Gospel Farmers - Isaiah 55:11

"It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it." Crops grow and become both food to nourish those who are hungry and seeds to plant for the farmer (vs. 10). God's Word grows just like crops, but always produces results. God's Word is the expression of His will and is efficacious in accomplishing His plans and purposes. Whether God's Word nourishes like food or reproduces like seed, it is always effective. Therefore, we should ingest God's Word for nourishment like those who are hungry and and plant it like farmers so it will grow more crops. We are gospel farmers. We consume God's Word by reading and studying the Bible and we sow the seed of God's Word by proclaiming it to people. While we may not always understand how the seed of God's Word that we plant grows and develops ("my ways are higher than your ways," vs. 9), we are assured that planting it always produces fruit and accomplishes God's plans and purposes.

In Defense of Hell - Romans 1:32

"They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too." There's been a lot of controversy lately among Christians on theological questions about universal salvation, hell, and who occupies it (or not). While an exhaustive discussion of these theological issues is beyond the scope of this blog (and beyond the capability of this amateur theologian), I would, however, like to submit a short defense of hell. In this verse the Apostle Paul states a fundamental proposition that is prerequisite to any theological discussion of universal salvation and hell. Some question how a good God could sentence anyone to eternal separation from Him, but Paul clearly tells us that God's justice demands God's judgment. People who refuse to acknowledge the truth and reality of God as revealed in Christ in this world are actually joining in the cosmic rebellion of Satan and his cohorts against God and humanity (Revelation 20:10, 15). Under any fair system of justice, conspirators receive the same judgment and sentence as perpetrators of a crime because they share the same nefarious intent. When people refuse to love God's truth in this world, why would they be any different in eternity? Jesus illustrates this point in the well-known parable of the final judgment (the sheep and the goats) in Matthew 25:31-46. The parable distinguishes between people who want to please God and those who want to live for their own satisfaction. It establishes that those who live their lives with an attentiveness toward eternity also begin to live out their eternal life in their present life. And it urges us to demonstrate in our present lives what we are becoming and will be in God’s eternal kingdom. The parable also specifies that hell is a place prepared for the devil and his demons and twice indicates that those who don't serve God in this world receive the same judgment as Satan (and not in allegorical terms). In other words, if Satan has chosen to rebel against God, how could he spend eternity with God? So, if people choose not to accept God's rule and reign over their lives in this world, how could they spend eternity with God? It doesn't even make sense and hell makes complete sense--God's justice requires it! "There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light" (John 3:18-19).

Unashamed! - Romans 1:16

"For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile." In the mid-1990's the contemporary Christian music group, DC Talk, recorded a song entitled "Jesus Freak." With its alternative rock sound, the song put a positive spin on the disparaging 1970s term. Lyrically, the song is about standing up for belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior:

What will people think
When they hear that that I'm a Jesus freak?
What will people do when they find that it's true?
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak.
There ain't no disguising the truth.

The song provides a sort of hip-hop version of Paul's affirmation of belief in the transforming power of the gospel of Christ. Paul says he is completely unashamed of the gospel because it is God's power saving us and giving us who believe its message of redemption a new life in Christ. Our lives should proclaim that we are followers of Jesus, even to the extent that people might think we are Jesus freaks!

Going to Gilgal - 1 Samuel 11:14-15

"Come, let us all go to Gilgal to renew the kingdom. So they all went to Gilgal, and in a solemn ceremony before the Lord they made Saul king."

Saul was the first king of Israel.He was the son of a wealthy landowner and became king unexpectedly and rather reluctantly.

The people had requested a king to help them fight their battles. They were happy with Saul because of his regal stature--he was a head taller than anyone else (vs. 10:23).

God spoke to Samuel about anointing a king over Israel and Samuel met privately with Saul and declared him the new king.

The Virtues of Weakness - 2 Corinthians 11:30

"If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am."

Paul found it necessary to justify his actions because of his love for the Corinthian church and because false teachers were enticing the Corinthian believers away from Christ.

In chapters 10-12 of 2 Corinthians Paul may be responding to charges from people claiming to be apostles who arrived in Corinth and launched a vicious attack against him and his apostleship. These false teachers accused Paul of not being a real apostle or even a true Christian!

Just In Time - Isaiah 49:8

"At just the right time, I will respond to you. On the day of salvation I will help you. I will protect you and give you to the people as my covenant with them." In this chapter Isaiah continues a description of the suffering servant. This chapter has traditionally been regarded as the second of four suffering servant songs. God declares that He will make a way for Israel’s sin to be atoned and for their fellowship with him to be restored. And He will do it at just the right time. The way He will do it is the promised servant, who will come to save Israel and all people. God doesn't necessarily fulfill His promises when we think He should. God acts at just the right time to accomplish His purposes. Have you ever been praying for things to happen a certain way and all the circumstances are in line, if only God would bring it to pass. When God doesn't do things like we planned, then it seems to us like a missed opportunity for God to work. But God doesn't work according to our plans for Him. God is never late and He is always on time in carrying out His own plans and purposes. Don't make plans for God to accomplish, but rather bring your life in line with doing His will and then He promises to empower you to accomplish His plans: "The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you" (Acts 1:7-8).

You Can't Have It Both Ways - 1 Samuel 7:3

"If you are really serious about wanting to return to the Lord, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Determine to obey only the Lord; then he will rescue you from the Philistines." Samuel had gathered all of Israel together to repent of their idolatry and rededicate themselves to God. While Israel was assembled, the Philistines attacked them. Samuel prayed and God helped the Israelites defeat the Philistines because they had repented and rededicated themselves to serving and obeying God. Consequently, the Philistines didn't attack Israel again until after Saul became king. Samuel clarified to the Israelites that they could not have an allegiance to both God and idols. Idol worship of Asherah was an ongoing problem throughout Israel’s history and especially during the time of the judges. Ashtoreth (also called Asherah) was the Canaanite goddess of fertility associated with Baal. However, idolatry can take many forms. The prosperity we enjoy can lead to idolatry when we let the accumulation of possessions become the focus of life. What you spend your time and resources thinking about and doing indicates where your allegiance is. Your life in this world is a zero-sum game—whatever time or money you spend on one priority takes away from the time and money spent on another priority. So you can't have it both ways, God and something else. A relationship with God is an exclusive one and you can't expect to receive God’s blessing unless you get rid of what is contrary to His will.