A plow or a plough is a tool used for initial cultivation of the soil in preparation for seeding or planting and is considerd one of the major advances in farming. Plowing has been practiced for thousands of years in most, if not nearly all, parts of the world. Plowing turns over the soil, so that fresh nutrients from the deeper parts of the soil are brought to the surface and weeds and stumps on the surface are buried deep for decomposition. In addition, the soil is aerated and becomes better able to hold moisture. Any good farmer would not even imagine planting seeds without first plowing the ground.
In Matthew 13, we read about Jesus' parable of the sower. Some seed fell along the path, some fell on rocky places, some among thorns, and some on good soil. Though in different forms, the path, rocky places and thorns all represented unplowed ground where the seed could not produce a crop. Only the good soil produced a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.
Different types of soil represent different states of the hearts. The path belongs to one who hears the gospel message, but does not understand and loses it. The rocky places belong to one who hears it and receives the message with joy, but quickly falls away from it when trouble or persecution comes. The thorns represent one who hears the word, but is not able to bear fruit because of worries of this life and deceitfulness of wealth. In contrast, the good soil represents one who not only hears the word, but understands it and produces a crop. Everyone hears the message, but only the good soil understands it and produces a crop.
What understanding is there, when the soil is plowed and seed is planted in the plowed ground? What does the Lord mean when He tells us to break up the unplowed ground (Hosea 10:12)?
The first part of understanding as the heart that is broken up and plowed hears the word is, I think, that he is a sinner. In II Timothy 3:16-17, it says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in rightesousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." As one is taught by the word, one is rebuked and convicted of the sin he has committed. The psalmist of Psalm 19 confessed his sinfulness and his faults, when he witnessed God's glory in His creation and encountered God's law and precepts. After catching such a large number of fish that the nets began to break, Peter fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man." (Luke 5:1-11). With the gospel message, we are called to repentance of our sins (Matthew 4:17, Matthew 3:2, Acts 2:38, Acts 17:30). We are taught to turn away from our former way of life and put off our old selves corrupted by deceitful desires; instead we are to be made new and put on new selves, created anew to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24). The former way of life, however glorious it might have appeared in the past, is now no better than rubbish (Philippians 3:8) and pales in comparison to the heavenly inheritance (Hebrews 11:24-26). Without sparing, the old self is to be put off.
What should then follow is training in righteousness and maturation as men of God. We should not stay as infants in Christ (I Corinthians 3:1-3). Rather than being stagnant or dormant, we are called to grow and mature, until we attain the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). After all, Jesus is not ashamed to call us His brothers (Hebrews 2:10-13); shouldn't brothers be alike? Not just a little bit, but in totality? We are to have the mind and attitude of Christ (I Corinthians 2:15-16, Philippians 2:5).
"We shall be like Him: O wonderful thought!
Blessed the hope the assurance hath wrought;
Changed from the sorrow and trials of years,
We shall be like Him, when Jesus appears.
We shall be like Him, O how the promise cheers!
We shall be like Him, when Jesus appears." (C. H. Gabriel)
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Noah's ark
A few days ago, a group of Chinese and Turkish explorers claimed to have found the remnant of Noah's ark on top of Mount Ararat in Turkey. The news was reported by many top media. For example, http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2949640/Noahs-Ark-found-in-Turkey.html. This was certainly not the first time that a report like this has been made. Whether this is a true finding of the original Ark or not is immaterial. What matters is that with or without a remnant of the Ark found, the Bibilical account of the flood and the Ark is true and still gives us lessons to remember.
The story of Noah's ark actually traces back up to Enoch and Methuselah, who were Noah's great grandparent and grandparent (Genesis 5). The times that they lived in were sinful (Genesis 6:1-6), as people showed evil inclinations of their hears. When Enoch was 65 years old, he had a life-changing event of some kind. He prophesied about the imminent judgment of God, who would judge the ungodly acts and harsh words of the ungodly people (Jude 1:14-15). At 65, Enoch had a son and named him Methuselah, meaning that "when he dies, it (the judgment) will be sent." The very name of Methuselah was a warning to the people. After Enoch had Methuselah, Enoch walked with God for 300 years (Genesis 5:21-24) and then was taken by God, so he did not experience death (Hebrews 11:5). While he was alive, he was commended as one who pleased God -- because he believed that God exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). The first lesson in the story of Noah's ark is that God is just and judges. The judgment is not only for those in the days of Enoch and Noah, but for every man (Hebrews 9:27).
Methuselah is recorded as the person who lived the longest in the Bible. He lived 969 years (Genesis 5:27). He died in the year that the Great Flood came -- when his grandson Noah was 600 years old (Genesis 7:6). Methuselah's longevity is testament to how long-suffering and patient God is before He sends His judgment. God waited patiently (I Peter 3:20), as if the thousand years were like a day (II Peter 3:8, Psalm 90:4). God is not slow in bringing His promise of judgment, but is patiently waiting so that all His people will repent and not perish (II Peter 3:9). Our Lord does not lose a single person that is His own (John 17:12, Romans 8:38-39). The second lesson in the story of Noah's ark is that God is patient and long-suffering before He brings His judgment.
When the Flood came, there were only 8 people in the Ark to be saved from God's wrath and judgment (I Peter 3:20, II Peter 2:5). They were Noah and his wife, their 3 sons and 3 daughters-in-law. They were a remnant of people to re-populate the earth. This principle of God saving a remnant of people runs throughout the Bible: Before the great famine at the time of Joseph, he had been sent to Egypt ahead of his brothers to preserve a remnant (Genesis 45:7). During the days of Ahab, God told Elijah that He reserved 7,000 who did not bow down to Baal or kiss him (I Kings 19:18). When Hezekiah and Judah were invaded by Assyria, the king prayed for the remnant of survivors (II Kings 19:4) and God answered that a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above (II Kings 19:30). When Judah fell to Babylon, God still left a remnant of Israel that escaped the sword (II Chronicles 36:20). Isaiah prophesied that a remnant of Judah would return to the God of Israel (Isaiah 10:21-22, 11:11). Though beginning with a remnant, God's kingdom will grow to a great multitude who will sing Hallelujah like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder (Revelations 19:1,6), as if the smallest mustard seed becomes the largest of garden plants (Mark 4:31-32). The third lesson in the story of Noah's ark is that through a small remnant of people, God accomplishes great things.
Jesus recounted the story of Noah (Luke 17:26-27) to describe how people are preoccupied with their daily affairs and forget the imminent judgment that is surely coming. We need to take lessons from Noah and take notice. God is just and judges all men for what they have done. God is patient and long-suffering, giving everyone a chance to repent and return to Him. But the Judgment Day has been appointed and only those who have been chosen to be saved will be saved. A great multitude will get to sing God's glory and honor for His redemption. Blessed are those who will partake in the New Heaven and New Earth!
The story of Noah's ark actually traces back up to Enoch and Methuselah, who were Noah's great grandparent and grandparent (Genesis 5). The times that they lived in were sinful (Genesis 6:1-6), as people showed evil inclinations of their hears. When Enoch was 65 years old, he had a life-changing event of some kind. He prophesied about the imminent judgment of God, who would judge the ungodly acts and harsh words of the ungodly people (Jude 1:14-15). At 65, Enoch had a son and named him Methuselah, meaning that "when he dies, it (the judgment) will be sent." The very name of Methuselah was a warning to the people. After Enoch had Methuselah, Enoch walked with God for 300 years (Genesis 5:21-24) and then was taken by God, so he did not experience death (Hebrews 11:5). While he was alive, he was commended as one who pleased God -- because he believed that God exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). The first lesson in the story of Noah's ark is that God is just and judges. The judgment is not only for those in the days of Enoch and Noah, but for every man (Hebrews 9:27).
Methuselah is recorded as the person who lived the longest in the Bible. He lived 969 years (Genesis 5:27). He died in the year that the Great Flood came -- when his grandson Noah was 600 years old (Genesis 7:6). Methuselah's longevity is testament to how long-suffering and patient God is before He sends His judgment. God waited patiently (I Peter 3:20), as if the thousand years were like a day (II Peter 3:8, Psalm 90:4). God is not slow in bringing His promise of judgment, but is patiently waiting so that all His people will repent and not perish (II Peter 3:9). Our Lord does not lose a single person that is His own (John 17:12, Romans 8:38-39). The second lesson in the story of Noah's ark is that God is patient and long-suffering before He brings His judgment.
When the Flood came, there were only 8 people in the Ark to be saved from God's wrath and judgment (I Peter 3:20, II Peter 2:5). They were Noah and his wife, their 3 sons and 3 daughters-in-law. They were a remnant of people to re-populate the earth. This principle of God saving a remnant of people runs throughout the Bible: Before the great famine at the time of Joseph, he had been sent to Egypt ahead of his brothers to preserve a remnant (Genesis 45:7). During the days of Ahab, God told Elijah that He reserved 7,000 who did not bow down to Baal or kiss him (I Kings 19:18). When Hezekiah and Judah were invaded by Assyria, the king prayed for the remnant of survivors (II Kings 19:4) and God answered that a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above (II Kings 19:30). When Judah fell to Babylon, God still left a remnant of Israel that escaped the sword (II Chronicles 36:20). Isaiah prophesied that a remnant of Judah would return to the God of Israel (Isaiah 10:21-22, 11:11). Though beginning with a remnant, God's kingdom will grow to a great multitude who will sing Hallelujah like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder (Revelations 19:1,6), as if the smallest mustard seed becomes the largest of garden plants (Mark 4:31-32). The third lesson in the story of Noah's ark is that through a small remnant of people, God accomplishes great things.
Jesus recounted the story of Noah (Luke 17:26-27) to describe how people are preoccupied with their daily affairs and forget the imminent judgment that is surely coming. We need to take lessons from Noah and take notice. God is just and judges all men for what they have done. God is patient and long-suffering, giving everyone a chance to repent and return to Him. But the Judgment Day has been appointed and only those who have been chosen to be saved will be saved. A great multitude will get to sing God's glory and honor for His redemption. Blessed are those who will partake in the New Heaven and New Earth!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
A kernel of wheat
"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." (John 12:24)
These are words spoken by Jesus, as He was looking ahead to His crucifixion. The day before these words, Jesus was at the house of Lazarus, where Mary poured a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume, on His feet, thereby preparing Him for His burial (John 12:1-11). The next day, Jesus made a triumphant entry into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey's colt to the shouts of Hosanna by the multitudes (John 12:12-19). Yet Jesus knew that these crowds would shout a different tune and ask for His crucifixion in a matter of a few days. He knew of His death and told His disciples about it. He was not so powerless that He had to accept death. Rather He chose to lay down His life for His sheep (John 10:11).
He became the Seed, the Kernel of Wheat, that died so that many others would have life. He was the Seed, to whom God's promise referred (Galatians 3:16,19) -- the promise of blessing and inheritance (Genesis 12). If Jesus did not die, then He would have remained as a single seed. But because He died, salvation came to many (Romans 5:15-19) and His death produced many seeds.
The cycle of farming does not end with one planting and one harvest. The seeds produced from the death of the One Seed are meant to be planted once again, to produce even more seeds. Right after Jesus spoke the above words about a kernel of wheat, He said, "The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." (John 12:25-26). He calls on us to follow in His footsteps. But He does so, only with the promise of resurrection and eternal life as well. And the resurrection is not just renewal of the original seed that was planted and decayed. What is sown is sown in dishonor and is corruptible, but what is raised will be raised in honor and be incorruptible (I Corinthians 15:42-49). When we are raised again, we will bear semblance to the Man from Heaven.
Both living for Christ and dying for Christ are honorable and have promises of rewards. Paul confessed, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21). While living, he was doing "fruitful labor" for Christ; if he died, then he would be with Christ. He firmly believed that "If we died with Him, we will also live with Him" (2 Timothy 2:11). So he was not afraid to die for Christ.
Like Paul, many other martyrs were not afraid to die for Christ. Korean church has been made strong by the blood shed by many martyrs -- such as Rev. Thomas who died on the shore of Tae-dong River in Pyongyang, while he gave away Bibles and proclaimed Jesus with his last breath; Rev. Joo Ki-Chul and many others, who refused to bow down before the Japanese Shinto shrines, choosing to die to serve the Lord God only; many unknown Christians who refused to disavow Jesus even to the threat of death from the Communists... This is a story that has been repeated many, many times throughout the history.
Lord, give me the courage and faith to follow you to wherever you take me, whether it is the lion's den, a fiery furnace, to a gun point, or to the threat of loss of worldly recognition or pleasure. Let Paul's confession become mine -- that to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. In Jesus' name, Amen.
These are words spoken by Jesus, as He was looking ahead to His crucifixion. The day before these words, Jesus was at the house of Lazarus, where Mary poured a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume, on His feet, thereby preparing Him for His burial (John 12:1-11). The next day, Jesus made a triumphant entry into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey's colt to the shouts of Hosanna by the multitudes (John 12:12-19). Yet Jesus knew that these crowds would shout a different tune and ask for His crucifixion in a matter of a few days. He knew of His death and told His disciples about it. He was not so powerless that He had to accept death. Rather He chose to lay down His life for His sheep (John 10:11).
He became the Seed, the Kernel of Wheat, that died so that many others would have life. He was the Seed, to whom God's promise referred (Galatians 3:16,19) -- the promise of blessing and inheritance (Genesis 12). If Jesus did not die, then He would have remained as a single seed. But because He died, salvation came to many (Romans 5:15-19) and His death produced many seeds.
The cycle of farming does not end with one planting and one harvest. The seeds produced from the death of the One Seed are meant to be planted once again, to produce even more seeds. Right after Jesus spoke the above words about a kernel of wheat, He said, "The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." (John 12:25-26). He calls on us to follow in His footsteps. But He does so, only with the promise of resurrection and eternal life as well. And the resurrection is not just renewal of the original seed that was planted and decayed. What is sown is sown in dishonor and is corruptible, but what is raised will be raised in honor and be incorruptible (I Corinthians 15:42-49). When we are raised again, we will bear semblance to the Man from Heaven.
Both living for Christ and dying for Christ are honorable and have promises of rewards. Paul confessed, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21). While living, he was doing "fruitful labor" for Christ; if he died, then he would be with Christ. He firmly believed that "If we died with Him, we will also live with Him" (2 Timothy 2:11). So he was not afraid to die for Christ.
Like Paul, many other martyrs were not afraid to die for Christ. Korean church has been made strong by the blood shed by many martyrs -- such as Rev. Thomas who died on the shore of Tae-dong River in Pyongyang, while he gave away Bibles and proclaimed Jesus with his last breath; Rev. Joo Ki-Chul and many others, who refused to bow down before the Japanese Shinto shrines, choosing to die to serve the Lord God only; many unknown Christians who refused to disavow Jesus even to the threat of death from the Communists... This is a story that has been repeated many, many times throughout the history.
Lord, give me the courage and faith to follow you to wherever you take me, whether it is the lion's den, a fiery furnace, to a gun point, or to the threat of loss of worldly recognition or pleasure. Let Paul's confession become mine -- that to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
The secrets of the kingdom of heaven & the parable of the sower
The parable of the sower in Matthew 13:1-9 is one of the most well-known parables in the Bible. A farmer went out to sow the seed. Some seed fell along the path and was eaten up by the birds. Some seed fell on rocky places, where, without roots, the plants could not withstand the scorching sun. Some seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Yet some other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop -- a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown. After Jesus told this parable, His disciples came to Him and asked why He spoke to people in parables. Jesus replied that the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have not been given to them. As Isaiah prophesied, people's heart has been calloused, so that they will be hearing, but not understanding, and they will be seeing, but not perceiving. "Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them." (Matthew 13:15, cf. Isaiah 6:9-10).
What is not as well-known about this parable is that it was spoken on the same day that the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus for a miraculous sign -- a sign that would show that Jesus was indeed the Messiah or the Prophet (Matthew 12:38 ff). This little-known fact is significant because Jesus was in a way responding to the Pharisees and telling how God chooses to reveal the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, as well as how God chooses not to reveal the secrets.
First, even though the Pharisees asked for a miraculous sign, it is not by a sign that one gets to partake in the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. Indeed Jesus performed many miraculous signs in the presence of many people. He gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, made the lame walk, cured the lepers, and even raised the dead back to life. He commanded a storm and calmed it down with His word. He walked on water. He did things that no one else had done or could have done. Yet people did not believe. In fact, in Bethsaida and in Korazin, where He performed most of His miracles, people did not repent. He said, "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes." (Matthew 11:21).
Rather, to those who do not believe and do not repent, the signs are like a snare that will accuse and convict them on the judgment day. Jesus said of them, "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin... If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and the Father." (John 15:22,24). The fact that the signs were given will be used as evidence of their sin and guilt.
At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will stand up to condemn the wicked and adulterous generation that did not repent and believe in Jesus, despite the fact that One greater than Jonah came to them. The Queen of the South will likewise condemn the wicked generation that did not repent and believe in Jesus, despite the fact that One greater than Solomon was there.
Faith is itself evidence of things unseen (Hebrews 11:1). It does not need another sign as evidence. But to those who have faith, signs can help to further confirm what they already believe in. To those who do not have faith, no amount of signs will help them get the faith.
Second, as evident in the parable of the sower, the secrets of the kingdom of heaven are not for all who simply hear the word of God.
In Romans 10:14, Paul writes, "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" To have faith in the Lord, one must have heard of Him. This is certainly true.
Hearing about the word of God is necessary, but not sufficient. As Jesus tells in the parable of the sower, only the seed that fell on the good soil produced a crop. Other seeds that fell along the path, in rocky places and among thorns did not produce a crop. Simply hearing the word of God is not enough. Just like the crowd in Jesus' days, people may hear, but not understand the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.
Familiarity with the word is not enough. Rather it may actually turn out to be a hindrance. The people of Nazareth were amazed at Jesus' teachings, but their response was one of incredulity and disbelief (Matthew 13:53-58). They knew about Jesus' brothers and sisters and knew of Him as the carpenter's son, but nothing more. Jesus spoke of the people of Nazareth, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor" (Matthew 13:57). Having seen Jesus many times and hearing Him speak many times did not help the people of Nazareth learn the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.
What about people of today? There are many who may be considered church-goers, who attend the worship service and listen attentively to the sermons. One Sunday after another, they listen to the word. However, how many have become simply accustomed to the word and not really get anything out of hearing the word? Aren't we like the path, rocky places, or thorns, among which the seed cannot grow to produce a crop? Do we lose the word to the evil one as soon as we hear it? Do we receive the word with joy, but fall away from it when trouble or persecution comes because of it? Or, do we let the worries of this life or the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful in our lives? Simply hearing the word and becoming familiar with it is not enough to understanding the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.
How then does God share the secrets of the kingdom of heaven?
As it turns out, the right question is not how God shares the secrets, but rather with whom God shares the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.
Throughout the ages, God has been very selective as to whom He shares His secrets with.
God called Abraham "My friend" (Isaiah 41:8). Before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, He said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" (Genesis 18:17) He was pleased to share with Abraham what He was about to do.
Likewise Jesus told His disciples: "You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:14-15). Jesus called them His friends and shared intimate knowledge with them. Jesus said to them, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you" (Matthew 13:11).
Notice that these are the same disciples, whom Jesus pointed to and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12:49-50). The disciples were considered friends of Jesus and members of Jesus' family, because they not only heard Him speak, but also did what He commanded and did the will of Heavenly Father. Thus they could share in the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.
The key to knowing the secrets of the kingdom of heaven is that when hearing the word of God, one receives it with faith and obeys it to do the will of God.
In Hebrews 4:2, it says, "For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith." In some translations, this verse is translated to read, "the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share in the faith of those who obeyed."
What God wants from us is simple obedience to His word, because then the word is beneficial to us and lets us be fruitful. We should certainly love hearing, reading, and meditating on the word of God. But even more, we should strive to obey the word.
My prayer is that we will receive the word of God, the way the boy Samuel received, saying, "speak, for your servant is listening" (I Samuel 3:10), and the way Simon Peter received, saying, "because you say so, I will" (Luke 5:5). Then the word will be a blessing to us.
What is not as well-known about this parable is that it was spoken on the same day that the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus for a miraculous sign -- a sign that would show that Jesus was indeed the Messiah or the Prophet (Matthew 12:38 ff). This little-known fact is significant because Jesus was in a way responding to the Pharisees and telling how God chooses to reveal the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, as well as how God chooses not to reveal the secrets.
First, even though the Pharisees asked for a miraculous sign, it is not by a sign that one gets to partake in the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. Indeed Jesus performed many miraculous signs in the presence of many people. He gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, made the lame walk, cured the lepers, and even raised the dead back to life. He commanded a storm and calmed it down with His word. He walked on water. He did things that no one else had done or could have done. Yet people did not believe. In fact, in Bethsaida and in Korazin, where He performed most of His miracles, people did not repent. He said, "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes." (Matthew 11:21).
Rather, to those who do not believe and do not repent, the signs are like a snare that will accuse and convict them on the judgment day. Jesus said of them, "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin... If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and the Father." (John 15:22,24). The fact that the signs were given will be used as evidence of their sin and guilt.
At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will stand up to condemn the wicked and adulterous generation that did not repent and believe in Jesus, despite the fact that One greater than Jonah came to them. The Queen of the South will likewise condemn the wicked generation that did not repent and believe in Jesus, despite the fact that One greater than Solomon was there.
Faith is itself evidence of things unseen (Hebrews 11:1). It does not need another sign as evidence. But to those who have faith, signs can help to further confirm what they already believe in. To those who do not have faith, no amount of signs will help them get the faith.
Second, as evident in the parable of the sower, the secrets of the kingdom of heaven are not for all who simply hear the word of God.
In Romans 10:14, Paul writes, "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" To have faith in the Lord, one must have heard of Him. This is certainly true.
Hearing about the word of God is necessary, but not sufficient. As Jesus tells in the parable of the sower, only the seed that fell on the good soil produced a crop. Other seeds that fell along the path, in rocky places and among thorns did not produce a crop. Simply hearing the word of God is not enough. Just like the crowd in Jesus' days, people may hear, but not understand the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.
Familiarity with the word is not enough. Rather it may actually turn out to be a hindrance. The people of Nazareth were amazed at Jesus' teachings, but their response was one of incredulity and disbelief (Matthew 13:53-58). They knew about Jesus' brothers and sisters and knew of Him as the carpenter's son, but nothing more. Jesus spoke of the people of Nazareth, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor" (Matthew 13:57). Having seen Jesus many times and hearing Him speak many times did not help the people of Nazareth learn the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.
What about people of today? There are many who may be considered church-goers, who attend the worship service and listen attentively to the sermons. One Sunday after another, they listen to the word. However, how many have become simply accustomed to the word and not really get anything out of hearing the word? Aren't we like the path, rocky places, or thorns, among which the seed cannot grow to produce a crop? Do we lose the word to the evil one as soon as we hear it? Do we receive the word with joy, but fall away from it when trouble or persecution comes because of it? Or, do we let the worries of this life or the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful in our lives? Simply hearing the word and becoming familiar with it is not enough to understanding the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.
How then does God share the secrets of the kingdom of heaven?
As it turns out, the right question is not how God shares the secrets, but rather with whom God shares the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.
Throughout the ages, God has been very selective as to whom He shares His secrets with.
God called Abraham "My friend" (Isaiah 41:8). Before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, He said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" (Genesis 18:17) He was pleased to share with Abraham what He was about to do.
Likewise Jesus told His disciples: "You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:14-15). Jesus called them His friends and shared intimate knowledge with them. Jesus said to them, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you" (Matthew 13:11).
Notice that these are the same disciples, whom Jesus pointed to and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12:49-50). The disciples were considered friends of Jesus and members of Jesus' family, because they not only heard Him speak, but also did what He commanded and did the will of Heavenly Father. Thus they could share in the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.
The key to knowing the secrets of the kingdom of heaven is that when hearing the word of God, one receives it with faith and obeys it to do the will of God.
In Hebrews 4:2, it says, "For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith." In some translations, this verse is translated to read, "the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share in the faith of those who obeyed."
What God wants from us is simple obedience to His word, because then the word is beneficial to us and lets us be fruitful. We should certainly love hearing, reading, and meditating on the word of God. But even more, we should strive to obey the word.
My prayer is that we will receive the word of God, the way the boy Samuel received, saying, "speak, for your servant is listening" (I Samuel 3:10), and the way Simon Peter received, saying, "because you say so, I will" (Luke 5:5). Then the word will be a blessing to us.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Faith as small as a mustard seed (2)
A mustard see is among the smallest of seeds, typically measuring about 3 mm in diameter. Yet Jesus chose it to guage the faith that can move a mountain (Matthew 17:20) or uproot and order a mulberry tree to be planted in the sea (Luke 17:6). Certainly a mustard seed is very small, while moving a mountain is a great task. Why such a contrast? I believe that what Jesus is saying is that it is not the greatness of faith that brings about mighty acts, but it is the faith in the great and awesome God, who is able to do all those mighty acts. In fact, God chooses the weak and the foolish to shame the strong and wise (I Corinthians 1:17). That is why Paul confesses that he delights in his weaknesses, "for when I am weak, then I am strong" (II Corinthians 12:10).
In fact, the Bible is full of examples of God using the weak, who nevertheless put their trust in the Lord. When Gideon was going out against the Midianites, he initially had thirty-two thousand men. The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands." (Judges 7:2). God did not want Israel to boast that her own strength saved her. God put the thirty two thousand through a series of tests, until only 300 men remained. Then God used them to defeat the Midianites, the Amalekites and all the eastern peoples, who were so numerous that "their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore." (Judges 7:12).
Or, consider the example of boy David. When David volunteered to go and fight the Philistine giant Goliath, Saul observed, "you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth." (I Samuel 17:33). In other words, on human terms, there was no way that David could be matched against Goliath. Even when Goliath saw David, all Goliath saw was a "boy, ruddy and handsome," and he despised him (I Samuel 17:42). Goliath did not know about God, the Lord of hosts, in whose name David was coming. David knew the Lord and declared boldly to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." (I Samuel 17:45).
It was not the boy David who defeated the giant Goliath; rather it was God the Lord Almighty who was with David and defeated Goliath. It was not Gideon and his 300 men who defeated the innumerable Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples; rather it was God the Lord Almighty who brought fear into the hearts of these peoples. Likewise, it is not the person with the faith like a mustard seed, who is moving the mountain. It is rather the Mighty and Awesome God, in whom the faith is. Because the faith is in the Mighty Lord, however little the faith may be, it can be so powerful.
Yes, Lord, You are abounding in love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6). You are entirely trustworthy and I put my trust in You. Though I am weak, You are strong. Though I am foolish, You are wise. Though I am limited, You are limitless and infinite in power and authority, honor and glory, and wisdom and knowledge. When I have faith in You, that is when I can reap the benefits of Your infinite wisdom and power. Help me trust You more and more each day. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
In fact, the Bible is full of examples of God using the weak, who nevertheless put their trust in the Lord. When Gideon was going out against the Midianites, he initially had thirty-two thousand men. The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands." (Judges 7:2). God did not want Israel to boast that her own strength saved her. God put the thirty two thousand through a series of tests, until only 300 men remained. Then God used them to defeat the Midianites, the Amalekites and all the eastern peoples, who were so numerous that "their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore." (Judges 7:12).
Or, consider the example of boy David. When David volunteered to go and fight the Philistine giant Goliath, Saul observed, "you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth." (I Samuel 17:33). In other words, on human terms, there was no way that David could be matched against Goliath. Even when Goliath saw David, all Goliath saw was a "boy, ruddy and handsome," and he despised him (I Samuel 17:42). Goliath did not know about God, the Lord of hosts, in whose name David was coming. David knew the Lord and declared boldly to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." (I Samuel 17:45).
It was not the boy David who defeated the giant Goliath; rather it was God the Lord Almighty who was with David and defeated Goliath. It was not Gideon and his 300 men who defeated the innumerable Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples; rather it was God the Lord Almighty who brought fear into the hearts of these peoples. Likewise, it is not the person with the faith like a mustard seed, who is moving the mountain. It is rather the Mighty and Awesome God, in whom the faith is. Because the faith is in the Mighty Lord, however little the faith may be, it can be so powerful.
Yes, Lord, You are abounding in love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6). You are entirely trustworthy and I put my trust in You. Though I am weak, You are strong. Though I am foolish, You are wise. Though I am limited, You are limitless and infinite in power and authority, honor and glory, and wisdom and knowledge. When I have faith in You, that is when I can reap the benefits of Your infinite wisdom and power. Help me trust You more and more each day. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Faith as small as a mustard seed
During last Friday night's Bible study class with high school girls, I was asked by one of the girls why we don't have faith that can move a mountain, when Jesus said that "if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20). I could not give a good answer, because I myself did not have the faith that can move a mountain. All I could say was that even though my faith (or our faith) is very weak, we can have confidence in how faithful our Lord is in keeping all His promises. Whatever He has promised to us, we can believe that He will keep it. Though we are weak, He is still strong and faithful.
Afterwards I felt challenged by the question all week. I thought about why I don't have faith as small as a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds. I prayed earnestly, seeking to have that faith.
The answer to my prayer came through two people. During a family worship service, my wife chose to read from Hebrews 4:2: "For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith." While faith comes, as a gift (Ephesians 2:8), from hearing the message in the word of Christ (Romans 10:17), what one hears is of no value, unless one hears it with faith. When I hear the word of God, I must believe that He exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). I must believe in the word and the One who spoke the word. Then my faith will grow.
But that is not all. During Wednesday's worship service at the church, the pastor read from Luke 17:6, again about faith as small as a mustard seed. The pastor read this verse in the context of what immediately followed it. In the trailing verses of Luke 17:7-10, Jesus talked about servants who dutifully do everything the master is asking them to do and humbly say, "We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty." Faith that can move a mountain comes from humble obedience. On hearing the word of God, we must accept it with faith and then obey to follow the command. The word of God is our law, our statutes, our precepts, our commands, our ordinances, and evidence of our fear of the Lord (Psalm 19:7-9), so we must obey it.
As Jesus told in one of His parables, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches." (Matthew 13:31-32). Though my faith may be the smallest of all, when I accept the word of God with faith and obey it, my faith will grow to be like a large tree. Accepting Christ as my Lord and King (i.e., the kingdom of heaven) is a continually growing process that I think takes spiritual and godly training (I Timothy 4:8) in obedience.
Lord, I am but an unworthy servant. Help me believe and, in believing, obey Your words. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Afterwards I felt challenged by the question all week. I thought about why I don't have faith as small as a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds. I prayed earnestly, seeking to have that faith.
The answer to my prayer came through two people. During a family worship service, my wife chose to read from Hebrews 4:2: "For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith." While faith comes, as a gift (Ephesians 2:8), from hearing the message in the word of Christ (Romans 10:17), what one hears is of no value, unless one hears it with faith. When I hear the word of God, I must believe that He exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). I must believe in the word and the One who spoke the word. Then my faith will grow.
But that is not all. During Wednesday's worship service at the church, the pastor read from Luke 17:6, again about faith as small as a mustard seed. The pastor read this verse in the context of what immediately followed it. In the trailing verses of Luke 17:7-10, Jesus talked about servants who dutifully do everything the master is asking them to do and humbly say, "We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty." Faith that can move a mountain comes from humble obedience. On hearing the word of God, we must accept it with faith and then obey to follow the command. The word of God is our law, our statutes, our precepts, our commands, our ordinances, and evidence of our fear of the Lord (Psalm 19:7-9), so we must obey it.
As Jesus told in one of His parables, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches." (Matthew 13:31-32). Though my faith may be the smallest of all, when I accept the word of God with faith and obey it, my faith will grow to be like a large tree. Accepting Christ as my Lord and King (i.e., the kingdom of heaven) is a continually growing process that I think takes spiritual and godly training (I Timothy 4:8) in obedience.
Lord, I am but an unworthy servant. Help me believe and, in believing, obey Your words. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Do not go over the branches a second time.
In Deuteronomy 24:20, the Lord commands, "When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time." This is so that the widows, the orphans, and the alien could take whatever remains on the tree. Likewise, He commands, "When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it." (v19). This is so that the poor may pick up the sheaf and mitigate their hunger. Some even left a sheaf or two behind intentionally, so that someone else may get them -- as Boaz did for Ruth (Ruth 2:15,16). The Lord has compassion on the afflicted (Isaiah 49:13) and demands that we do the same.
The mercy and generosity that the Lord demands of us is not really of our own at all. Suppose I see a poor man who needs ten dollars to buy himself and his child a lunch. Instead of reaching into my own pocket, I take ten dollars from someone else and give the money to the poor man. Would I be called merciful or generous? Scarcely. I might rather be called a thief or a scoundrel or some such name.
Yet, that is in a way the level of generosity that the Lord demands of us. Perhaps because He knows how stingy we are with things that we consider our own, He tells us to be generous with things that are not actually our own, but His. Recall the parable of the shrewd manager in Luke 16:1-15. The master hears of an accusation that his manager has been wasting away his (the master's) possessions. Fearing that he would lose his job, the manager then does favor to those who have borrowed from the master by reducing how much they owe. Upon hearing this, the master actually commends the manager for his shrewdness. The manager is considered to have acted in a trustworthy manner with "someone else's property", with "worldly wealth", and with "very little."
The first step of our generosity is that none of what we call as our own is really our own. All that we have is actually someone else's property -- it is God's. All that we have in this world -- our "worldly wealth," which is actually "very little" in value compared to what we will have in heaven, actually belongs to someone else -- the Lord. Using what is the Lord's, the Lord wants us to be generous and merciful towards the poor, the widows, the orphans, and the alien. Extending mercy to them is being a good steward of what the Lord entrusted to us to use.
And, when we demonstrate that we can be good stewards of someone else's property, of worldly wealth, of what is very little, the Lord promises us that we will then be entrusted with our own "true riches" in heaven. To give to the poor is to store up treasures in heaven (Matthew 19:21). The better we manage "someone else's property" and be generous with it on earth, the more treasure we will have in heaven. This is not possible with the math of this world, but is eminently true with the generosity of our Father in Heaven.
Lastly, generosity is not a state of mind or heart. It is not a feeling. It is defined by deeds and actions. James 2:16 says, "If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" Indeed! We need to open our eyes and reach out to our poor brethren in North Korea, victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti, ... To the poor and needy that the Lord shows to us, we need to extend our generosity and mercy by actually giving and sharing.
The mercy and generosity that the Lord demands of us is not really of our own at all. Suppose I see a poor man who needs ten dollars to buy himself and his child a lunch. Instead of reaching into my own pocket, I take ten dollars from someone else and give the money to the poor man. Would I be called merciful or generous? Scarcely. I might rather be called a thief or a scoundrel or some such name.
Yet, that is in a way the level of generosity that the Lord demands of us. Perhaps because He knows how stingy we are with things that we consider our own, He tells us to be generous with things that are not actually our own, but His. Recall the parable of the shrewd manager in Luke 16:1-15. The master hears of an accusation that his manager has been wasting away his (the master's) possessions. Fearing that he would lose his job, the manager then does favor to those who have borrowed from the master by reducing how much they owe. Upon hearing this, the master actually commends the manager for his shrewdness. The manager is considered to have acted in a trustworthy manner with "someone else's property", with "worldly wealth", and with "very little."
The first step of our generosity is that none of what we call as our own is really our own. All that we have is actually someone else's property -- it is God's. All that we have in this world -- our "worldly wealth," which is actually "very little" in value compared to what we will have in heaven, actually belongs to someone else -- the Lord. Using what is the Lord's, the Lord wants us to be generous and merciful towards the poor, the widows, the orphans, and the alien. Extending mercy to them is being a good steward of what the Lord entrusted to us to use.
And, when we demonstrate that we can be good stewards of someone else's property, of worldly wealth, of what is very little, the Lord promises us that we will then be entrusted with our own "true riches" in heaven. To give to the poor is to store up treasures in heaven (Matthew 19:21). The better we manage "someone else's property" and be generous with it on earth, the more treasure we will have in heaven. This is not possible with the math of this world, but is eminently true with the generosity of our Father in Heaven.
Lastly, generosity is not a state of mind or heart. It is not a feeling. It is defined by deeds and actions. James 2:16 says, "If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" Indeed! We need to open our eyes and reach out to our poor brethren in North Korea, victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti, ... To the poor and needy that the Lord shows to us, we need to extend our generosity and mercy by actually giving and sharing.
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