Category: SPIRITUAL FORMATION

DO YOU WANT TO GET WELL?

Are you willing to be transformed?

“Do you want to get well?” was the question posed to Joe by a stranger. Joe spent 38 years of his life not being able to walk. Yes, he regularly went to services where healers made great claims. However, Joe never was wheeled on stage where he could get full treatment from a healer. He finally resigned himself to living with his handicap. He found that making ends meet wasn’t that difficult with his disability checks and contributions from his church and friends.

ARROGANT QUESTION FROM A STRANGER

Why in the world did that a stranger approach him and ask, “Do you want to get well?” Seems like an arrogant question to ask someone who has spent thirty-eight years in a wheelchair.

THE HONORABLE PROFESSION OF BEGGING

Was Jesus also arrogant when he asked the disabled man (we will call this man “Joe #2”) “Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6) Maybe some historical context will help. In Jewish society, it is considered a blessing to give money to the poor. Social construct is you do a good work, and God gives back to you. Begging in Jesus’ day was an honorable profession. Joe #2’s job was begging. Yes, he had to make an appearance at the Pool of Salome every day to collect his due, but that was not a huge hardship. After thirty-eight years Joe #2 had regular donors and friends in his social circle at the Pool.

DO YOU WANT YOUR LIFE UPENDED?

When Jesus asked Joe #2 “Do you want to get well”, He was asking “Do you want your entire life upended?” Restored mobility entailed finding regular employment, not being eligible for handouts, and contributing to society. Hard stuff when you live otherwise for thirty-eight years. Did Joe #2 really want to get well? Everything in his world would change.

SPIRITUAL HISTORY

The only other facts we know about Joe #2 are spiritual history. Jesus says (and this also may sound abrupt), “Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” Sounds like Joe #2 possessed spiritual disabilities also in need of healing. Did Joe #2 internally change? As he picked up his mat and danced home Did the message take root? Did he choose to become a Jesus follower?

INNER TERMINAL ILLNESS OF SIN

Some people carry disabilities outside where all can see. However, all of us carry our sin sickness inside, hidden away from praying eyes. Jesus wants to open the windows and expose us. He desires to let the fresh wind of the Holy Spirit wash over our lives.

But do we want to get well? Joe #2 broke the Jewish rules, picked up his mat and danced around on the Sabbath.  At that point he didn’t even know Who Jesus was, but he knew he wanted a life transformed.

Do you want to be transformed? Are you willing to confess and let go of the sin sicknesses which hold us hostage: anger, jealousy, gossip, fear, addiction, etc.? “Transformation” means “change or renewal from a life that no longer conforms to the ways of the world to one that pleases God” (Romans 12:2)

Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. (II Corinthians 5:17)

Again, I ask, “Do you want to get well?”

Listen to Fannie’s story of a transformed life

THE PRAYER

Henry Sr. could fix most anything, except for the heart of his son.

“Quiet down everybody! Quiet down! I’m going to pray now before we eat.” Doesn’t sound like a remarkable announcement, except it came from my brother-in-law Henry’s mouth at the Stoner Annual Corn Roast. At least four generations witnessed this declaration.

Ten years ago, Henry would rather be bitten by a snake than publicly declare, “I’m going to pray.” As host of the Corn Roast, Henry would regularly pause for prayer, but never proclaim he was going to say the prayer. He would pass the opportunity off to the “Rev.,” his brother-in-law Bill, or to his daughter, Susan.

TOO BUSY FOR GOD

Even at a young age, Henry was curious about Christianity. He had a favorite evangelist/Bible teacher he daily listened to on the radio. However, except for Easter and Christmas, Henry rarely sat in a church pew. Working two jobs to provide for his family and making repairs to his house, Henry was too busy for church.

Henry knows how to work and to work hard! It took him over a year, but he personally dug out the dirt floor of his basement in order to pour a cement floor. It may have taken several months, but he bought a kit and built an inground pool in his backyard. Maybe not “book smart” or skilled at proper grammar, Henry taught himself to fix or build most anything.

A BROKEN SON

The one thing he could not repair was his son, Henry Jr. (who we called “Little Henry”). From a young age, Little Henry exhibited learning and behavioral problems. Over the years, the struggles grew. By the time he was a teenager, the beloved son had a full-blown problem with drugs and alcohol. This tore at the hearts of Henry Sr. and his wife Julia. Henry Sr. could fix most anything, except for the heart of his son.

THE ACCIDENT

Then came the accident. Drunk and walking down the middle of a dark road, Little Henry was mowed down by a car. The driver never had a chance to avoid hitting him. Emergency services rushed to the scene and Little Henry quickly received medical care. The resulting injuries, especially brain trauma, were extensive. Days became weeks as family gathered and prayed for Little Henry.

A FINAL DECISION

The family pain intensified as a final decision had to be reached regarding life support. We gathered as a family when the doctor turned off the machines.  This was not like the movies where the machines are switched off and the patient peacefully passes away. It took an additional painful two weeks before Little Henry took his last breath on Easter weekend.

TEARING DOWN THE WALL OF SEPARATION

This event tore open the curtain between Henry Sr. and God. All those Scriptures Henry Sr. heard over the radio began to bear fruit. The extensive nudging from his Uncle Phil regarding Jesus moved Henry Sr. from the spectator aisle in Christianity to the participant section. Henry started to pepper my husband with Bible questions. The Bible became Henry’s love letter from God.

TRANSFORMED HENRY

“Quiet down everybody! Quiet down! I’m going to pray now before we eat.” Those are the words of the transformed Henry Sr. They are the words of someone who anticipates an event far better than the Stoner Family Corn Roast. Henry Sr. is now ready for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

SPIRITUAL AWAKENING BRINGS NEW LIFE

Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. (II Corinthians 5:17)

GET ME OUT OF HERE!

Are you living in a spiritual wilderness time, asking God, “Please, just make it end. Get me out of here!!!!”

Are you living in a spiritual wilderness time, asking God, “Please, just make it end. Get me out of here!!!!” Daniel (of the Old Testament) lived in the spiritual wilderness of Babylon and Persia for a total of sixty-eight years. How does a good Jewish boy end up under these circumstances? It was not Daniel’s choice.

Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar conquered the Kingdom of Judah and “ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives.‘Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,’ he said. ‘Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.’ … They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service. (Daniel 1:3-5)

NOT A GAP YEAR. THIS WAS PERMANENT

Strong, healthy, good-looking, smart, and of noble birth. Young Daniel meets all the requirements and is promptly carried off, never to see family or home again. This is not a voluntary choice.  It is not a “gap year”; this is permanent.

I would feel a huge amount of resentment and probably spit in the face of my captors. Furthermore, how could God betray me and discard all my dreams and aspirations? So glad that Daniel makes better choices than me.

DANGEROUS CHOICES

He and his three friends decide to not buy into blending in with the Babylonians. But isn’t this dangerous? Remember who holds the sword over their heads. The first challenge came when “the king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens.” This meant violating Jewish dietary laws, and potentially eating food offered to idols. Young Daniel faces his first major test. Whose standards will he choose to live by?

BUCKING THE SYSTEM

Teenaged Daniel bucks the system. Living in a foreign culture, no human protection on his side, Daniel handles himself wisely. He says “No” but in a wise way. He asks permission from the king’s chief of staff, who already had “both respect and affection for Daniel”. (Notice that last line. David is both winsome and responsible.)

Daniel does not resort to a loud protest, demanding his rights. He requests the king’s staff, “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water. At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.”

THE TEST

The results are phenomenal. “At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others.”

IT ALL BEGINS WITH ONE STEP

This is teenaged Daniel’s first major stand for God. He does it with wisdom and prayer. He goes on to a powerful career influencing both heathen King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians for God. It all begins with one step.

ASK FOR WISDOM

Are you living in a spiritual wilderness and asking God, “Please, just make it end. Get me out of here!!!!”? It wasn’t written during his time, but Daniel believed, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6)

It all begins with one step.

RUNNING FROM GOD

God pursues. I run harder. Doesn’t matter how loud He calls; I run. Why don’t I take Him seriously?

As a child, I had a dog named Brownie. You can probably figure out the color of the dog, but you don’t know its temperament. If he got off the leash, he did what most dogs do. He ran and made a bounder to the field in back of our barn. He thought it was play time, but it was time for me to go to school. I remember yelling and chasing the dog through the alfalfa.  The dog was mine, but no way did he want to stay close.

GOD PURSUES…I RUN

Often, my heart is like Brownie’s. As soon as I can, I spring away from God and run the opposite direction. God pursues. I run harder. Doesn’t matter how loud He calls; I run. Why don’t I take Him seriously?

WHO IS THE MASTER?

Instead of God being my Master, I convince myself that God is at my personal beck and call. I can whistle for Him or tell Him to go away.

KEEP THE HEART WITH GOD

“The greatest difficulty in conversion,” wrote Flavel, “is to win the heart to God; and the greatest difficulty after conversion is to keep the heart with God.” However, I want to run away, make my own choices, and trample all over my field of life.  I forget my Master and His plans are far better than mine.

Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

DANGEROUS SEASONS OF THE HEART

What times do I need to be especially diligent? Flavel lays out the “Special Seasons in the Life of a Christian which Require our Utmost Diligence in Keeping the Heart.” His list includes:

  • The time when we think we have it all
  • The time when pain takes up residence
  • The time of Church hurts
  • The time of danger and distraction
  • The time when my desires don’t match God’s
  • The season of hard work and exhaustion
  • The time of injuries and abuse from people
  • In the hour of temptation, when Satan goes after the Christian’s heart, and takes the unsuspecting by surprise

I learned and am still learning not to be like Brownie. He was not a very smart pet. I mimic him as I run away from God. Regardless of the season of life, I constantly need to remember to keep my heart next to God’s.

Is your heart running away, trampling down the field of alfalfa? Time to keep your heart with God.

GLORIOUS FORGIVEN GLORIA

Are you the religious person with no joy?

And there she stands. Asked to share her new love for Jesus with the congregation, Gloria tentatively takes the mic.  Tattooed from head to foot, she wears a t-shirt with a beer company logo. Weeping, she describes her years of addiction and brokenness. Gloria is amazed that Jesus loves her, despite her baggage of sin. He died for her! As she tells her story, Gloria’s language is rough. She doesn’t know that there are certain words that church people don’t use. Mascara runs down her face as describes her beloved Savior.

CHURCH IS NOT A PLACE FOR WOMEN LIKE THAT

Deacon Roy is horrified. It takes every bit of willpower for him not to storm up to the mic and rip it from Gloria’s hands. Why is Pastor allowing Gloria to share her story? Church is not a place for women like that. Roy’s face flushes with rage. Immaculately dressed, He tightly grasps his red-letter edition of the Bible. Under his breath he utters a prayer, “Thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. Thank you God that Gloria isn’t related to me!”

Roy steers his family away from the likes of Gloria. He has served the church all his life, taught Sunday School, faithfully given 10%, and done his duty for God. His record is spotless. What rankles him the most are her words, “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.” Why doesn’t Gloria take the hint and worship elsewhere? There are surely more suitable places for a woman like her.

JESUS’ TAKE ON THE SAME STORY

Sadly, (names have been changed) the story of Gloria and Roy is true. This took place in my friend’s worship service. Jesus describes a similar story in Luke 19:9-14; the tale of the Pharisee and the tax-collector. Jesus observes (paraphrase my own), “I tell you, sinner Gloria, not Roy, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

God, in His patience, matured the tax-collector and Gloria in their faith. His Holy Spirit continues to transform Gloria’s heart (including her vocabulary). Today, she glows as one of the King’s beloved daughters. God burdens her to love on and reach similar women imprisoned in sin.

ROY’S PRISON OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS

Alas, Roy (like the Pharisee) remains locked in a cell of self-righteousness. He may look all shiny and clean on the outside, but his Bible has never taken root in his heart. Occasionally Roy feels uneasy during his devotions. Recently, Roy read: You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts [keep them energized and firmly committed to God], because the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain against one another, believers, so that you will not be judged [for it]. Look! The Judge is standing right at the door. (James 5:8-9)

Roy beamed when he read, “The Judge is standing right at the door.” Roy prayed, “Thank You God that in the end You will give sinners like Gloria what they deserve.” Glancing at his watch, Roy rushed out the door. He did not want to be late for church.

WHICH ARE YOU?

Which are you? Gloria or Roy? The one who revels in God’s forgiveness and reaches out to those desperately lost apart from God? Or are you the religious person in whom Scripture has never taken root? Jesus said, “Who are you to [hypocritically or self-righteously] pass judgment on your neighbor?” Time to fall on your knees before the One Who came to save us and all the Gloria’s of this world. Will you allow Him to love them through you?

TIME TO CLEANSE THE TEMPLE

Where is the quiet, gentle Jesus they know? Where did He get that whip?

Series 5, episode 2 of “The Chosen” can be quite thought provoking. Jesus appears in the Outer Court of the Temple. The occasion is Passover Week and Jerusalem is mobbed by visitors. The Temple Court overflows with animals sold for sacrifice. The money changers charge exorbitant fees to trade regular currency (which features the portraits of idols) to Temple currency. There is money to be made and no lack of greed.

WHERE IS QUIET GENTLE JESUS?

Jesus walks in, horrified at the mayhem in an area meant for prayer and worship of the Father. Out of His bag He takes a whip and begins to turn over the stands, chase out the animals and yell at the merchants. Shock registers on people’s faces. Where is the quiet, gentle Jesus they know? Who is this man demanding holiness and repentance? Where did He get that whip?

DEN OF THIEVES

The frightened disciples see the Roman guards. The guards’ purpose is to keep order. This is not orderly! Temple officials are furious that someone questions their money-making operation. Jesus is in tears and enraged that His Father’s house is a den of thieves.

CLEANING HOUSE

He sees the temple, meant to be a place of prayer for all nations, turned into a marketplace. Genuine worship is non-existent. Taking advantage of people is pre-eminent.  God’s design is for a house of prayer, a place to meet with God and worship Him. Stepping into the Temple courts, Jesus does not see any of this. Jesus sees avarice, extortion, and oppression. He responds by cleansing the Temple (Matthew 21:12-16). The Son of God cleans house.

HOW CLEAN IS YOUR TEMPLE?

What does Jesus discover in the temple of your life? Each believer is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Is your relationship with Him a cornerstone of communion with God with a centerpiece of prayer? Have your turned down the noise in your life? Is it time to bring out the whip, turn over the stands, chase out the animals, and yell at the merchants? Better yet, time to shut down the computer, the phone, and clear the calendar? Are you living your temple purpose: prayer and worship of the Father?

HALFWAY LIVING

Half obedience is no obedience at all! Half love is no love at all!

Hal Halfway loves the Viking Cruise motto, “Time is the only truly scarce commodity.” This invigorates him to severely economize his time, whether in relationships or affiliations. While having coffee with a friend, Hal abruptly leaves whenever he had finishes ½ of his drink. Hal does not care if the conversation is completed. If Hal meets a newcomer at church, he never travels beyond the initial pleasantries. Afterall, he only has so much time to spare. Mr. Halfway loves volunteering at his church but in honoring his new economy of time, he makes sure that in helping at VBS, he leaves every evening at the ½ way point. Hal cannot believe all the time he saves. He takes pride in his great reserves of time.

A HALF DONE OPERATION

Recent events have caused Mr. Halfway to reconsider his attitude toward time. He had a serious car accident. Serious injuries required immediate surgery. While getting prepped for surgery, Hal enthusiastically told the surgeon about his attitude regarding time. The surgeon was intrigued. Unbeknownst to Mr. Halfway, the surgeon stopped the Hal’s operation at the halfway point. Out the door exited the surgeon with Mr. Halfway still on the operating table. Think of all that time the surgeon saved!

JESUS NEVER SKIMPED

So glad that Jesus never subscribed to Mr. Halfway’s economy of time. Even happier that Jesus never skimped by economizing His relationship to both God and to people. Jesus lived for completeness, not economy. He always fully engaged. No miracles ever left ½ completed; no ½ resurrection; no ½ payment for our sins. All interactions fully settled.

ETERNAL LIVING

Jesus didn’t carry on distracted conversations, anxiously looking over the person’s shoulder, hoping to move on to someone of more important rank. He completely loved and loves individuals, giving them His full attention. Jesus never views time as the “only truly scarce commodity” because Jesus lives in eternity.

Who else lives in eternity? Believers! Right now, we are living in eternity. In such a landscape, there are two main pillars: obedience to God and love for God and people. Half obedience is no obedience at all! Half love is no love at all! Eternal living is as vast as God Himself.

Jesus said, I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing (John 15:9-17).

God wants us to live new lives in Him with complete and overflowing joy, not stuck in economizing. Jesus never does anything ½ way and neither should we. Mr. Halfway does not fit into God’s lavish plan of living fully. God’s design is obedience and love as expansive as God Himself.

THE LOOP OF FUTILITY

Going nowhere fast

Years ago, our family travelled to Annapolis, MD.  I have no clue as to the purpose of the trip, but we definitely got lost (days before GPS).  We repeatedly ended up at the guard shack at the Naval Base.  Of course, my father refused to ask directions.  He believed we would eventually get lucky and end up on the correct road. 

The miles clicked away. I’m not so sure he felt so lucky anymore. We cranky and hungry kids sweltered in the heat of the back seat. The interior emotional temperature of the car’s occupants ramped up.  We kids kept asking, “Are we there yet?”.

KEEP REPEATING THE SAME MISTAKES

Do you feel that way?  Maybe if you just keep at it, eventually you will get lucky and find your life’s great destination.  Yet you keep repeating the same mistakes, caught in a loop of futility.  You do not feel very lucky or favored by God (or by anyone else for that matter).

40 YEARS OF WANDERING

I wonder if that is how the Israelites felt during the 40 years they wandered around in the wilderness. As they progress, the Egyptian culture, mindset, and religion painfully shreds off their souls.  The process is lengthy because the Israelites keep repeating the same mistakes.

The majority of Israelites resist this journey.  When they finally view the Promised Land, they fall back in horror and fear of its inhabitants.  They hear the fearful reports of the scouting party. Numbers 14:1-4 records: That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”

THEY PREFER A LOOP OF FUTILITY

They would rather go back into slavery than to go forward with God; rather go back into darkness than to travel to the light.  God’s people prefer a loop of futility, rather than trust this Holy God. 

During your life’s season, has your road map become confusing; a little twisted?  Have you, like the Israelites, decided to trust your own resources rather than the wisdom and resources of a Holy God Who loves you? 

THE INVITATION

This is the ideal season to stop trusting yourself and begin trusting God. He is truthful, honest, holy, loving and reliable.  Jesus invites us in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”  Want to break that loop of futility? Jesus invites you: “Come!”

THE UNFORGETTABLE LIKENESS

What does it mean to live life sealed by the Holy Spirit

Read: Matthew 22:15-22

It is a steamy summer night on the streets of Los Angeles as two groups approach each other with the sole intent of payback. One group is the Crips; bandanas and chains wrapped around their necks. The other group is the Latins. Their faces tattooed and scars running up and down their forearms. It does not take a genius from the LA Task Force to figure out who these hombres are and know their plans.

2 EVIL GANGS

Sometimes you can just look at someone and know their evil intentions. In this passage two gangs of religious leaders ask Jesus, “Should we pay to Caesar or just keep the money for ourselves?”  Their purpose is from the pit of hell. They think they have Jesus in an awkward position, but things reverse quickly.

THE TRAP

Honey drips off their lips as they pose their question: “Teacher, we know that You are sincere and that You teach the way of God truthfully, without concerning Yourself about [what] anyone [thinks or says of Your teachings]; for You are impartial and do not seek anyone’s favor [and You treat all people alike, regardless of status]. Tell us then, what do You think? Is it permissible [according to Jewish law and tradition] to pay poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” 

CATCH-22

This is Catch-22. Jesus brilliantly counters by asking for the coin used to pay the poll tax. He asks, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”  This specific coin is sacrilege to the Jews. Remember the first of the Ten Commandments? Glaring from the poll-tax coin is Caesar’s likeness; Caesar considers himself God.

GAME OVER

Jesus continues, “Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” Jesus’ enemies become speechless, game over.

SIGNATURE MARK

Great question, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ receive their own signature mark when birthed into the Kingdom of God. It cannot be erased. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)

HOLY SPIRIT’S INSCRIPTION SEAL

“Whose likeness and inscription is this?”  The likeness and inscription seal on the life of a believer is the Person of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul writes: “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. . .. Don’t act thoughtlessly but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:15-20).  

When individuals interact with you, do they wonder: “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”  Do they see the likeness of a tyrant; a person consumed by the pleasures of this world? In contrast, via the miraculous sealing of the Holy Spirit, they can view the likeness of a life transformed. Let them see the image and likeness of God.

GOD IS NO “BAD ACTOR”

I don’t know why Mr. R. instigated his reign of terror. He had great power to do good and evil in my life. He was a “bad actor”.

I was systematically emotionally kicked in the teeth by Mr. R., my junior high math teacher. Every time we had class, he loudly humiliated me. He delighted in the numerous occasions I gave the wrong answer. I recently saw a classmate I had not talked with for decades. Unexpectedly, the guy brought up Mr. R. and asked, “Why do you think he did that? It was awful!”

DEFINITION OF “BAD ACTOR”

I don’t know why Mr. R. instigated his reign of terror. He had great power to do good and evil in my life, yet he made every class an incredibly painful experience. Mr. R. never looked out for my well-being. Mr. R. was a “bad actor”: “an individual who engages in harmful activities, often with malicious intent.”

GOD’S CHARACTER

Exodus 34:1-14 begins with God again writing out His law for His people. However, this time, God adds some additional lessons about His character. This differentiates Him from the Egyptian idols: “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth (faithfulness); keeping mercy and lovingkindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.”  God is no bad actor.

THEY STILL DON’T KNOW WHO GOD IS

At this point, most Israelites still do not understand Who Jehovah God is. Just a few months previously, the Israelites were miraculously expelled from the culture which worshipped about 1,500 deities. The Egyptian false deities were bad actors straight from hell. Relationships with these idols were strictly transactional; not relational. Those who revered them were illiterate in Truth. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save. (Isaiah 45:20)

THE INVITATION TO KNOW HIM

In contrast, Jehovah God invites His people to know Him. Not just know about Him, but to experience His heart. He wants to prepare His people for the dangerous journey they are going to undertake both to Canaan and throughout Canaan. God wants them to deeply know Him.

WATCH OUT!

The wickedness indwelling the land the Israelites are traveling to is beyond imagination. It is a virulent contagion of sin. So dangerous, that God reminds the Israelites that if the Israelites became like the Canaanites, the same evil would overtake both the Israelites and their generations yet unborn. Watch yourself so that you do not make a covenant (solemn agreement, treaty) with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a [dangerous] trap among you. For you shall not worship any other god; for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous (impassioned) God [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely His].  

GOD WILL NOT BE CHEATED

God is jealous when a person gives to another something that rightly belongs to Him. The compassionate, gracious, slow to get angry God Who overflows in loving kindness and truth will not be mocked. He will not be cheated by those He redeems. If you are a believer, you belong to Him and Him only. Get to know the One Who loves you.

INVITATION TO KNOW HIM BETTER

God has never been and never will be a bad actor. J.I. Packer wrote: “Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfolded, as it were, with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul.” A Bad Actor sought to teach me math. He only taught me failure. Choose to learn from the best. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. (Ephesians 1:17)