Archives - May 2007, Part 1, from www.timewithgod.blog-city.com

timewithgod.blog-city.com — May 2007

Mark 13 The love of a caring Parent

God is already providing mercy for us

At one time, I remember looking at this chapter and seeing God's "giving up".  It seemed to me that He would be removing His hand of "civility" from over us, letting our bases nature take over, and He would watch as we almost destroyed each other.

But as I read through it today, I saw evidence of His mercy and His watchcare over us.  I was amazed at how many times He said, "Be careful" and "Be ready".  That's not something an uncaring God would do. 

His mercy shines through in verse 20:  "God has decided to make that terrible time short.  Otherwise, no one would go on living.  But God will make that time short to help the people He has chosen."  There are so many "be careful's" and "be ready's" that it reminded me of suiting up my boys in pads and helmets to go rollerblading.  That's what a loving Parent does.

Father, I'm glad that my boys and I will not have to worry about the end times, because we won't be here.  Instead, You'll have already gathered us to Yourself as You promised.  Thank You for that mercy even more!  Help me to tell others who You've already planned to join us, but who don't yet know about You.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Published: Tuesday, 1 May 2007

Mark 14 -- a look at self in the garden of Gethsemane

evil propensities

Jesus and His disciples shared some intimate moments together before events spiraled to separate them from Him.  There were some totally unexpected things I noticed today.

At the Last Supper, when Jesus predicted that He was about to be betrayed by one of them, what I expected to hear but didn't was, "No me, Lord!"  Instead, to a man they asked, "Is it me?"  My commentary says, "They all recognized the evil propensities of their own natures.  With a healthy distrust of self, each asked if he were the culprit."

I wondered if I would have been honest enough to do the same, but I imagine that in Jesus' presence all pretense would be gone.  We'd each know in comparing ourselves to Him how very capable of sin we are.

On an opposite end of that spectrum just a few hours later, they were all walking to Gethsemane when Jesus warned them that they would all be ashamed and afraid to be known as His followers.  This time, bravado took over.  My commentary said, "They all engaged in brash, self-confident assertions.  Let us never forget that, for we are no different.  We must all learn the cowardice and weakness of our hearts.... we must all learn the lesson that self confidence leads to humiliation.  We must learn to distrust self and to lean completely on the power of God."

As humble as Jesus was, He finally did answer the high priest when asked the direct question  about whether He was the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed God -- "I am."  What I'd never realized is that it was necessary for Him to answer honestly rather than refuse to answer.  He was acting in obedience to Leviticus 5:1, according to my commentary, which says, "If a person is ordered to tell in court what he has seen or what he knows and he does not tell the court, he is guilty of sin."  He wasn't being self-promoting, "unhumble", or anything else.  He was keeping Himself the sinless Savior we needed.

Father, help me to be ever aware of my evil propensities and don't let me ever become so self-confident that I believe that I can't fall.  And thank You so much for Mark recording Jesus' answer to that question.  I remember searching so long ago and not finding it, but thankfully You led me back to You and to it years ago!

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Published: Wednesday, 2 May 2007

Mark 15 -- A tearful morning

what He endured for Me!

I sat stunned as I reread everything that Jesus endured for me that day.  He was thought an idiot by Pilate for not responding to defend Himself.  He watched as the people, coached by the leading religious authorities, chose a treasonous murderer over Him to receive freedom.  As each whip of the cat-o'-nine-tails peeled flesh from His back, the pain must have been unbearable.  But the emotional pain of seeing those He was dying for killing Him had to be horrible.  Then came the indignities -- being stripped by the soldiers, and made to wear a crown of thorns in great pain, the mocking "worship" of the soldiers .... Then being stripped again -- each time the cloth adhering to the crusting fluids coming out of His back.  The blows to His head with the stick, jamming the crown of thorns in even deeper .... And then the spit .... probably one of the most despicable things one human can do to another -- showing utter disdain.  Dragging the cross all that way, only to be nailed to it.  The flesh wanting to rip as the cross fell into the hole.  The rough wood shooting hundreds of splinters into His already raw back.  Hanging naked before everyone.  Soldiers gambling away His only possessions in this world -- His clothes.  Bystanders wagging their heads and mocking Him, totally without compassion.  Those God had entrusted with the job of revealing Himself to His people leading the charge to mock Him.  Even the two thieves crucified on either side of Him, sharing His fate, deriding Him.  Three hours of total darkness as He took on the sin of the world and in doing so, of necessity, cutting Himself off from Holy God for the first time in all eternity.  That probably made His physical suffering seem like nothing and hurt Him most of all.  That, and His love for us, killed Him, I think -- a voluntary giving up of His life for us.

All of that done to God, the One who created us!  20-20 hindsight has a way of causing us to think, "I wouldn't have done that!"

Yet even today with each and every sin we commit, no matter how minor they seem to us, we in effect join those at the foot of the cross.  A single cuss word equals spit in His tortured face.  Each sin is another lashing with that whip, ripping skin from His back.  We are no different.  Yet He endured it all for us.  Such love!

Forgive me for the spit, the whipping, the mock worship, and the derision that I caused You to have to endure by my own sins -- yesterday, and every day of my life, Jesus.  Please help me not to add more to Your suffering today or tomorrow by my actions or thoughts.......  Why me?  Why me?  Thanks for being my Savior!

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Published: Thursday, 3 May 2007

Mark 16 Not believing the unbelief!

there was a lot of it

I guess it was unbelief that really caught my eye this morning, and I can't fault them.  I'd have been right in there with them.

First were the three women who went to the tomb early on Sunday.  The angel told them where Jesus was, and told them to go tell His followers what they'd heard, but they were so afraid that they ran away and told no one.

Mary Magdalene saw Jesus and went to tell His followers, "but the followers did not believe her."  Later, the two followers on the road to Emmaus walked with Him and discovered who He was, but when they ran to tell the disciples, "the followers did not believe them."

Finally, Jesus Himself appeared to them and He criticized them for having no faith.  "They were stubborn and refused to believe," Mark said.

Of course, in the history of the world, no one had done this before.  They'd all have to bend their minds around a new reality, and that is often hard to do.

My commentary noted that half the people who have ever lived are living right now.  Jesus had commissioned the disciples and us to share the Gospel with the whole world.  Back then, it would have been impossible.  But right now, it is not.  They'd have never believed that it could literally be done in one or two days, but we have that ability now.  One sentence at the end of Mark shows how it will be possible, and it was written after Jesus' ascension:  "...and the Lord helped them."  He'll help us, too.

Father, I don't know why humans have such a hard time believing that You loved Your Son enough to raise Him from the dead.  I'd certainly do that for either of my sons if I had the power that You have!  Help us to be a part of this world evangelism push You started with Your Son as we go to Ukraine this summer.  Give us opportunities to tell what You've done in our lives.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Published: Friday, 4 May 2007

Joshua 1 & 2 Being strong and brave as new horizons open

I've seen it work many times

God's timing in when He has me read this book stuck out as I started it today again.  June, 1998 I finished it.  He'd had me reading it just as Michael and Stacy Felkins left to move to Pittsburg and I was filling in as interim youth minister and wondering how faithful I could be with my spiritual mentor gone. 

April, 2002 I was preparing my paperwork to submit to Ukraine so I could go find Josh.  Little did I dream that it would be a full year later and what all I would have to go through to find him.

November, 2004, I was in the process of getting permission to go get Joseph. 

Those were all times of huge spiritual need in my life, and I particularly remember drawing on the words of chapter 1 when naming Josh, and I told him later how I felt God telling me those same words to say to Josh:  "Be strong and brave ... I'm taking you to a new land ..... you will be successful..."

I felt compelled to look particularly at verses 5-9.  I know my leadership role at work is changing and continuing to evolve, particularly after the events of the past 40 days at work.

God said to Joshua, "No one will be able to defeat you all your life.  Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.  I will not leave you or forget you.... Be strong and brave!  You must lead these people ... Be strong and brave.  Be sure to obey all the teachings .... If you follow them exactly, you will be successful in everything you do.  Always remember what is written ... Study it day and night to be sure to obey everything that is written there.  If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything.  Remember that I commanded you to be strong and brave.  Don't be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you everywhere you go."

What God seems to be saying this morning is, "I know those promises were specific to those people at that time, but I will make promises to you as well.  This book (the Bible) is almost like a 3-D picture, with everyone viewing it from where they are, and seeing Me through it in the way I want to reveal Myself to them.  Studying it day and night helps you see Me more clearly."

Father, I trust You.  Right now I only have a vague notion of what may be ahead, but I trust You to carry us all through it.  Help me to be strong and brave and walking with You.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Published: Monday, 7 May 2007

Joshua 3 & 4 What a difference a day makes

5 days short of 40 years

The Israelites were about to step into the Promised Land.  Only Joshua and Caleb remembered leaving Egypt and what significance that next day really held.  Joshua told them, "Make yourselves holy, because tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you."  Man, if we would just do that before each new day starts!

That next day was full of amazing sights.  A river at flood stage obeys its Creator and stops flowing, piling up in a heap somewhere upstream.  The dirt in the bottom, saturated by the water, suddenly finds itself bone dry as every last molecule of water obeys its Master.  And the people step into a new covenant with their God.  Rocks are taken from the middle of the river to build a remembrance marker, and Joshua piles rocks where the Ark had stood in the middle of the river.  My commentary says, "The stones in the riverbed speak of identification with Christ in death.  Those on the west bank speak of identification with Christ in resurrection."

Joshua told them, "The Lord did this [not so that over a million people wouldn't have to swim, but] so all people would know He has great power and so you would always respect the Lord your God."  god reveals Himself to those who make themselves holy -- set apart for Him -- and prepare to meet Him.

So what was so significant about the day itself?  My commentary says, "The people crossed the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, five days short of a full forty years since the Exodus from Egypt, and just in time to prepare for the Passover."  God's grace shows through again!

Father, help me to set aside time each night to make myself holy -- to prepare for the amazing things You may be showing me the next day.  Continue to reveal Yourself to me so that I may know You more.  Help me to realize that each new day You are leading me into the Promised Land.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Published: Tuesday, 8 May 2007

Joshua 5-6 Not a way to start a war, you'd think

resting in God

There was an amazing amount of symbolism mentioned in my commentary that I'd never noticed before.

When all the men were circumcised, God was calling His people back to the basics of their relationship with Him.  Aside from being a sign of God's covenant with Abraham, "it was also a picture of self-judgment and putting away the filth of the flesh"

As they celebrated the first Passover in 40 years, they were reminded of their redemption by God.

It says, "The manna speaks of Christ in His Incarnation, the bread that came down from heaven as a provision for our wilderness needs.  The produce of the land illustrates Christ in Resurrection, after entering into the blessings of Canaan.  We feed on both."

My commentary also acknowledges the "Man" in verse 13-14 as "the Lord Jesus in one of His preincarnate appearances.  He introduced Himself as Commander of the army of the Lord.  Christ does not come merely to help us, and certainly not to harm us;  He comes to take full control."  The Man commands worship from Joshua, which is why He would have to be Christ, because "mere angels never accepted worship."

When Joshua asked if He was a friend or an enemy, His answer was, "I am neither."  Definitely He would not be an enemy.  But "friend" implies familiarity with the Holy One that headed upstream.  Instead, God had to initiate the contact through grace.

Joshua's utter reliance on God was shown in the very unmilitary things he did:

a) stopping to observe the Passover, and

b) risking a surprise attack while the men were healing from their circumcisions.  No commander without God's assurance would have done this.

Father, thanks for showing me so much more about You and about what this important time meant for these people.  I love seeing Christ active and involved in Kingdom business even before His incarnation on earth!

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Published: Wednesday, 9 May 2007

Joshua 7-8 If he'd only waited!!

desire gave birth to sin

Fresh from military victory, the Israelites took on another town.  There's nothing said about them praying about this or about God telling them to do this as before.  They are soundly beaten back.  Joshua kneeled to pray but God said, "Stand up!"  It wasn't a time for prayer but a time for action.  God picked out the guilty man, and Joshua said, "My son, tell the truth..."

Achan said, "I saw....I wanted....I took...."

My commentary compared it to James 1:14,15:

""But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  Then, when desire is conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death."

Gosh, that describes so very well how I can find myself away from God so very easily if I don't watch out!  It all starts with being drawn away by our own desires.  And that is selfishness....me first!  Achan said, "I wanted these things very much for myself!"

Even in possessing those things, he couldn't enjoy them, and they would result in a lot of work to keep them concealed; if he'd never been found out, he'd constantly be having to dig them up and bury them at the next spot, hiding them somehow along the way!  Burden rather than joy.

What an extremely clear call from God issues out across the centuries to us today:  "Make yourselves holy....Set yourselves apart to the Lord.  God says that some of you are keeping things He commanded you to destroy.  You will never defeat your enemies (Satan) until you throw away those things."

Our answer can often be just like Achan's:  "I wanted these things very much for myself!"

Achan's sin cost him everything.  Had he just waited and trusted God, at the very next battle he could have taken anything he wanted, but instead he was enticed by the forbidden and that seems to be what unfortunately happens to all of us -- from Adam and Eve right down to us today.

There is promise here, though.  Verse 8:7 says, "The Lord your God will give you the power to win..."  if we will just wait on Him and trust Him.

Father, I know there are times when I can't understand why I cannot do what I want so very badly to do.  I know that there are sinful things I find myself desiring, and I don't like that.  When You command us to throw those things away, You have our very best interests at heart, yet if I want to hang on to them, I will be foolishly doing myself harm.  Give me the power to win, Father.  Convince my doubting heart in those times that Satan is whispering lies to me.  Strengthen me to throw out of my life that which causes separation from You.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Published: Thursday, 10 May 2007 Tags: forbidden

Joshua 9-10 Contract law versus pledges in God's name

guess which one takes precedence

I found myself in "lawyer mode" this morning, wondering how to reconcile what happened in these chapters with God's plan for His people.  He'd told Moses and Joshua that they were to kill all the inhabitants of the Promised Land when they took it.  God had already given up on the people there because of their idolatry.  He was removing them and bringing in the nation of Israel to take their place.

The people of Gibeon and three other surrounding towns used deception to win a peace treaty with Israel.  They claimed to reside outside of the Promised Land, hoping Israel would not attack them as a result.  Israel agreed without consulting God.  That was their big mistake.

Once the deception was discovered, Joshua felt that the oath they'd made to God must take precedence over everything else, and the people of those cities had to be allowed to live.  Yet in keeping that promise, they were intentionally breaking their promise to obey God.  So is an oath by humans, sworn in God's name, more important than God's verbal commands?

Five Canaanite kings then attacked Gibeon for its compromise with the invaders, and Gibeon called on Israel to defend it.  There was nothing mentioned of a defense pact, only a non-aggression treaty and an agreement for servitude.  Yet Gibeon cried out and Israel answered.  It would at first seem that God is offering a way out of the dilemma by causing the Canaanites to kill each other, taking care of the problem, but instead God urges Joshua to join the fight.  The five kings are defeated.

The curse that Joshua placed on anyone who tried to attack the Gibeonites (which applied to the Israelites only, as far as I can tell) later caused Saul trouble, so it was valid for Israel.

I guess the hitch is that, in contract law, we almost always establish covenants that specify the reliance of the parties on representations made by each party, and the contract can be undone if those representations turn out to be false.  We can think of those as, "I lie, the contract dies" clauses.

But with God, a promise is a promise, and swearing in His name and then failing to uphold it robs Him of glory, even if it's against His will!  The disobedience had already occurred when they failed to consult Him before making the pledge.  Additional disobedience in breaking it would only make matters worse.

Father, the legal term that comes to mind is "buyer beware" -- if we fail to consult You before making a decision, then we fully deserve what we get as a result.  Thankfully, You are a God who not merely restores, but as J.I. Packer said, you "take up our mistakes and follies into Your plan for us and bring good out of them....whatever happens, whatever mistakes we make, we shall come home safe.  Slipping and straying there will be, no doubt, but the everlasting arms are beneath us.... we can have confidence in the One who will not let us ruin our souls."

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Published: Friday, 11 May 2007

Joshua 11 & 12 Waging War

War was never meant to be "civil"

I can remember one of the first times I was reading this, and how troubling it was to me that God had commanded the Israelites to completely destroy all of the men, women, and children in these towns.  I had a very "humane" view of war -- taking out only the soldiers and leaving the nation itself -- being peaceful invaders I guess you'd say.  And if God loved the whole world, then why single out all these people to be destroyed??

I was the problem, not God.  I was viewing things from a secular progressive perspective without realizing it.  That same viewpoint is what seems to be hamstringing us in Iraq and Afghanistan today.  No such viewpoint was tolerated or even considered during World War II, when Allied planes bombed out entire German cities until the people of that nation finally saw what an awful toll such goals were imposing on them.  The same thing happened with stubborn Japan.  It had to cost both nations dearly before they could see the error of their ways.  Civility hampers victory in war.

Joshua obeyed God ad removed the source of the problem.  He knew, as we are only coming to learn today, how indoctrinated with hate even the little ones are in this region, and just how long memories and thoughts of revenge last.

Any nation or faction within a nation that has as its goal the utter destruction of another nation or people cannot be pandered to or treated with civility in war.  This is not their mindset, and they see such action as weakness on the part of their enemy -- not mercy.  A nation or people who's god is not a god of mercy will never treat us as we would treat them.

I imagine that it was quite distasteful for Israelite men to carry out those orders -- particularly those who were fathers -- but in doing so they were protecting THEIR families for decades to come.  Perhaps we are failing to do the same because we are allowing the world to hold us to a different standard than they do everyone else, condemning in us what they praise in our enemies.

Father, my mind, heart, and soul struggle to justify and reconcile all of this, for it seems so "anti-Christian".  But Your Son promises that when He returns it will be a different sort of battle.  He will be coming to insure the final victory.  Please give our nation wisdom in dealing with such evil on this planet.  Show us how to protect the world for the long term.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Published: Monday, 14 May 2007