message of the Gospel. The Gospel offers salvation and eternal life to any and all who hear it, if only they place their faith in the the Lord Jesus Christ. But today, many confuse belief that Jesus is God with the idea of placing their faith in Christ. Faith requires reliance...dependence. It is possible to believe something without really becoming dependent upon it. Godly faith requires reliance and dependence upon God to the point that our lives reflect change that is recognizable by those who know us well. It is tragic that while Herod enjoyed listening to John, he never made that step of faith.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
God's Loincloth
Our God loves to use graphic illustrations of His relationship to us and in the case of the Old Testament, to illustrate how the people of Israel have sinned against Him. Jeremiah 13 contains one of those illustrations and yet has profound implications for our relationship to God today. The chapter begins with God telling Jeremiah to go and buy a brand new linen loincloth. Jeremiah is told not to put the loincloth into water but instead is to wear it. Then, after a period of time, God tells Jeremiah to take the loincloth and hide it underground near a river. In verse 6, Jeremiah recalls that after many days, the LORD told him to retrieve the loincloth from it's hiding place. Of course, by that time, the new loincloth is ruined and not good for anything. The purpose of this charade is to illustrate how the sins of Israel and Judah have ruined those nations and just like the loincloth, they are no longer good for anything.
But in verse 11, we are told something so profound and potentially life changing, we must be careful not to miss it. God tells Jeremiah that He had made Israel to cling to Him, just as the loincloth clings to a man. What is astounding is the article of clothing that God has chosen to illustrate man's relationship to Him. God could have chosen another piece of clothing such as the outer robe which is so critical in keeping people warm at night, protecting them from the cold. But God purposely chose the loincloth, the most intimate article of clothing we wear. It is the equivalent of our underwear. It is the article of clothing that covers the most intimate part of our body. God tells Jeremiah that He made Israel to cling to Him like a loincloth!
What is God telling us through this illustration? I believe He is letting us know just how intimate a relationship He desires to have with us. He chose the MOST intimate piece of clothing to describe how He made Israel and Judah to be to Him. In the New Testament, He uses the most intimate human relationship to describe how He wants to relate to us by telling us that we are the bride of Christ. There is no more intimate relationship than husband and wife.
I know that I have very little idea of just how intimate God wants to be with me, but I suspect that it is far more intimate than anything I could imagine. He is waiting for me to respond to that invitation...He is waiting for all of us to respond to that invitation...
But in verse 11, we are told something so profound and potentially life changing, we must be careful not to miss it. God tells Jeremiah that He had made Israel to cling to Him, just as the loincloth clings to a man. What is astounding is the article of clothing that God has chosen to illustrate man's relationship to Him. God could have chosen another piece of clothing such as the outer robe which is so critical in keeping people warm at night, protecting them from the cold. But God purposely chose the loincloth, the most intimate article of clothing we wear. It is the equivalent of our underwear. It is the article of clothing that covers the most intimate part of our body. God tells Jeremiah that He made Israel to cling to Him like a loincloth!
What is God telling us through this illustration? I believe He is letting us know just how intimate a relationship He desires to have with us. He chose the MOST intimate piece of clothing to describe how He made Israel and Judah to be to Him. In the New Testament, He uses the most intimate human relationship to describe how He wants to relate to us by telling us that we are the bride of Christ. There is no more intimate relationship than husband and wife.
I know that I have very little idea of just how intimate God wants to be with me, but I suspect that it is far more intimate than anything I could imagine. He is waiting for me to respond to that invitation...He is waiting for all of us to respond to that invitation...
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Small steps
A frequent theme in the teachings of Jesus is for us to follow Him. In Mt. 4:19, Jesus tells Peter and Andrew to come follow Him, and He will make them fishers of men. Then, 4 chapters later in Mt. 8:22, he tells the disciples to "...follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." I used to think that whenever we made the decision to follow Jesus, it would consist of huge steps in directions I had never been. This is always scary and I'm sure holds many of us back from taking that step. Occasionally, God may be calling us to take a big step in an unknown direction, but in my life, the steps to follow Jesus have been small ones that slowly lead me in a slightly different direction than where I had been headed. For a time, the path following Jesus has almost been parallel to the way I had been going, but slowly, almost imperceptibly, it begins to turn in a different direction. Then, as I have walked along that path, I have come to streams, creeks, and rivers that require a larger step of faith to be made. But for me, the initial steps were small. It is only after looking back over 5-10 years that I notice how far off the original path I have come.
Obedience is certainly found in taking the large steps of faith that God requires of us. But, most of the time, obedience is found in taking the small everyday steps that consist simply of taking time to be with Him, and avoiding that which we know He doesn't want us to do. Small steps of using our time, talent and treasure for His glory. Small steps of taking the time to listen to His Spirit within us leading us in the small decisions of the day. After all, if we are going to run a marathon, it is not accomplished with one large step, but with many small ones.
Obedience is certainly found in taking the large steps of faith that God requires of us. But, most of the time, obedience is found in taking the small everyday steps that consist simply of taking time to be with Him, and avoiding that which we know He doesn't want us to do. Small steps of using our time, talent and treasure for His glory. Small steps of taking the time to listen to His Spirit within us leading us in the small decisions of the day. After all, if we are going to run a marathon, it is not accomplished with one large step, but with many small ones.