Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can wait their turn. For G.o.d is not a G.o.d of disorder but of peace. . . . Be sure that everything is done properly and in order.
1 Corinthians 14:32-33, 40
In sports there are those who know the plays and perform their roles meticulously. Then there are those who, with a flash of unrehea.r.s.ed brilliance, can win a game. Or lose it! In business, there are people who manage the details and give order to the enterprise, while others chafe at the daily grind but have the ability to win the contract. Some people thrive on details and structure. Others love spontaneity and inspiration.
In an ideal world, form and freedom coexist cooperatively. They complement each other and produce a congenial atmosphere in which to function and an effective result toward their intended goals. In the real world, it is not always so straightforward. For instance, look at the church. Most church people would agree that the churchas privilege and responsibility is to engage in worship that praises and serves G.o.d, that honors his name, that proclaims his worth, and that furthers his cause. But when it comes to agreeing on what const.i.tutes aworshipfula worship, major differences rise to the surface, and often stay there! In fact, the differences are often so sharp that there is a term for these differencesa"aworship wars,a an oxymoron if ever there was one!
The Corinthians provide us with an ancient example of this recurring problem. By temperament, inclination, and preference they were in the camp of the spontaneous and the free. A worship service in the Corinthian church would have been lively and animated, unstructured, and unpredictable, even bordering on the chaotic. Worshipers were encouraged to partic.i.p.ate and lead in the service, but sadly, this often took place without appropriate courtesy and decorum. As a result, there was strife among the members of the church over the conduct of their worship services.
So Paul spelled out some arules of worshipa for the Corinthian Christians. aNo more than two or three should speak in an unknown language. They must speak one at a time, and someone must be ready to interpret. . . . Let two or three prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. . . . Women should be silent during the church meetingsa (14:27, 29, 34). All three groups mentioned were required to exercise acontrol of their spirit,a which meant that they had to be as ready to be silent as to speak. If prophets were prophesying all at once, if tongues-speakers were speaking without interpretation, and if women were asking questions aloud, then the result would be noise and chaos. A situation like that did not honor G.o.d or enrich the church. So Paul instructed, aBe sure that everything is done properly and in ordera (14:40).
Paul was neither an opponent of spontaneity nor a control freak. His only desire was to see form embracing freedom and structure allowing spontaneity. This is a n.o.ble goal for the church today. Itas a challenging goal, too.
May 13
TO READ: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
The Main Thing
Now let me remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then and still do now, for your faith is built on this wonderful message.
1 Corinthians 15:1
Should the players on a sports team begin to experience difficulties with each other off the field, the chances of their performing well on the field will be jeopardized. The same thing applies to a business, a family, or a church. Good leaders know this and, therefore, spend considerable time and effort seeking to maximize good relations and minimize personal frictions. Good leaders do this by constantly reminding the group about their objectives and helping them to focus on what is of prime importance. Good leaders teach their people that athe main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.a22 Paul, as we have seen, was dealing with a particularly fractious group of people in the church of Corinth. They were divided on a number of issues. All of these issues, in Paulas view, were less significant than the amain thing.a So, having dealt with some of the issues that were dividing them, and having reminded them that they were called to love each other, Paul turned his attention to sharpening their focus once more on the main thing. He wrote, aNow let me remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then and still do now, for your faith is built on this wonderful messagea (1 Cor. 15:1). The main thing was not who was the best leader, or who exercised which gift, or which ministry was most important. The main thing was that G.o.d had done something in human history to change their lives for time and eternity, and that he had alerted the people of Corinth to what he had done through the preaching of the Good News. Without the Good News there would be no church, no gifts, no ministry, no apostles, no salvation, and no forgiveness. In fact, without the Good News, there would be no Corinthian church at all to get worked up over these less-than-main things!
What precisely is this Good News? aThat Christ died for our sins, . . . he was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third daya (15:3-4)a"that is the Good News. Many men have died bravely, some even voluntarily and vicariously. But no one has ever died with the intention of raising himself from the dead. No one, that is, except Jesus (see John 10:17-18), which demonstrates that his death was unique. It was so unique that it alone could be the basis for the forgiveness of sins.
The main thing is that Christ died to bring forgiveness and rose from the dead, conquering sin, death, the devil, and h.e.l.l. As long as Paul was alive he would never cease to remind people.
When the risen Christ is central, you know what is peripheral. Never confuse the two.
May 14
TO READ: Psalm 81
Open Your Mouth Wide
It was I, the LORD your G.o.d, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.
Psalm 81:10
G.K. Chesterton, one of Britainas great writers, was of the opinion that an open mind is like an open mouth: It is only useful when closed on something of substance. Sadly, some people only seem to open their mouths in order to put their feet in them.
The psalm writer had a better idea. He exhorted the people in the name of the Lord, aOpen your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good thingsa (Ps. 81:10). The instruction was given in the context of a religious celebration. The people of G.o.d were arequired by the laws of Israela to partic.i.p.ate in aa sacred feast when the moon is new, when the moon is fulla (81:3-4). The purpose of the regular cycle of feasts and celebrations was to remind the people about what G.o.d had done in the experiences of their forefathers, so that they would remember who the Lord is and not deviate from his ways.
The Lord never tired of reminding his people, aIt was I, the Lord your G.o.d, who rescued you from the land of Egypta (81:10). And he found it necessary to give them astern warningsa constantly telling them, aYou must never have a foreign G.o.da (81:8, 9). But tragically, the history of the people was full of examples of willful disobedience. The Lord said sadly, aBut no, my people wouldnat listen. Israel did not want me arounda (81:11).
The feasts and festivals were factored into the life of the nation, to bring them back to basics and to stir their hearts to worship and obedience. But there was something about G.o.das people that periodically caused them to refuse to believe that their security and joy rested in the Lord. They found other ways of living, more to their liking. So they had to be brought back repeatedly to a position of remembering G.o.d.
It was in that position that they were told to open their mouths wide. This certainly referred to them joining in singing apraises to G.o.da (81:1)a"a practice that warms the coldest heart and cheers the downcast spirit. But it also meant that they should aopen their mouths,a spiritually speaking, to feed on the truth being presented to them and inwardly digest the Good News of G.o.das salvation.
Unlike ancient Israel, the law of our land does not legislate regular worship. But the most fundamental spiritual law insists that regular worship is necessary for all-around well-being. And it is not burdensomea"in fact, regular worship is like being fed with athe best of foodsa (81:16). It tastes good! It is something on which to close an open mouth.
May 15
TO READ: Exodus 3:1-15
May I Have Your Attention?
aAmazing!a Moses said to himself. aWhy isnat that bush burning up? I must go over to see this.a Exodus 3:3
The busier a man is, the more difficult it is to get his attention. The higher he climbs on the corporate ladder, the more hoops one must jump through to talk to him. When he is asked at the beginning of a flight to pay attention to the announcements concerning safety regulations, he, having heard it all before, continues to read the financial page of his paper. When he returns home and his teenage daughter tries to speak to him, he is too busy downloading the latest news about his stock portfolio and favorite sports teams. And once the ball game starts on TV, his wife knows it is useless to try to get him to listen to her concerns about a leaky faucet or a troubled child. Very often, in this world, when the question is, aMay I have your attention?a the answer is aNo.a Although the pace of life was slowera"much slowera"in biblical times, it was not always easy to get peopleas attention in those days, either. In particular, if G.o.d wanted to say something, he often resorted to doing something dramatica"like appearing to Moses in a bush that burned without burning up. a aAmazing!a Moses said to himself. aWhy isnat that bush burning up? I must go over to see thisa a (Exod. 3:3). Having gained Mosesa attention, the Lord then began to communicate to him what he wanted to say: that he was well aware of the predicament of his people in Egypt, that he had every intention of rescuing them, and that Moses was to spearhead the rescue!
a.s.suming that the Lord wants to communicate with modern man, and knowing that it is not always easy to get his attention, the question is, aHow does the Lord get our attention today?a No one testifies to seeing burning bushes that are not burned up. But some of G.o.das men burn brightly without burning out. They exhibit unusual resources that enable them to stand tall under pressure, to stand firm through temptation, to exhibit cheerfulness in the face of trouble, and to exude equanimity in the teeth of disaster. They are inveterate encouragers, tireless supporters, and consistent examples to all. And they donat burn out!
Seeing one of G.o.das brightly-shining men in action causes other men to stop and wonder. That is the time to explain that while there is nothing special about the bush that burns, there is something unusually special about the fire that burns within. The essence of the believeras life is, as Paul explained, aI myself no longer live, but Christ lives in mea (Gal. 2:20). Being a burning bush without being bushed (or burned) draws attention.
May 16
TO READ: Exodus 4:10-18
The Impatience of G.o.d
aNow go, and do as I have told you. I will help you speak well, and I will tell you what to say.a But Moses again pleaded, aLord, please! Send someone else.a Then the LORD became angry with Moses.
Exodus 4:12-14
Shakespeare said that there was never a philosopher who could bear a toothache patiently. Even a philosopher has his limits. There is only so much that he will endure. It was the same in Jobas case. His patience was legendary, but there came a time when he had heard enough from his acomforters,a whose comfort he did not need. Most men have little difficulty identifying (or at least responding to) the limits of their own tolerance and patience. But what about G.o.d? Are there limits to his patience?
This is a disturbing question, because G.o.das patience is not only clearly taught in Scripture but it has been widely experienced by those who have received his forgiveness and embraced his grace. G.o.das patience is often a.s.sumed by those who do not love G.o.d. Where is the man, whatever his religious convictions, or lack of them, who does not a.s.sume that G.o.d, if he is there, has a boundless supply of patience? So the unG.o.dly man will continue in a lifestyle that he knows in his heart is not right, on the a.s.sumptiona"or hopea"that he will get away with it in the end. He either thinks that G.o.d isnat there or that G.o.d is so patient that anything goes.
Disturbing or not, the question about the limits of G.o.das patience deserves an answer. The answer is in the ongoing discussion that Moses had with the Lord concerning his call to go to Egypt and confront Pharaoh. Moses had raised question after question, excuse after excuse, until finally he said in desperation, aLord, please! Send someone else!a (Exod. 4:13).
That did it! G.o.d had heard enough! aThen the Lord became angry with Mosesa (4:14). The limit of G.o.das patience was reached when Moses obdurately refused to do what the Lord told him to do. Moses had been attracted to G.o.das presence in the bush, had heard G.o.das voice, had received G.o.das a.s.surances, had seen G.o.das miracles, and had been told that G.o.d didnat mind that he was aclumsy with wordsa but would give him words to speak! Still Moses resisted G.o.das call and tried with all his might to avoid being what G.o.d wanted him to be. That is what brought on G.o.das impatience.
Even though Moses was impatient, the Lord gave him Aaron as a spokesman, and he still sent Moses to Pharaoh. And Moses went. Perhaps, through the display of divine impatience, Moses finally got the message!
The patience of G.o.d is legendary. Where would we be without it? But it is not inexhaustible, and it should not be abused or taken for granted. Better to seek to bring him pleasure than to try his patience!
May 17
TO READ: Exodus 5:1-23
Bricks without Straw
Do not supply the people with any more straw for making bricks. Let them get it themselves! But donat reduce their production quotas by a single brick. They obviously donat have enough to do. If they did, they wouldnat be talking about going into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to their G.o.d.
Exodus 5:7-8
Nelson Mandela, in his book Long Walk to Freedom, wrote about his years as a prisoner on Robben Island, South Africa. Each morning the prisoners were marched into the courtyard wearing light shirts and shortsa"no underwear or socksa"where they were required to hammer boulders the size of volleyb.a.l.l.s into gravel. The first week, they were ordered to fill a giant skid half full. The second week it had to be three quarters full, and the third week completely full. The task finally became impossible. They were being driven intentionally to the breaking point. But instead of breaking, the prisoners decided to stage a go-slow strike. Despite dire threats from the wardens, the strike continued until the the wardens were forced to relent.
Pharaohas prisoners, the Israelites, were pushed to the breaking point, too. They were required to produce a quota of bricks each day. Raw materials, including chopped straw, were provided. Then Moses and Aaron appeared before Pharaoh and said, aThis is what the Lord, the G.o.d of Israel, says: aLet my people go, for they must go out into the wilderness to hold a religious festival in my honora a (Exod. 5:1). Pharaoh retorted that he did not know the G.o.d of Israel and could see no reason why the people should stop working in order to worship him! To show his displeasure, Pharaoh ordered, aDo not supply the people with any more straw for making bricks. Let them get it themselves! But donat reduce their production quota by a single bricka ( 5:7-8). Pharaohas prisoners, however, dared not stage a go-slow strike. Unlike the South African prisoners, the Hebrews were as likely to be killed as to be kicked. So their sufferings simply increased. If they complained, they were whipped into submission.
The Israelites blamed Moses and Aaron for adding to their pain: aMay the Lord judge you for getting us into this terrible situationa (5:21). But Moses knew that he and Aaron were obeying G.o.das orders, so he complained to G.o.d: aWhy have you mistreated your own people like this, Lord? Why did you send me?a (5:22). On the surface, everybodyas complaints seem quite reasonable. Yet behind the scenes, G.o.d was at work. He was setting the stage for Pharaoh to learn a major lesson about G.o.das sovereign lordship! It was not going to be easy; a lot of people were going to get hurt.
In the struggle between good and evil, it often seems that evil is winning and that good people are bearing the brunt of the struggle unjustly. But remember, Mandela was eventually released and became the president of South Africa, and the children of Israel went free and headed for the Promised Land. The Pharaoh who ordered bricks made without straw turned out to be a man of straw himself.
No matter how hard the struggle, we can be confident that, in the end, G.o.d wins!
May 18
TO READ: Exodus 11:1-10
Turning Things Around
Now the LORD had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the people of Israel, and Moses was considered a very great man in the land of Egypt. He was respected by Pharaohas officials and the Egyptian people alike.
Exodus 11:3
Whatever you think of Fidel Castro, the communist leader of Cuba, you have to admit that he has had staying power. Despite all the efforts of the United States to overthrow him, including the ill-fated Bay of Pigs episode and more than forty years of economic sanctions, he has remained in control. Meanwhile, Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Bush, and Clinton have moved on from the presidency. Even though doctrinaire communism no longer holds sway in former strongholds, this fact has not deterred Castro. Nothing has appeared to move him or change him! No doubt his enemiesa"and there is no shortage of thema"wonder what it will take to remove him and bring freedom to the Cuban people.
The Israelites must have wondered how anything could change the heart of Pharaoh, the cruel tyrant who dominated their lives during their captivity in Egypt. Even a series of divinely inspired disasters had served only to strengthen Pharaohas resolve to oppress them and had stoked his antipathy to the Lord and his people. The Lord said, aPharaoh is very stubborn, and he continues to refuse to let the people goa (Exod. 7:14). With each succeeding disaster, Pharaohas pattern of stubbornness and heart-hardening made further confrontation necessary. But through it all, the Lord was at work, determined to turn things around so completely that eventually Pharaoh would beg the children of Israel to leave.
The Lord was already turning things around for Moses. Despised even by his own people at one point (see 6:9-12), Moses was now aconsidered a great man in the land of Egypt. He was respected by Pharaohas officials and the Egyptian people alikea (11:3). The Egyptiansa att.i.tude toward the rest of the Israelites had gone through a remarkable transformation, as well: aThe Lord had caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the people of Israel.a That G.o.d is fully capable of intervening in human affairs is without question, and that he does so is amply doc.u.mented. The methods that G.o.d employs are sometimes hard for us to take or even to understand, but his objectives are always right, and his means of achieving them are just. That the prisoners should be freed from Pharaohas control was right, and that Pharaoh should be punished for his intransigence was equally correct. But Pharaohas ongoing obduracy and his unrelenting antipathy necessitated ever increasing disasters until he finally yielded.
G.o.d is committed to turning things around the way they ought to be, and he will. Even Castroas regime will fall one day. Pharaohas did! This being the case, we who live neither under Pharaohas tyranny nor Castroas regime, yet find our work situations onerous or our social climate challenging, should take heart. G.o.d is at work, and ultimately, he will see that right is rewarded and wrong is punished. But he works at his speed, not ours, and he is not limited by timea"he has eternity at his disposal!
May 19
TO READ: Exodus 12:1-28