June 18, 2010

Deuteronomy 23
1He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD. I thought that was interesting wording by the King James version. It is interesting because were it not the word of God, it would be considered impolite at best in most Christian circles. Why would the Lord have such stipulations? How does it relate to the glory of God? Basically the verse means that any male who is unable to procreate, cannot be a citizen of Israel. The next verse indicates that any person whose conception was outside of marital commitment could not be a citizen of Israel. (It even uses the “B” word.) Now, both of those stipulations would seem kind of unfair at first glance. I mean, what man in his right mind would choose to have his sexual organs crushed or removed? Given the choice, what person would choose to be born of rape or promiscuous lusters rather than of parents who are deeply committed to each other?
What really is at stake here is God’s original intent for His glory to dwell in mankind. Before He created Adam and Eve, He said, “Let us make man in our image.” After the creation He charged them with, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that movethf upon the earth.” God’s original intent was for the earth to be filled with His glory through the Godly image of His highest creation-man, male and female. Since that image was marred by sin, God is about restoring and reclaiming the image—for His glory. In that restoration and reclaiming, He is creating one nation to reflect His glory. If they could not properly reflect that image in reproducing, then they could not be citizens of that nation.
Hmmm. . . What implication might there be for members of the church today? In the church today, we are supposed to be making disciples of Jesus of all nations. We are supposed to be reproducing. And as we are reproducing, it is supposed to be done in a godly manner. Do not mistake me. I am not now talking about physical procreation; although, that also has clear implications here. As members of His church, are our spiritual stones or privy members cut off? Or if not cut off, are we using them in ways that produce bastards of the faith? His glory is at stake! Have we sought our own glory? Have we resorted to illegitimate means to reproduce the faith? Or are we so in love with Him that He delights in releasing His spiritual seed in us producing legitimate spiritual births. Hmmm. . . weird thoughts and analogies, but I think it should be pondered. After all we indeed serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john

Acts 4:1-22
Peter was in love with a glorious Lord. Peter was convinced that his Lord was glorious. He knew that the crippled man was made well not because he had great faith but because he had a great Lord. He was consumed with the knowledge that Jesus permitted himself to die at the hands of men in order to save those men who killed Him. There was no questioning the fact that Jesus is the only way that salvation may come to men. Because Peter was so consumed with the glory of his Lord, He was able to be positive and bold even when arrested by those men who had killed His Lord. This same Peter who at one time was ashamed of his Lord, now is consumed by the great glory of his Lord. Why? Because he had been with Jesus. He had spent three years of his life living physically with his Lord. Then Peter denied Him. Jesus loved and restored him. Jesus filled him with His Holy Spirit. Peter was no longer awed by just the awesome power of Jesus, but now, he is also awed by the awesome love of Jesus. He is also filled with the Spirit of Jesus. He can share in the literal power of his Lord. With a Lord like that how can one help but speak of Him to others? When commanded to cease speaking in the name of Jesus, there was no question in Peter's mind. The glory of his Lord consumed him. It did not matter what any human thought of his speech about Jesus. It did not matter what anyone did to him because of his speech about Jesus. How could one help but speak the glory of a Lord like that? Am I consumed with His glory? Are you consumed with His glory? What glory there is in the Name of Jesus! Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John