“Carpe Diem!” “Seize the Day!” Was Ehud simply a daring and courageous opportunist? Or, was he so enamored with the glory of God that he saw God in the opportunity? Perhaps it is something like this to which Jesus referred in Matthew 11:12. There are classically two ways to interpret Jesus’ statement. I am not quite sure which one is correct. The one that I tend to shy away from interprets it as Jesus saying, “The kingdom is pressing forward vigorously, and the vigorous seize it eagerly Whether or not that is what Jesus meant in Matt 11, I am convinced that that was Ehud philosophy. He was more than a courageous opportunist. He was enamored with Who God is. As a result, he seized the day. As a vigorous man, he seized the Kingdom eagerly. Like Ehud, do I eagerly look for opportunities to advance the Kingdom of God? If I am honest with myself, I have to reply, “Not as often as I should.” But I find that when I have been gazing at the glory of God, the opportunities present themselves more frequently, and I am more eager to seize them. His glory compels me! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
PSALM 19
Wow! I could ramble on forever about the Glory of the Lord from this Psalm, and everything I would write would fall far short of His glory! Years ago Laura and I lived in the Portland, OR metro area. Just a half-hour drive from our house was Larch mountain. It wasn’t a tall mountain, but its summit had a rocky peak that the park service had put up steps and railing to make it safe and accessible. The peak platform was an area about as large as my office, but it had an un-obstructed-360-degree view. It was a breath taking sight. On a really clear day, you could see Mt. Rainer to the north (near Seattle), Mt. St. Helens, Mt Jefferson, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood, Three Sisters etc. Wow! It just takes your breath away to think that our Creator made all of this. It gives a new sense of awe and wonder when you stop and see what He has made and know that we are so small. His glory pours forth day after day, if only we stop to look. Like the sun, it never stops. It is true of all His creation around us! But even more stunning is His word. His word is there to show us what He is like. In His creation we see His power; in His word we see Him. In keeping His word there is great reward. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
JEREMIAH 45
“Publish or perish!” Growing up and living in a university community, I think I understand the phrase. The way a University attracts gifts, grants and students is through its reputation. One of the ways a reputation is built is through the publications of its professors. A university needs its professors to publish in order to increase its reputation. The reputation is necessary to attract gifts, grants and students. Thus part of the path to tenure as a University professor has become publishing reputable articles in one’s peer magazines. If one does not publish, then one probably will not obtain tenure. Reputation is so important in the University community. Without it, advancement is impossible. It is not too uncommon for a really good teacher to not make tenure because they love teaching students so much that they fail to publish to the extent that is desired by a university in order to gain tenure or increase the reputation of the university. Some just love the notoriety gained by publishing.
Baruch was thrust forward into national notoriety when he became secretary for Jeremiah. It was he who would publish Jeremiah’s prophecies and bring them before kings such as Jehoiakim. At first it may have been exciting, but then it became a dubious honor. After all, Urijah the prophet (chapter 26) spoke the word of the Lord. Jehoiakim sought to kill him for it. Urijah fled to Egypt. Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt to bring him back and then had Urijah executed. Baruch sighed at the burden. Baruch wanted to publish; he wanted to be famous, but not like this. This could be deadly.
The Lord was gracious toward Baruch. He promised that Baruch would not be killed, and the Lord fulfilled that promise! It came with a warning, “Don’t seek great things for yourself!” What about me? Am I seeking great things for myself, until I see the price tag? The price is my life! I want notoriety; I want to publish and be famous! I want to be considered great. I want it to be the biggest in the community. I want it to accomplish great things, so that people might say, “There goes J. Craig Chaffin. He is the pastor of the largest church in the community. God uses them to do really great things for people!” Hmm. . . . who is really getting glory there?
Jesus said that the person who would be great among you shall become the servant of all. A servant expects no notoriety. Jesus left eternity where He was constantly praised and adored. He became flesh and was not received by His own. The only ones who worshipped Him on the night of His birth were shepherds, who were a despised class of His people. Having created the world, he never patented an invention. Having loved His own, He was crucified as a transgressor. Having been the Mighty Warrior, He never led an army. Having been the King of kings, He was rejected as a ruler. Having been the Eternal Word, He was never published. Having never sought great things for Himself, He was exalted on high to the right hand of the Father above every principality and power and every name that is named. Now that is glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
ACTS 22
One would think that the best way to validate one's message would be through miracles. The Lord Jesus had done many of them through Paul. Remember at Ephesus, even the handkerchiefs and aprons that came from Paul, brought healing to the sick, diseased and demon possessed. Why couldn't Paul have performed some miracles in Jerusalem to validate his message? One reason is that the rulers of Jerusalem had seen the miracles of Jesus and the apostles. They still didn't believe. A second reason is that the greatest miracle of all is a changed life not a healed body. Jesus gains more glory from our changed lives than from our healed bodies. I've met people who have testified of God's healing power upon their bodies, but then they turn their backs to Him when it comes to living the life. The greatest miracle of all is a changed life. Paul speaks the greatest glory he knows to the crowd, his changed life. They listened until he began to include the Gentiles. Some people will just never believe. Unbelief does not change the glory of Christ. Unbelief only diminishes the unbeliever's ability to see the glory. I use the word unbeliever broadly here to include even those who are born again. Sometimes we need help from others to believe. We need them to speak to us of His glory in their life. Sometimes they need us to speak to them of His glory in our life. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
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