The Glorious Grip of a Gracious God

"And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight." ( Hebrews 11: 32-34 ) 

When I read the Book of Judges in the Old Testament, I never quite know what to do with Samson. Most of the time through the narrative he appears to be a hot mess. 

One of my favorite Bible instructors, Dr. Derek Thomas recently addressed the life of Samson in his latest teaching series, "Imprisoned, " so I was anxious to get some insight into this enigmatic judge of Israel who led such an imprudent, carefree life. In the series which features different Bible characters in each lecture, Dr. Thomas also addresses the providential hand of God in their particular situations.  

Dr. Thomas describes Samson as follows, according to the record provided for us in the Scriptures: 

"He's given to vices, addictions, sex, reckless behavior, fits of anger. Samson does what is right in his own eyes. He loves danger and to be in the midst of it. He is overly-confident, can't resist a joke, and doesn't take life seriously."

In those days Israel "had done evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD gave them into the hand of the Philistines." 

Before Samson was born the angel of the LORD appeared to his parents, his mother first and then both, and told them that they would have a son and he "shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines." 

Nazarenes take three vows, and Samson broke all three. He indulges in alcohol, allows his hair to be cut, and defiles himself by eating honey out of a dead carcass. He lived hard and fast. He insisted on marrying a Philistine woman instead of a woman from his people, encountered a lion and killed it with his bare hands, slew 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey, tore off the iron gates of the city of Gaza, pulling up their posts, and carried them for forty miles to the top of a hill in Hebron. He destroyed their crops by catching 300 foxes, tying their tails together in pairs with a torch in between and lighting them on fire. 

He didn't respect God or his creation.

And then there was Delilah. 

Titus 2:2: "Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness." 

This is not Samson. 

Dr. Thomas describes the story as "the faltering faith of a foolish man." 

And yet, Samson is listed in the Book of Hebrews in the "Hall of Fame of Faith." 

What are we to do with that? 

Delilah enters the picture toward the end of Samson's "glory days." The Philistines, who have had enough of Samson and all of the chaos he has inflicted upon them, solicit Delilah to find out the source of his great strength. Of course, Samson makes the endeavor into one huge joke, but in the end, the joke is finally on him. 

"She tied you to a kitchen chair. She broke your throne and she cut your hair. And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah." 

"But he did not know the LORD had left him." ( Judges 16:20 ) 

The Philistines were waiting. They captured Samson and imprisoned him. They put out his eyes. They bound him and made him grind at the mill like an ox. 

The lords and the people, 3000 in number, gathered together in the temple of Dagon their pagan god to offer sacrifices and celebrate their capture of Samson. They made merry and shouted that Samson be brought out from prison so he could entertain them, and he was led out and placed in between the two support pillars on which the temple rested.  

"There's a lesson here, Dr. Thomas points out, and it isn't a pretty one: If we decide to live away from God, don't be surprised if God says, 'Okay, go, but I won't be there to stop you and you won't have anyone to blame but yourself.'" 

"If we tune out the Holy Spirit we put ourselves and others at danger." 

But this is not the end of Samson's story because we are about to witness "the glorious grip of a gracious God." 

Dr. Thomas said of Samson that God had to blind him and bind him in order for him to see. And I begin to see my own story in the story of Samson. 

Samson prays for the first time in the account of his life here in the Book of Judges. He asks God for help. The Philistines, in party mode, neglected to see that while imprisoned Samson's hair had begun to grow back. He prays for God to give him strength just once more that he may deliver his people from the hand of their enemy. God answers his prayer. Samson's supernatural strength returned as he pushed those two pillars with all his strength, bringing down the entire temple and sacrificing his life to deliver his people.  

 Samson was "made strong out of weakness." ( Hebrews 11:34 ) 

At the beginning of his story, we are told that Samson had one job to do, and he did it. 

As I listened to Dr. Thomas, it brought to my mind another story. I talked to my dad afterward because I wanted to hear the story one more time. My grandfather, Check Jones, was a character and a physically strong man too. He was a wrestler, a boxer, and also an alcoholic his whole life. Like Samson, he too was a jokester, but I don't think he was the life of the party because he was a mean drunk. He made the lives of those around him, including his family, miserable. 

If my dad leaves me any legacy at all, it will be the inheritance of forgiveness, but that's another blog. 

Back in 1979 after Granddaddy suffered a stoke, my dad was quite concerned about his dad's soul, as he always claimed to be an atheist. My dad's minister, Pastor John Kempf, who has since passed away, told my dad to stop hounding him about his faith, and that when the time was right, they would visit Check. I agree with Pastor Kempf; I've learned myself that God always does a better job hounding than we do. 

And they visited him. My dad and his pastor went to Granddaddy's bedside, one on each side of him. Pastor Kempf asked, "Mr. Jones, have you heard of Jesus?" Granddaddy replied, "I've heard about him, but I don't know him." 

Before they left he did know him. Like Samson, Granddaddy was in between two pillars, two Church pillars, that is. He wept and repented for a lifetime of sin as the Holy Spirit opened his heart to receive Jesus. A few days later, Granddaddy had the pleasure of meeting him face to face. 

For me Samson has become the gospel; he is a picture of the amazing grace of God on sinners. A grace where one can live 83 years or more, all for one's self, indulging in all of the empty pleasures this world has to offer, even endangering others, and in the end, still be enabled to find repentance and faith in the glorious grip of a gracious God. 

I've tried my best to find words to describe a gracious love so fierce and unfaltering, so downright unfathomable as God extends to us in the life and death of Jesus Christ his Son, but I'm afraid these will have to do. 

💜

 ( Today's recommendation: Any of Dr. Derek Thomas's teaching series especially the one on "Romans 8" - you can find him on "Renewing your Mind" podcast or Ligonier Ministries website and app. You can also find him on the First Presbyterian Church of Colombia, SC podcast where he is the senior pastor. )    

Me with my oldest man child visiting our favorite art gallery in Atlanta 
"Wild Oats and Billy Goats." 

 

Big Work

There are these times when I am working around my farm and I begin thinking, especially the closer I get to the finish line of life, and I do tend to overthink every detail of the known world. Anyway, I think about how I have no "big work" under my wing to present before God when I do stand before him one day. 

Each time, I get the same answer: "If you love me, you'll obey my commandments. That is the big work." 

I think it is easy to get focused on what we think are these big ministry works, and that is exactly what they can end up being, "works." Everyday we have to counter this notion that we are "earning our way" or "making ourselves count" by our works. The thought is very sneaky, and we have to be aware of it even as Christians, long in the faith, understanding it is by grace alone, because the work thing tries to creep into our minds through the smallest of cracks. 

I can't find in the Bible where Jesus commanded us to do "big works." He, in fact, already did the "biggest work," and all of the good works we do, the ones God predestined for us, spring out of our regenerated hearts in praise and thanksgiving because of his grace work for us. We do good works not to save ourselves, but because we are saved. 

They are God's plan for our lives after salvation. I mean, if we're still breathing then God is still working in us to accomplish his will. ( Not ours ) ( Ephesians 2:10 ) 

Jesus said that the good works we do are part of the proof we are saved, that we are a healthy tree bearing ripe, delicious fruit. ( Matthew 7:15-23, James 3:17 ) 

What is that fruit? 

"Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." ( Galatians 5:22 )

All rooted in a new heart with righteous motives. 

For instance, we don't lie to each other, not because we want to present an image of integrity in our business and get more customers, but our motive is that God told us in Scripture lying is a sin, something that displeases him greatly. Our aim is to honor and obey him first and maybe we'll have a respectable company with lots of customers, but not always. 

Are we willing to do the right work even when we can't see God's hand in the big work? 

This trust is the "big work." 

For some the big work is feeding your baby, and sacrificing your life for your family each day, when you are sick or tired or can't see the difference. You rely on God's strength and energy to get you through. 

For some it is the struggle of saying, "no" each day when the temptation of alcohol presents itself as a source of medication to temporarily relieve the stress and depression. But you cling to God and lay your sober head down on your pillow at night in thanks and praise to him for his sustaining power. 

For some it is caring about your elderly, disabled, or lonely neighbors on a continuous basis, making sure they have the things they need and know they are loved and valued. 

For some it is standing up for what is right before God and not bending to culture on the job site. 

For some it is continuing on the narrow path when you can't see the light or feel his hand. 

For some it is letting go of the familiar to embrace the unknown. 

For all of us the "big work" is loving our enemies, considering others better than ourselves, honoring our parents, bearing one another's burdens, gathering together on the Sabbath, feeding the poor, strengthening the weak, caring for creation, along with the rest of God's commandments to us. 

Serving isn't a step to "big works;" serving the LORD with gladness and trust is the "big works." 

It's an "upside down kingdom," this kingdom of our God and Father, where less is more, low is high, and little is big. 

And if we love him, we'll keep his commandments. 

This IS the "big work." 

Be encouraged today that you are indeed about your Father's business. 💜

Today's Recommendation: The book that helped me the most to grow closer to God outside of the Bible: "Knowing God" by J.I. Packer. Everyone should read it. 

This is Mr. Dobby, my grandpup. Part rat terrier, part sock bandit. 

March Gladness

I can work in almost any condition. I'm like a chameleon; I've adapted to my environment with all kinds of clothing suitable for the daily weather forecast. 

Except wind. 

I can work in softly falling snow better than wind. I can work through a hard rain pouring straight down better than wind. I can work around a heatwave from hades better than wind. I don't like wind, at all. A nice, light breeze, yes, but not wind. 

Pushing against 20-30 mile per hour winds with burst even stronger wears me out, gives me a headache, and is down right annoying. Buckets and feed scoops blow everywhere, anything that isn't nailed down for dear life blows around in the barn, out of the truck, down the hills and into the creek or the neighbor's hay field. And the animals don't like it either. 

The sheep and cattle gather together and hunker down on a hillside. The ducks and geese choose to huddle inside of their house instead of swimming in their little pools. The chickens take to the coop, and the barn cats nap in the hay loft. I'd rather curl up with them than finish my chores. The dogs seem to be the most tolerant, but even the big white doggies squint their eyes in the harsh turbulence as the mounds of fur across their backs bluster up straight and tall, but steadfast, as if in defiance of old man winter. 

When I see those little swirly line icons on the my weather app, indicating wind for the day, or when a wind advisory pops up, I feel anger rising in my soul, spiraling inside of me like a mid-west tornado. 

I'm not always sure what the questions are, but this I do know: The answer, my friend, is not blowing in the wind. 

The wind sweeps anything of value away causing one to lose one's ever loving mind. 

Patting myself on the back for having read through the Bible numerous times, one day I stumbled upon a verse that had escaped my perusal, perhaps on purpose from my prideful psyche. If the Bible isn't offending us, we aren't reading it deep enough.

"Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!" ( Psalms 148:7 -8 )

"Stormy wind fulfilling his word?" 

"Dear God, how can wind possibly be a part of your sovereign will?" 

"Isn't wind a devilish curse cast upon mankind from the fall along with ticks and fleas?" 

Like fire in the Bible, a representation of God's holiness and also a metaphor of purification for the believer, although literal for some, ( Daniel 3 ) I began to see that wind too is multi-faceted. Sweeping through their gathering place, with the sound "like a mighty rushing wind" on the day of Pentecost, the promised Holy Spirit was imparted to the children of God, power from on high to be with us forever. The wind too seems to point to the explosive power of God, amazingly now living inside of us who are in Christ Jesus.

In Exodus, we see that God used "a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land and the waters were divided." This allowed his people to escape their captors through the Red Sea on dry land with the winds forcefully holding back the waters, "being a wall to them on their right and on their left."  

In Acts we see the wind aiding the sails of ships in order for the sailors to navigate Paul's missionary journeys where he would plant the very first churches, laying the foundation of the Christian faith after his Damascus Road encounter with Jesus. 

In Luke's Gospel we see the disciples enduring a violent storm out on a lake as the boat begins to take in water. Jesus is sleeping, and they wake him saying that they are about to perish. "Jesus rebukes the wind and raging waves, and they ceased." ( Luke 8:22-25 ) Afterwards the disciples were afraid. "Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and water, and they obey him?" ( v. 25 ) The wind and waves recognized the voice of their Creator and promptly obeyed his command. The wind listens to the Master with fierce obedience coming and going.  

"Stormy wind fulfilling his word." 

Sometimes Jesus calms the wind and sometimes he moves us through the storm with the help of the wind. 

Our inclinations are to push the wind away, as if we could, but we must come to terms with it. We will never in this life understand where it comes from or where it goes. If we seek to know what all God uses wind to accomplish, it a meaningless endeavor, a striving after the very wind itself. ( Ecclesiastes ) And so I've found in the humility of it all that the hurricanes of life do not sweep away everything of value, but do blow away the chaff, all that is empty and hollow, especially the superficial, man-made beliefs I've gathered along the way with a whiny, complaining nature. ( Psalms 1 ) 

What is treasured, the awe and wonder of God, wisdom and grace, these not only remain but intensify during the windstorms if we have ears to hear and eyes to see, and a heart to trust our Creator like his wind and his waves. 

Some innovative, shrewd farmers have seen the value and purpose in wind and have harnessed its power to generate their agricultural operations. I like to think that this is just a portion of how God intends for us to understand the supernatural, transforming winds that he allows to rush through the journey of our lives. 

"Stormy wind fulfilling his word."

Happy Monday

Happy Spring 🌷 

Batter Up

There are several working definitions for wisdom that I've discovered over the past few years. Erroneously when I was younger, I thought wisdom and intelligence were the same things. 

Wisdom is not a head full of knowledge. Ironically, I've found one truth about wisdom to be knowing how much I don't know. 

Another thing I've learned about wisdom is that it doesn't come from believing in myself or being true to myself. If I'm depending on me for wisdom, or identity and success for that matter, I can say right now all hope is lost on that idea. I need something outside of myself, way bigger than me, if I'm going to be wise and understand the meaning of life. 

God says in Psalm 50:12 that if he was hungry, he wouldn't tell us. Why would he? What are we capable of doing? Nothing. Jesus said that apart from him, we can do nothing. But through him we can do all things. ( Philippians 4:13, John 15:5 ) 

So it shouldn't be surprising that the Bible tells us that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. This is the starting point. ( Proverbs 9:10 ) 

If we try and launch the search from any other location, as I have done many times in the past, we are going to fall short of the goal altogether. However, when we fear - bow in awe, surrender, and stillness before the holy, sovereign, all-wise God - we quickly realize just how small and unknowing we really are. 

Only then are we humbly headed precisely in the right direction. Only then can we gain a godly, lasting wisdom that this world can never offer to combat all it throws our way. Only then can we be truly satisfied and find our real identity in Christ alone. 

I had many hours to think about this a couple of weekends ago as I had the pleasure of driving my granddaughter's two surviving great grandparents down to North Carolina to help her celebrate her first birthday. The Farmer was battling the stomach flu, so it was just the three of us traveling together. 

My mother-in-law, in the passenger seat, shared her thoughts and experiences as we passed the hours, having spent a lifetime of accumulating wisdom through her faithfulness in following Jesus. The sunshine lit our way as it swept through the tall, Carolina pines and sweet conversation, dispelling any dark clouds that threatened to ruin our day. 

And I realized in those moments that even though God is the giver of wisdom to us, he releases it at his pace, slowly and gently into our souls. ( Proverbs 2:6, James 1:5 ) 

As we study his Word, reflect and pray, as we continue to gather with our church family to worship and humbly allow our brothers and sisters to speak into our lives, week in and week out, day in and day out, in the mundane and the ordinary, in the faithfulness of it all, something inside of us is transforming.  

It is when we encounter life's difficulties that we realize in the midst of all of this faithfulness wisdom has been silently growing. Wisdom has a way of sneaking up on us. 

I am reminded of many instances when I was amazed that I could handle the grueling situations with such grace or make the right call when life was coming at me with the speed of a fastball. I think another aspect of wisdom that I've observed is easier illustrated than explained 

It reminds me of years ago when I would take Josh, my youngest man child, to one of those baseball batting cages to practice his hitting. He would stand at the home plate inside of this fenced in area wearing a hard batter's helmet with a bat perched up above his shoulder. He would be focused, ready and waiting for the machine to start blasting out those baseballs. One right after another. Pow, pow, pow. Swing! Then get ready again in batting position. Swing, get ready again. And you have to be alert, or that baseball could painfully slam you. Swing, get ready. Swing, get ready. Over and over. 

That's life, isn't it? Sometimes it comes at us 100 miles an hour, and we have to BE ready. There's no time to get ready. Wisdom is taking all of the knowledge God has stored inside of us through our spiritual disciplines and knowing how to use it in a split second. 

Some decisions can be made slowly, but not most of them. Most are hurled at us, and we have to be in batting position and ready to swing and knock that ball out of the park. Or bunt. Wisdom is knowing how to respond in all of the many life situations that the Bible doesn't address. And there seems to be a lot of them. It's not so much a matter of deciphering things to pieces, but more learning the rhythm of the swing of wisdom. 

The important thing is to remain in the game. Don't give up. Don't stay on the bench. We get to have a part in God's work here in the world, and yeah, at times, it's scary, so it requires abiding in the Vine constantly to get our bearings and keep them. Without Jesus life is impossible, but with him all things are possible. ( John 15:5, Matthew 19:26 )

How does it work? This is where I really flex my wisdom muscles: I don't know. God's sovereignty and our human responsibility just work together somehow. It's complicated. God can do it all, but he's not going to do it without us. It's a complex, beautiful relationship. We love God because he first loved us. ( 1 John 4:19 ) 

Over the years, I've swung my bat and missed a bunch. I've been plummeted more than I care to admit from the school of hard knocks all from my own sinful doing, but God uses every bit of it for my good and his glory. ( Romans 8:28 ) This too is another aspect of wisdom, understanding the way God paints his masterpieces.  

I also observe how the more I practice the spiritual disciplines the better I become. It requires patience and diligence as we faithfully continue to do our part, seek God daily in the mundane and the ordinary, with our spiritual acts of worship, also known as "means of grace." 

I love this term, "means of grace." God has not left us without help, as he graciously grants wisdom through these means. Even when we feel like nothing exciting is happening, wisdom is silently, softly growing inside of us. 

When the pivotal times of life come and we swing that bat, we'll know.  

Wisdom has snuck up on us. 

Happy Monday! 

May our Father grant us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of himself as we start a new work week. 💜 ( Ephesians 1:17 ) 

A Few of our Fair Weather Fowl

The Holy One

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10

"The theme of Proverbs 1:7 is repeated here. Every person's wisdom - way of interpreting the meaning of things - BEGINS with one's view of God. 

What is a cat?

It depends.

Are we in a godless universe, so every living thing is just the product of a violent process of survival of the fittest? Or is God the impersonal world-spirit, so that everything in the physical world is an illusion? Or are we created by God, put into this world to care for it, including the animals ( Genesis 1:26 )? Each view of reality would necessarily look at a cat - and perhaps treat a cat - differently.

This time, Proverbs adds that the one we fear is the "Holy One." There is no more threatening divine attribute. In light of his holiness we can see our sin most clearly. Only Jesus' blood atones and makes it safe for us to be in the presence of the holy God ( Hebrews 10:19-22 ) 

If we believe in Jesus, contemplation of God's holiness actually enhances our joy. 

That we should receive the love of a holy God - is a miracle of grace. 

Meditate on the holiness of God. To love God's holiness will make you infinitely humbler and happier. 

Prayer: 'Lord, you are so holy that in your presence men like Isaiah and Moses were thrown into trauma. Yet through Jesus you have become my Holy Father ( John 17:11 ). Nothing changes me like direct meditation on your holiness and hatred of all sin. So that I may do this, strengthen me in my inner being by your Spirit. Amen.'"

God's Wisdom for Navigating Life / Tim and Kathy Keller 

I'm publishing my blog a bit early this week because I'm off today for a long weekend with the Grands. 🐳🌷

Soli Deo Gloria! 

Good for the Soul, Essential for Revival

Like many Christians, I followed the reports about the on-going chapel service at Asbury University in Kentucky. Thankfully, I also saw reports where the movement has spread to other universities and churches! 

Historically, revivals and great awakenings in America have begun with young people and at colleges. The Farmer's parents, Rev. Jim and Ida Covert, were a part of the Jesus Revolution in the 60s and 70s, and I have heard many wonderful stories from them of how God moved in their outreach to hippies and drug addicts, saving, healing, and delivering. In fact, we have had the pleasure of hosting some of the members from their church, actually now in their 60s and 70s, here at the farm, listening to their miraculous stories first hand. Interestingly, the movie "Jesus Revolution" just opened this past week starring Kelsey Grammer. 

Revival seems to be in the air again.

This is what stands out to me:

From the articles I've read of people who visited and joined in the services at Asbury and from the early news accounts, it was stated that the regular chapel service began with "confession of sins." 

Repentance. 

This is how moves of God began in the Bible. This is the message the Old Testament prophets proclaimed to the people. It is the message John the Baptist shouted out to the people from the wilderness, dressed in clothing made of camel's hair and eating wild honey and locusts. ( I'm sure the crowd would have called him a "Jesus Freak") "Repent, John proclaimed to the masses and curious on-lookers, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." ( Matthew 3:2 ) 

Jesus said in Mark 1:15:

"The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."  

The students at Asbury get this; my prayer is that we get it too in the church, in our families, and throughout our nation. Only when we come to the "altar" and bow humbly before the all-wise, holy, great Creator of the Universe, acknowledging our sin and dependence on Him, seeking not what he can give us or make us, just simply seeking and hungering for him alone, then we are on our way to revival. 

We have become "me" centered, not just in America, but sadly in the church too, our lives, our worship songs and theology, and it has effected even the eyes with which we read the Scriptures. 

But Praise God there is hope! 

And it's name is repentance. 

Made possible by the blood of the Lamb.

We must have true godly sorrow if we hunger to see "revival." It is about the condition of our hearts. We are called to pray for ourselves and others, for healing and salvation, but we shouldn't approach the altar with these as our motivation. 

No, we must come seeking God himself. 

And the mark of a true revival is that it always produces fruit and "reformation." The church should always be reforming, standing firm in the core doctrines, understanding how to reach people and be salt and light without blending into the culture and becoming unrecognizable or annoying, thus unhelpful. ( Acts 2 ) 

We are a different America, and a different church today from the great awakenings, but I hold to this promise that forever remains true, throughout all generations: It is the one I "recite" everyday and meditate upon. It is the most famous verse and promise in the Bible about the church and it is spoken by Jesus:

"He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter replied, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' And Jesus answered him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.'" ( Matthew 16:15-18 ) 

There is a "remnant," and Jesus Christ will absolutely make good on this promise. We can rest assure that Jesus is and will continue to build his church. 

One benefit in studying church history is looking at 2000 years worth of Jesus protecting and building his church. It is astonishing to behold how these words of Jesus to his disciples have remained true throughout the ages, through heresies and persecutions, and will continue to unfold in truth until that last day when he comes to "retrieve" his bride.  ( Revelation 7:9-10, Mark 13:33, Matthew 25:34, Luke 11:2, James 5:7, and 100+ more ) 

I pray we live until then, as individuals, as a community of believers, as families in our living rooms, in a state of repentance, ushering in revival and reformation, as many are added daily to our number, the remnant. I pray the church "receives" this word. 🙏

May we repent and worship the Lord together this beautiful Sabbath and until He comes again!