God's Prerogative

At times, understanding God seems easy, but at other times, it can seem quite difficult. It seems easy when God refers to himself simply as “I AM”, when he defines himself as “love”, and when he says that it is his desire that none perish. But, we also know that God is sovereign. And at times, the box we’ve put him in no longer fits. Even as believers, we look for a logical reason for everything that happens in life. We look for patterns of consistency when it comes to the behavior of God. And we form our moral code based on what the Bible says pleases God. Though it is wise, and correct, to assume the behavior of God based on what we’ve come to learn about him, we must always acknowledge the sovereignty of God. Even though he never changes; even though the pattern of behavior that God has shown us is a valid indicator of how he may behave in the future, ultimately he is God and can do whatever he wants. He can choose to have mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he can show compassion to whom he wants to show compassion even though these actions may be different than what we’d expect. Paul said in Romans, chapter 9, verses 15 and 16:

“For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” 

In the verses prior, Paul mentions that it was God’s prerogative to prefer Jacob over Esau even before either of them had been born or had done anything good or bad. In the verses that follow, Paul reminds us that God raised up Pharaoh so that he could harden his heart and display his power so that his name might be proclaimed in all the earth. In all things, we need to remember that God is the ultimate authority. He is King, he is Lord, and he is God. We can take heart that his character will not change, nor will his laws and commands. From his word, we know what pleases him and we know what angers him. Even still, in all things, he can choose do whatever he wants. He can show mercy and compassion on one who is undeserving, or he can purpose for someone to be his adversary to accomplish his goal even before that person has done anything good or bad. God is good, but he is also sovereign. It would do us well to always remember that.

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God is good, but he is also sovereign. He said, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” And Paul concluded by saying “it does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy”. So if you are saved today, I would encourage you to thank God for his mercy and compassion towards you. It was by his Spirit that you were called to him. He didn’t have to do it, but he chose to. By this you have become the son or daughter of the Most High! Appeal to God for those who do not yet know him, but remember that it is ultimately his prerogative to have mercy on whom he will have mercy and to show compassion on whom he will show compassion.

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Not The Letter

I love the entire Bible, the Old Testament and the New. The old helps us to understand the character of God throughout our complete history. We are able to learn lessons from key figures of the old covenant and understand how God feels about their actions as individuals and as a nation. It helps us to understand how things were before we, as gentiles, were grafted into the plan of salvation. It is a snapshot into our biblical past, highlighting God in a way that we would not be aware of otherwise. But the thing I like most about the Old Testament is that it helps us to better appreciate the way things are by examining how things were. Because those who lived in Old Testament times had to live according to the letter. But today, ushered in by the New Testament, we have the privilege of living according to the Spirit. Paul puts it this way in Second Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 6, which says:

“He has made us competent as ministers of the new covenant - not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 

By examining the Old Testament, we understand that God’s chosen people, the Israelites, had to live by the law. And with the law, or the letter, they were able to learn what pleases and what angers God through words written on stone and parchment. Rules, guidelines and practices were outlined so that the people would know how to relate to God, how to obey God and how to please God. They learned how to have their sins forgiven, how to treat one another and how to worship a Holy God. Paul reminds us that as good as what God provided them in the Old Testament was, what Jesus provides us in the New Testament is better. Because now we do not live under the letter, but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. We celebrate this life every time we participate in communion and every time we celebrate Easter. But I would encourage you to remember, and give thanks to God, as often as you are able for the gift that he gave us through his Son. Because it is through him that we have life.

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You and I can be like Paul. Through God, we can become competent as ministers of this new covenant; a covenant that is better than what preceded it. We can share this good news even as the Spirit continues to educate us about himself and about his word. I encourage you to be ministers of the gospel. If you don’t know what that looks like for you, I would challenge you to pray and allow the Holy Spirit to show you. We can do nothing effectively in our own strength. But when Jesus ascended to be with the Father, he sent the Holy Spirit through whom we can do all things. He will give you the words to speak. He will guide you to the places you should go. And he can go before you to create an atmosphere that is most conducive for the work has called you to do. Our job is to be willing and to be bold. Because if we are, God can make us competent as ministers of the new covenant.

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Consider

What does it take for us, as humans, to have feelings of love for another person? One might say that it starts with physical attraction, a sparkling personality, beaming charisma or their air of confidence, but I would argue that this only helps us to like a person. What compels us to love someone? Might I suggest that the primary reason we have extreme feelings for another person has as much to do with who they are as it does with what they have done for us? I can attest that my love for someone is directly connected to how I am treated by them. The more I am shown love by them, the more I want to show love to them. I believe the same is true when it comes to our love for the Lord. It is primarily because of what God has done for me, and continues to do for me, that my love for him continues to grow. Because of who he is, I am inspired to reverently fear him, and because of what he has done, I have a desire to serve him faithfully with all of my heart. In First Samuel, chapter 12, verse 24, we find these words:

“But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” 

When you consider the great things God has done for you, does it inspire you to fear the Lord and to serve him faithfully with all of your heart? I would imagine the answer is, “yes”. I’ve heard it said that the quickest way to gain someone’s trust is to save their life. God saved our lives at the expense of his Son’s. He provided a way for us to spend eternity with him in heaven and rescued us from eternal hell. In this life he continues to show his faithfulness by answering our prayers, moving on our behalf, comforting us, healing us, encouraging us and correcting us, among other things. Samuel said, “Be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” Will you fear the Lord? Will you serve him faithfully with all of your heart? If you want that to be your desire, all you have to do is consider what great things he has done for you.

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One reason you may love the Lord is because of who he is. Though this is true for me, I think the main reason I love him is because of what he has done for me. What has God done for you? I encourage you to count your blessings. Consider what God has given you. Consider what God has done for you. Consider the prayers he has answered. And consider what he has protected you from. God loves everyone, but for those who he calls his children, he will give eternal life in heaven with him. When you consider these things, I hope that it inspires you to reverently fear the Lord and to serve him with all of your heart.

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Paying Pastors

I used to struggle with the idea of pastors and preachers getting “paid” for their services. I used to think that because the gospel is free, then those presenting the gospel should do it for free. I even felt strange about paying Christian artists and authors for their music and books. I thought they might be using Christianity as a marketing gimmick; a method of making money off of a very specific, sensitive and passionate audience; an audience who is so hungry for God that they are quick to shell out loads of cash to experience more of him and to learn more about him. But Paul helped me to adjust my thinking about such things. He said in First Corinthians, chapter 9, verses 7, 11 and 14:

“Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? (verse 11) If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? (and verse 14) In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” 

Paul is clear. He said, “the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel”; that if they have sown spiritual seeds among you, is it too much if they reap a material harvest from you? I can attest that over the years, my pastors have sown spiritual seeds in my heart. The words that God speaks through them has helped correct me, teach me, and encourage me. The passion that they bring to the pulpit and the hours they spend pouring over the Bible is distilled in a way that is relatable is powerful. And when we pay our tithes; once we put our money into the offering plate it is no longer ours, it is Gods. And it is God’s plan that those who preach the gospel should be compensated. They should receive their living from the gospel. Most believers don’t have a problem with this model. But others may. It could even be a stumbling block to those who are seeking God. To them, I would say that we need to read, and understand, the words of Paul. When God calls believers to give their lives to the mission and ministry of preaching the gospel in a powerful and effective way, they do not have time to earn a living apart from the ministry. And the Bible reminds us that they shouldn’t have to.

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“The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” Though this is true, and I no longer struggle with the concept of pastors being paid to preach the gospel, it can still be a stumbling block for me. I’ve said it before and I still hold to this line of thinking, that money always muddies my perception of someone’s motives. Because I can find myself asking questions like, “are they doing what they are doing only because they are getting paid to do it?” “Would they choose to volunteer their time, like they ask the congregation to do, if they weren’t getting compensated?” “Is pastoring just a job to them?” “What are their motives?” When believers evangelize or use their talents for free, I never question their motives. In fact, their motives are crystal clear because they are doing the work of the Lord without getting anything in return. But God has given us a pattern to follow. Paul said that, “the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” So if you struggle at all with this command, I challenge you, as I challenge myself, to trust God’s plan. Regardless of their motives, God can use them as a vessel to train, encourage and correct us. Even still, we should always practice spiritual discernment like the Bereans did, who when Paul preached, “examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

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Join Together Constantly

In Acts, right after Jesus ascended, the first church was “hardcore” in its mission, and the people of God were fervent in their efforts to stay connected with the Father. They constantly met together and prayed together. Their lives revolved around their common faith in Christ our savior. Today, many believers meet once a week for church. Some may be a part of a Bible study or a youth group. Others may be a part of a prayer group or participate in some form of ministry. While others may find it not important to meet at all. But I would argue that the body of Christ should examine what the early church did and try to incorporate some of the practices that helped them, as a community, to have a healthy relationship with God and with their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. After Jesus ascended, it goes on to say in Acts, chapter 1, verse 14:

“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” 

Has group prayer become a forgotten, or unimportant, practice within the church? One of the main activities highlighted after Jesus left the disciples was the importance of gathering constantly in prayer. If you and your church gather often for prayer, that is great. No matter how often you do it, it would likely help to do it even more, not less. And for those who aren’t gathering at all, I would encourage you to examine the early church. I believe that we, as a body, need to return to prayer, understanding the power behind it and the necessity for it. When we don’t pray, it is as if we are saying to God that we don’t need him, that we can handle things quite well on our own. Because it isn’t only when things are falling apart that we should pray to God. Jesus prayed constantly, Paul said that we are to pray continually, and the early church understood that joining together constantly for prayer should be a priority. So I would challenge you, as I challenge myself, to reverence individual prayer, and to pursue group prayer. Press into God by speaking to him often. There are prayers that are most appropriately prayed in private, but there are also prayers that are likely most effective when prayed in a group. In either case, it is every believer’s mandate, and privilege, to constantly communicate with our Father, much like the church of old.

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If you have a spouse, significant other, or someone in your life that you love, I’m sure you would agree that it would be difficult to go even a day without communicating with them. When you are separated by distance, you may call, text or FaceTime them just so that you could see their face, hear their voice, or know that they are safe. Why, then, does it often times take a catastrophe for us to talk to our heavenly Father? Why don’t we purpose to meet together often and pray to our God? Might I suggest that it is because we are not following the pattern set by the early church; that we have become too busy and preoccupied with life; or that our dependence on God is growing cold? Meaningful and lasting change takes time. So I would encourage you, me, and every believer, to take steps toward a more consistent personal prayer life, and to engage in every opportunity to join together with others to pray. Because if it was modeled for us by the early church, it might just be important enough to practice today.

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