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A Door of Hope

The first city to fall to Joshua and the Israelites when they crossed into Canaan was Jericho.  God gave very specific instructions for its overthrow.  The Israelites circled the city six days, but on the seventh day they were instructed to circle it seven times.  After the seventh time, the trumpet sounded, the people shouted and the wall of the city fell “down flat.” (Joshua 6:2-5)

God also gave instruction concerning the inhabitants of the city and their belongings.  The city was counted as “accursed…and all that are therein, to the LORD…But all the silver and gold…are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.” (Joshua 2:17-19)  God had instructed the people to keep themselves from the “accursed thing” lest they themselves would be accursed.  This brings us to Achan.

Achan took from among the spoils a “garment…silver and…gold” and hid them in his tent.  This disobedience led to the downfall of the Israelites in their attempt to take the city Ai. God exposed Achan’s sin to Joshua and Achan and his family and all of his belongings were stoned and burnt in the Valley of Achor and a pile of stones placed over them.  Achor means “trouble.”  Achan had “troubled” Israel by taking the accursed thing and promoting their initial defeat at Ai.

Fast forward about 665 years.  God’s earthly people, Israel, had departed from Him and He looked at them as an adulterous wife.  Even so, He spoke through His prophet Hosea, of His future restoration of her to Himself by His grace.  In His promise to the nation, He states “I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.  And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth.” (Hosea 2:14-15)

The valley of trouble in the day of Joshua has now become a door of hope!  Only God can do this.  God can take us through troubled and difficult times and lead us to a door of hope.  The COVID-19 virus hangs over our community, our nation, and our families as a shroud.  But God is in control.  He alone knows the path this will take us.  If we belong to Him, all the paths He leads us through come out at the right place.  He is our Door of Hope!    

Persistence in Prayer

After our Lord taught his disciples a pattern for prayer (Luke 11:1-4), he emphasized to them the necessity for boldness and persistence of prayer. “And he [Jesus] said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth” (Luke 11:5-8).

The lesson hinges on the word “importunity” which means shameless (or bold) persistence. The friend asks and keeps on asking. In the parable the door was “shut” and the opportunity now passed. In this case, the friend’s persistence overcame the closed door to meet the need.

By comparison, our heavenly Father is not in the least reluctant to hear and answer our prayers. However, the Lord cultivates a bold persistence in our prayer life which is a necessity for our spiritual growth and vitality. As our heavenly Father, He wants us to come to him for any and every matter. Prayer is not about changing his mind nor is it a matter of getting him interested in what burdens us. Rather, prayer is ultimately about us getting burdened for those things that interest God. We are changed through prayer to love the things that he loves and see him as sufficient for our needs and desires. In prayer we become an active participant in God’s purpose and plan.

Our Lord Jesus reinforces this imperative of persistence with an additional promise. “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Luke 11:9-10). The tense of the verbs are continuous in action in the Greek. We are to keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking! In other words, don’t give up!

The unfailing goodness of God guided by his infinite wisdom lies behind the invitation to persist in prayer. Our Lord set forth this truth with this question. “If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:11-13). Our heavenly Father knows how to give good gifts. In fact, “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17). He does not give useless gifts (a stone) or dangerous gifts (a scorpion). Rather, the Lord holds forth that the Father is prepared to give the absolute best of gifts, the Holy Spirit, to those that ask him.

The gift of his Holy Spirit is given freely to any and all that call upon the Lord for salvation. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law…that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13-14). “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13).

The Lord’s Prayer (Part 4)

As Jesus brings his pattern for prayer to a close, he includes this petition: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Luke 11:4). It is important to rightly understand what is meant by the word “temptation” as it is used in this passage. We often think of temptation as an enticement to do wrong and that is its proper meaning much of the time. In this instance, however, the word temptation does not have that exact meaning.

In the first place, God never tempts any man to do evil. James, the Lord’s half-brother, testifies in his epistle to this truth. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man” (James 1:13; emphasis added). What then is meant by “lead us not into temptation”?

To understand it fully, we must look to the latter half of the sentence where the Lord adds “but deliver us from evil.” There must be some relationship between “temptation” and “evil” as well as “lead” and “deliver” for the prayer to make sense. The answer lies in the petitioner’s sense of his own sinful weakness and inclination to sin. The prayer crystallizes his own desire to avoid sin and, consequently, anything that would bring shame to his Lord and disrupt his fellowship with God.

On the one hand he prays that God’s leading would be such that it takes him far from any opportunity to sin. He trusts in the Father’s leading, leaving the future in his hands while embracing the Father’s purpose to keep him free from sin. But he also understands the bent of his own heart and his own weakness to overcome sin, so he prays “deliver me from evil.”

Only God can keep us from sin. Jeremiah, the prophet, captured mankind’s problem succinctly. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). First of all, man’s heart is thoroughly sinful. In fact, God’s testimony concerning mankind immediately prior to the flood was this: “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). Nothing has changed.

But not only is man’s heart desperately wicked, but we are told it is deceitful above all things. Man’s assessment of his own spiritual condition is untrustworthy. We can put it this way. Man does not see himself as God sees him and God’s is the only viewpoint that matters. So we are admonished to pray “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”  We do not readily discern sin, we walk willingly into sin, and we cannot deliver ourselves from sin. Ultimately, sin is all that matters between my soul and the Savior.

The Psalmist learned that nothing compared with the favor of God for “thy lovingkindness is better than life” (Psalm 63:3). But fellowship with God requires “clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:4). The question we must each ask ourselves is “Do I value my relationship with God more than the pleasures of sin?”

The Lord’s Prayer (Part 3)

We come to the final two elements in Christ’s pattern of prayer for his disciples as recorded in Luke’s gospel. The first of these occurs following the petition for daily bread. Our Lord adds “And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us” (Luke 11:4). Bear in mind that this pattern for prayer contemplates coming daily before the Father. Consequently, it is acknowledged here that daily cleansing from sin is needful.

The prayer for forgiveness in this context has reference to the defilement of sin that impedes fellowship with the Father. For the believer, the condemnation of our sin has been removed by the blood of Christ. Paul writes, speaking of Jesus, “in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7) and “there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Yes, praise God, our sins in their entirety have indeed been forgiven and we have been reconciled to God. Sinning now for the believer brings defilement only, not condemnation, and hinders our fellowship with the Father.

Jesus gave the perfect illustration of this necessity for cleansing immediately prior to his passion in the upper room where he and his disciples had gathered to eat the Passover. “And supper being ended…he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded” (John 13:2,5). Peter rebelled at the idea of his Lord washing his feet, but Jesus told him plainly that if he did not wash his feet then he (Peter) had no part with him. Upon this admonition, “Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head” (John 13:9).

It is at this point that Jesus illustrates the distinction between salvation and daily cleansing. “Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit” (John 13:10). In Jesus’ day it was customary to wash off a guest’s feet from the dust collected by just walking in the streets of town. The guest did not need a bath, but only required the dust washed from his feet. So it is with being cleansed from the defilement of sins committed. A Christian having been born again does not need to be saved again, but does need cleansed to be fit for fellowship with a holy God.

John’s record is fitting for this occasion. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (I John 1:5-10). The word of God speaks to our specific sins, e.g., unkindness, lying, etc. We dare not argue with the Lord and his word, but follow Solomon’s advice. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).

Child of God, is your fellowship with the Father broken because of unconfessed sin? Do not seek to hide from the Lord. As David testified “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:5).

The Lord’s Prayer (Part 2)

Previously, we began to look at the Lord’s response to the petition of his disciples to teach them to pray. What has become commonly known as “the Lord’s prayer” opens with “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth” (Luke 11:2). We touched on each of the phrases previously and now move on to the remainder.

Having acknowledged the sovereignty of God and expressing desire to allow that will to govern his own life, the petitioner expresses his dependence upon the Lord. “Give us day by day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3). It is a simple yet profound expression of reliance by the creature upon the Creator that contemplates two concepts. The first is the matter of daily bread, which constitutes not just food, but all that is needed to serve God and fulfill his purpose for the day at hand. The Lord used the most basic necessity for living to exemplify all that we need, food, housing, raiment, strength, etc.

The second concept recognizes that this reliance is necessarily “day by day.” Every day is different from the one preceding it and, consequently, the needs for each new day vary. God supplies them all and He invites us to look to Him daily in prayer for that supply.

It is easy to lose sight of God’s daily provision. We buy enough groceries to last several days at a time, our closets are full of clothing, and our credit cards stand ready to meet every need and desire. These things all have a way of diminishing the recognition of our daily dependence upon God. But God reminded Israel as they were about to enter Canaan “thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18).

We are so self-centered that we seldom take stock of the blessing of God’s provision. Yet He is the one who endowed us with talents and abilities that we employ for our welfare. As Paul reminded the Corinthians “For who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou didst not receive?” (I Corinthians 4:7). God’s leading and favor is in all of our advancements. Have you ever wondered why the job you have went to you and not a different candidate who was equally qualified?

Our lives are consumed with building things, acquiring things, and caring for things. Yet God shows himself strong in that he provides timely sales that meet our needs, neighbors and friends to help in our expansions and repairs, and “unexpected” provisions along our way. He keeps older cars running, roofs from leaking, and shoes from wearing out.

Finally, He gives us our health. Sin’s effects on the earth has brought its curse upon our lives. Sickness is part of that curse as well as the demanding character of work. Yet God gives health and strength to work and blesses our labors with fruitfulness.

Do you acknowledge your daily need of God’s care and provision? Furthermore, do you give thanks to God for meeting your needs? The Psalmist wrote “The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfies the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145:15-16).

The Lord’s Prayer (Part 1)

Luke records that when Jesus “was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John [the Baptist] also taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1). Jesus responded by giving them a pattern in what we have come to know as “the Lord’s prayer” (see Luke 11:2-4). This prayer or portions of it are found everywhere on wall plaques, murals, key chains, desktop figurines, obituary notices, and many other venues. Its familiarity may even have desensitized us to its true teaching. We need to pause as we hear our Lord’s words to reflect on his  example.

His prayer opens with “Our Father which art in heaven.” For the child of God to begin with “our Father” is quite natural. Paul reminded the Galatian believers that “because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6). Not everyone has the right to call God “our Father,” only those who have become related to him through his Son, Jesus Christ. The Apostle John wrote “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ [the Messiah] is born of God (I John 5:1). Believing on Jesus as Savior and Lord is the only means of becoming a member in God’s family and rightly owning him as “our Father.”

Jesus goes on to pray to our Father “which art in heaven.” The Psalmist relates “The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men” (Psalm 11:4). We are reminded that when we pray to the Father, we pray to the ruler of all. What a privilege is ours! What reverence is warranted!

“Hallowed be thy name.” The word “hallowed” means to treat as holy, set apart. God is absolutely holy, even his very name. Isaiah recorded “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15). It is beyond our understanding to recognize that this holy God makes it possible for sinners like us to dwell with him and own him as our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ!

“Thy kingdom come.” Ultimately the kingdom in view here is the kingdom that Jesus Christ himself establishes when he returns. Then “the kingdoms of this world [are] become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). Until that time the kingdom is a spiritual kingdom comprised of every soul who submits to the gospel of Christ and follows him.

“Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.” The Scriptures tell us that God “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11; emphasis added) and that “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:17). That being so, our prayer takes the shape of submitting to his will in all matters; our petitions couched in his sovereign care and eternal purpose. Take a fresh look at our Lord’s response to his disciples in this matter of prayer and may your own prayer life be enriched. More to come…

But One Thing is Needful

The gospel writer, Luke, records an occasion when Jesus “entered into a certain village and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me” (Luke 10:38-40). Stated briefly, Martha was busy serving and Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to him speak. We are not told in the text what kind of serving occupied Martha. It was likely something to do with preparing the meal for their guest.

It is probable that Mary served as well but “left [Martha] to serve alone” in order that she “also” (in addition to serving) might sit at Jesus’ feet to hear his teaching. In any case, Martha served, but Mary sat. Martha soon became “cumbered about much serving.” Literally, her service became a distraction to her, and she became anxious.

She concludes that if Mary would help her then order would be restored, and things would get done. So she appeals to the Lord to speak to Mary. However, our Lord sees things very differently. “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).

Martha’s busyness had kept her from that one thing that is needful, Jesus himself. Mary had chosen well. She sat at his feet in loving devotion desiring to learn of him. There are many Marthas in today’s church and few Marys. Many people working, but few worshiping. Oh, that the church, God’s people, would return to that one thing that is needful.

The Psalmist knew the value of that one thing for he testified “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire at his temple” (Psalm 27:4). To “dwell in the house of the LORD” spoke of his desire for sustained, uninterrupted communion with the Lord. God made us for this very purpose, to fellowship with him. We forego beholding his beauty when we fail to apprehend and appreciate his attributes. The beauty of the Lord is found in all that he is – holy, loving, wise, good, omniscient, and infinitely more. As we see him for who and what he is, we find that our perceived (and real) needs simply vanish. Finally, to inquire at his temple is to seek his will in all things and to submit ourselves to his ways over our own. Without doubt Mary, like this Psalmist, understood that this one thing is needful.

Martha was not wrong for serving, but for serving without worship. Christ pointed her to this one thing that her sister had grasped. Christianity is not being busy doing good things. It is a relationship with Jesus Christ characterized by loving worship for “him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Revelation 1:5).

Each of us should ask ourselves, “Am I sitting and serving or am I just serving? Am I missing that one thing?

Who is my Neighbor?

Virtually every state has what might be referred to as “Good Samaritan Laws.” Such laws are in place to protect citizens from civil liability when helping those in need during an emergency. These laws draw their name from a parable that Jesus taught. A certain lawyer “had tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25). This lawyer was an expert in the Mosaic law (the first five books of the Old Testament), so Christ asked him “What is written in the law?” (Luke 10:26). In so asking, the Lord affirmed that the law was both instructive and authoritative in this matter.

The lawyer answered and said “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” There was no debate about the lawyer’s answer. He hit the nail on the head, so our Lord tells him, “Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live” (Luke 10:27-28).

It is evident that the lawyer suspected that he had fallen short when it came to his neighbor. In fact, the Scriptures record that “he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29). No doubt, he was hoping for a small group of people he could count as neighbors and his obligations under the law would be few. But Jesus had a response that he did not expect.

It is at this point that Jesus shares the parable of the Good Samaritan (as we’ve come to know it). “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side” (Luke 10:30-31). The priest, who would naturally be expected to help the man, crossed the street choosing to not get involved.

A Levite, one who is engaged in duties pertaining the temple, actually was more at fault than the priest. He actually “came and looked on him” (Luke 10:32). The Levite literally walked away from the beaten man having first looked closely at his circumstances.

Finally, the Lord tells of a third passer-by, a Samaritan. Now Samaritans had nothing to do with Jews and Jews had nothing to do with Samaritans (John 4:9), which makes his response all the more remarkable. “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him” (Luke 10:33-34). The Samaritan even paid the innkeeper an additional amount if any more expenses were incurred by him in caring for the man.

Jesus now asked the lawyer which of these three was “neighbor” to this man. The lawyer answered, no doubt with conviction, “he that showed mercy,” our good Samaritan. Jesus then told the lawyer “Go, and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:37).

In light of our Lord’s teaching, who is your neighbor?

Homeless in This World

As Jesus was returning to Jerusalem on one occasion, “a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee withersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Luke 9:57-58). The man was convinced of the Lord’s teaching and wanted to follow him as his disciple. But Jesus spoke of his own circumstances to teach an important understanding concerning discipleship. A true follower of Christ is homeless, without roots, in this world.

Our Lord spoke readily that foxes and birds like all other creatures have their own homes. But he did not have a place to call his own. How  ironic that the Creator of this world had no place of his own. The point that he made was emphatic. This world was not his home. He testified that he “came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). Later when confronting the Pharisees about their plot to kill him, he asserted “Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world” (John 8:23).

Jesus, the Son of God, left heaven to do the Father’s will. He took on human flesh and was born of a virgin (John 1:14). Though he lived a sinless life, he suffered and died on the cross to pay for the sins of the world (Romans 3:21-26). He was raised from the dead the third day and ascended back into heaven where he is seated on the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). Heaven is his home, not this earth. And the same is true for those of us who claim him as Savior and Lord.

Jesus spoke to this effect when he prayed for his disciples prior to his crucifixion. Speaking to his heavenly Father, he prayed “I have given them [his disciples] thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14-16).

For the believer, home is heaven and heaven is home! Jesus himself promised “I go [back to heaven] to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3). Our days on this earth are measured. We are but strangers and pilgrims and, like Abraham, we “look for a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10).

The apostle Paul, gripped by this truth, reminded the believers in Philippi, “our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Philippians 3:20-21).

The child of God cannot be “at home” in a world that rejects the love of the Father. John admonishes the believer “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (I John 2:15). Tell me, friend, where is your home?

Opportunity and Availability

Luke records in his gospel an event that is notably recorded in all four of the gospels, Jesus’ miraculous feeding of the five thousand (Luke 9:10-17; Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; John 6:1-14). This repetition recorded for us in the gospels adds weight to its significance in the life of Christ.

Earlier the Lord had “called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick…And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere” (Luke 9:1-2, 5). The Scriptures then record that “when they were returned…he [Jesus] took them, and went aside privately [by ship] into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida” (Luke 9:10). Mark’s gospel adds that they might “rest a while” (Mark 6:31).

While there is a need to rest in the course of ministry, it did not happen on this occasion. “And the people saw them departing, and many knew him [Jesus], and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:33-34). Rest gave way to opportunity.

Often the opportunity to serve or minister shows up on our doorstep quite uninvited interrupting our plans, obstructing our pursuits, and upsetting our schedule. Human nature being what it is, the disciples likely felt that true in their circumstances. Their “rest” was not just interrupted, but forfeited altogether. So “when the day was far spent, his disciples came to him, and said, this is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: send them away, that they may go into the country round about…and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat” (Mark 6:35-36).

Jesus had other plans. He said, “Give ye them to eat. And they said, we have no more but five loaves and two fishes…for all this people. For they were about five thousand men” (Luke 9:14). Matthew records that this was “beside women and children]” (Matthew 14:21). Opportunity to minister had now come face to face with outright insufficiency to do so. The Lord continued with his lesson.

Luke records that the Lord instructed his disciples to seat the people, and then “took the five loaves and the two fishes, and…blessed them, and brake and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. And they did eat, and were all filled” (Luke 9:16).

The opportunity for ministry often comes when we least expect it and, perhaps, when we see ourselves as the least prepared for it. Ministry takes place when our opportunity converges with our availability because the Lord is not looking for our resources, but for our readiness. We find that when we are spent, he is evermore sufficient. Depending on our own resources forfeits many opportunities to be used by him.

God Will Judge Those That Rule

David, the king of Israel, penned these words under the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit. “He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God” (2 Samuel 23:3). Those who hold positions of authority do so at the prerogative and purpose of God. They serve at his prerogative because God is ultimately responsible for their appointment. No man (or woman) comes to any office at their own doing. The prophet Daniel records, “he [God] changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings” (Daniel 2:21). He later adds, “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men” (Daniel 4:17).

Those in authority serve according to the purpose of God. The Scriptures teach “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1). God has given mankind government to restrain evil and accommodate that which is good. Paul explains this further. “Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: for he [rulers] is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Romans 13:2-4; emphasis added).

On two separate occasions, Paul speaks of those governing as the “minister of God.” David grasped this truth and understood his role before the God in Whom all authority rests. This compelled him to affirm that those who rule must do so in the fear of God. God always holds men accountable for what he gives them. For example, he gives believers gifts to use in the church and he will hold each accountable for his or her use of such gifts. He gives authority to men to rule, and he will judge them for how they ruled.

Asaph, another of the Psalmists, wrote concerning this judgment. “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods [rulers]. How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked?” (Psalm 82:1-2). God is present in every council of those gathered to legislate and to lead. He is a silent witness to the actions of men; He hears every word; and, He understands exhaustively the motives of the heart. God does not take lightly the stewardship of ruling. He expects the authority he has given to men to be exercised righteously and this expectation extends to all “who bear the sword.”

Those who rule enjoy much privilege. But God reminds them that in spite of privilege they, too, “shall die like men” (Psalm 82:7). In our society today it is very evident that many who rule have lost sight of their calling to rule in the fear of God. Be assured, the most High has not lost sight of them. “Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit the nations” (Psalm 82:8).