Faithful on Fridays Blog

Scene One

There’s an age-old question that asks, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” In the book of Job four men try to help a friend answer that question by simply saying, “Bad things happen to bad people and good things happen to good people.” True? No, so the question remains.

In the Hebrew divisions of the Old Testament Job is considered part of the Writings, undoubtedly because its a drama. I love drama and Job is growing on me as I’m learning to better understand it. 

Job may be the oldest recorded book of the Bible, author unknown, and gives us insight into the purposes of God, especially in suffering. The meaning of his name gives us our first revelation. Job comes from the Hebrew word meaning object of hostility and hatred, as an enemy. That’s not good. We find that same word used by God when he spoke to Satan:

“And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike His heel.” Genesis 3:15

Satan hates us, those born of a woman, because the Savior of the World would come from her. He tried to kill the Messiah but Jesus will eventually crush his head, his authority. 

Job lived in the land of Uz, probably northern Arabia, where he would’ve heard the message of Yahweh from one of the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob. He was quite wealthy and a family man of high moral character who trusted in God. His sons took turns giving a Saturday night party along with their sisters and we know where that can lead. Job, as a good father, went to God every year to offer an animal’s blood to cover their sin just in case they got out of control. I get that. 

Since we know that Satan hates Job we can better understand why the writer included this scene when the angels and Satan check in with God with a face to face (ch. 1&2). Where is this meeting taking place? Possibly the second heaven (2 Cor. 12:2) where it seems progress reports are discussed and assignments given out … stretching your faith yet?

Satan, whose name means adversary and prosecutor, reported that he’s been patrolling and studying his opponents: mankind. Here’s where things get sticky; God shines the spotlight on His servant, Job. This is the opening scene that introduces the reader to the main story. “Of course Job’s life is perfect,” answered Satan, “You’ve hedged him in with Your blessings. Remove the hedge and he’ll renounce you.” God responds to the challenge by loosely saying, “OK, take your best shot.” That assignment is played out in 42 chapters as Job works his way through suffering and understanding who God is.

I think we all come to that place eventually trying to answer that hard question why believers suffer. Stay with me as we consider the book of Job.

Scene Nine

It’s said the four gospels tell the same story yet with different perspectives, however, it’s never been clearer since I’ve been comparing them. Being the only non-Jew Luke’s view is most similar to ours, curious about Judaism, and needing clarification on the Jesus drama.

Chapters 11-13 consist of several accounts unique to Luke so let’s dive in. After Jesus’ disciples requested a teaching on prayer He responded by telling a story desiring them to understand the relationship of His Father to their needs. The Man in the Middle (11:5-8) will help Luke, and also us, to keep praying for people, never giving up. The contrast of three friends reveals the value of persistence. Jesus yearned for His followers, including us, to understand coming to our Father with shameless, continual, and relentless prayer. There’s no inconvenient time for God, He’s already listening and ready to answer our prayers … in His time.

Our Savior told another story called the Rich Fool (12:13-21, 34) where His point was the upper story of eternity far outweighing the lower story of this earthly life. Luke was undoubtedly raised to believe that worldly wealth, success, and position were all that mattered. Jesus desired understanding of how that’s short-sighted; eternity is all that matters. I’m sure Luke had to realign his foolish thinking, like the rich man, to live for God by loving Him first and others second: very Jewish. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart is also.”

His disciples heard several news reports about vague situations where disasters caused people to die (13:1-5). Was it because of their sin? It’s a familiar question for us today. Only Luke reports this incidence given from his interviewee and must’ve been on the edge of his seat attentively listening to Jesus’ response. Simply put, personal disaster of any kind, then or now, doesn’t equal personal sin. He used this opportunity to repeat the value of repentance leading to eternal life.

The parable of the Barren Fig Tree and the woman healed in a synagogue on the Sabbath are both unique to Luke. Jesus taught again on Intercessory Prayer (like the Man in the Middle) this time using a fruit tree as His analogy; expect fruit after three years, if it doesn’t grow then remove it. The arborist begged for more time, he was the ‘man in the middle’ or intercessor, believing he could bring change. 

Later, our Lord went into the synagogue on the Sabbath and mercifully freed a woman from a demonic spirit causing her body to show signs of advanced scoliosis, spina bifada, or cerebral palsy, being unable to stand up straight. What an impressive story this must’ve been to Dr. Luke! Sickness and disease can be caused by demons! Again, Jesus cared more about people than rules. 

Finally, some caring Pharisees warned Jesus about King Herod (vs. 31-33), but He wouldn’t be deterred from The Plan to unequivocally love people enough to die for them. His story would move forward.

Beatitudes Part Nine: Persecuted

Many of you know the song The Twelve Days of Christmas, but do you know it’s history? It fits beautifully with the last two beatitudes which speak of another reason people call you blessed: persecution. 

What’s the connection of persecution with the song? Let me explain. In the 16th century Roman Catholics were persecuted in England for their faith. Surprisingly, the persecution wasn’t from unbelievers, it was from other Christians. Yes, in our bleak past, believers have always suffered, but not always from outside the faith. Shamefully, we have tormented one another in the name of Christ. 

This song was written as a memory device for learning Christian doctrine. Here how it goes:

• My true love is Jesus Christ, our returning King.
• A partridge in a pear tree is the Savior, pictured as a mother who serves as a decoy to protect her young
• Two turtle doves– Old and New Testaments
• Three French hens– faith, hope, and love
• Four calling birds– four gospels
• Five golden rings– Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament
• Six geese-a-laying– six days of creation
• Seven swans-a-swimming– seven gifts of the Spirit
• Eight maids-a-milking– eight beatitudes
• Nine ladies dancing– nine fruits of the Spirit
• Ten lords-a-leaping– ten commandments 
• Eleven pipers piping– eleven faithful disciples
• Twelve drummers drumming– twelve articles of the Apostles Creed

Jesus taught there will always be persecution for believers, apparently, if you live a godly life you can expect persecution (2 Tim. 3:12). What could possibly have sustained believers through the ages as they took their stand under threat of torture, imprisonment, loss of income, or family? Could it be that their belief in the gospel was reality to them? It wasn’t some cosmic belief system, but faith that was experienced and intimate. The Encyclopedia of Christian Martyrs tells the stories of over 200,000 Christians from over 50 nations who lost their lives rather than deny their faith. This beatitude tells us they have a great reward waiting for them. 

Read Hebrews 11 this week, consider what others have gone through as they stood in the power of the Spirit under extreme treatment or read the stories of other martyrs: Ignatius of Antioch or Polykarp from the first century, the Waldenses, the Inquisitions, Bishops Latimer, Ridley, and Cranmer later on. Down through history men and women alike have endured suffering for the sake of the gospel. For us in America it’s a part of faith we haven’t yet experienced, consequently that’s all the more reason to read their stories and know what’s happening today to Christians around the world. The Voice of the Martyrs has a website helping you stay informed in order to pray for these brothers and sisters. What a great New Years resolution this could be; definitely of more value than losing 10 lbs (only to gain them back) or getting on an exercise regiment (which you’ll soon quit). “Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven!” Matt. 5:12a

Scene Eight

I delight to find hidden treasures in Dr. Luke’s gospel; join me in our search from Chapter 10. Jesus was gathering His reconnaissance team, 72 men whom He sent out as apostles (that’s the Greek word for ‘sent ones’), to check the spiritual temperature of the communities He’d be visiting. They were given the ability as ‘sent ones’ to heal, deliver, and preach that the Kingdom of God had arrived: His name is Jesus. The Kingdom of God, remember Luke’s a Gentile, is the ultimate rule and reign of the Messiah not only in heaven but also on earth. What was going through Luke’s mind? Jesus was a King, like the (lower story) emperor Hadrian? Only the Holy Spirit can give one the upper story of an invisible kingdom, ruled by an invisible God, who loves and cares about us. That remains true today.

When the 72 returned they cried out in surprise that it worked! Even the demons obeyed their voice of freedom for the people and many were delivered. However wonderful that authority was, Jesus cautioned them with the most important point; their names are written in heaven. Physical healings and deliverances are wonderful benefits, but the upper story of salvation, eternal life with God, trumps the lower story.

Another treasure I read as I compared all four gospels is Luke’s record of Jesus ‘rejoicing in the Holy Spirit’ (vs. 21) at that conversation. Since Jesus is the Son of Man, a physical person who temporarily gave up His heavenly position and come to earth, He relied on the Spirit, and delighted in His empowerment. I also love listening to people describe their encounters with God; it makes my heart rejoice in the Spirit as well. 

Finally, the last treasure from Chapter 10 is the Good Samaritan story. You probably know it well, it’s unique to Luke, but did you realize it was Jesus’ response to a question asked to disqualify Him as the promised Messiah? An expert in the Torah, the Mosaic Law, asked Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life and Jesus asked him about the Law, “How do you read it?” In other words, what’s your take on it, how do you interpret ‘eternal Inheritance’, what do you think? I love that about Jesus, He always aims at the heart. 

This lawyer knew what God expected from His people: love Him first and others second. However, he also knew he missed that mark and needed to self-justify. That’s why the parable is so important and why Luke alone included it. He didn’t know the Law, but he understood loving God, showing mercy, and walking humbly: that’s the sum-total of the Law and the lawyer missed it. Jesus didn’t leave him in that guilt though, He simply told him to go and act like the Samaritan or Gentile, as ridiculous as that seemed, and show mercy to people. It’s that simple and remains the way you inherit eternal life even today.

Beatitudes Part Eight: Peacemakers

In 1960 presidential candidate Sen. John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to volunteer 2 yrs. of their life to helping others. In 1961 President Kennedy, signed an Executive Order to establish the Peace Corps. It’s goal was and remains to be an instrument of world peace and friendship to other countries.

As we approach the next beatitude from Matt. 5 let’s first be reminded that peace, shalom, with God is the initial step in becoming a peacemaker. As much as I admire and respect the work of the Peace Corps., there is no true peace without Jesus first.

Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault. Colossians 1:22

I think Jesus’ point was that experiencing spiritual wholeness from God causes a desire to bring wholeness to others. This desire to be a peacemaker creates passion for reconciliation between people in our lives. We, in essence, are enlisted in God’s Peace Corps. 

What is reconciliation? You may remember from English Class that the prefix ‘re’ means to do it again. Do what again? Look at the root word conciliate. Even though we don’t hear that word often it’s crucial to understanding re-conciliation. It’s meaning is to overcome hostility by making friendly overtures. Get it? If you’re in God’s Peace Corps. then you’re His instrument of reconciliation. You are His co-worker and agent. Sound important? It is. It’s so important that He calls peacemakers His children: sons of God.

The holidays are prime-time for reconciliation. Families that are torn apart through unresolved hurt or disagreements are in dire need of a peacemaker. What can you do? 

Pray and ask God for an opening. Express to Him that you want to bring harmony back into your family, but don’t know how. He’ll give you the wisdom and understanding to see both perspectives and speak to them. As a believer in Jesus Christ you have a ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18) in your family, your neighborhood, your church, or even at work. 

Is your desire to reestablish relationships, restore friendships, or reunite people? Pray, express your desire, and listen to that quiet voice of His as He directs you. Your example of seeing different perspectives will make a difference. It may not happen this year, but God is a God of action and He will start the ball rolling toward true peace between people through your prayers. Initiate a conversation, send a card, extend an invitation; be an initiator of peace.

St. Francis of Assisi wrote this:

“Preach the gospel, if necessary, use words.”

And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:18 

Welcome to God’s Peace Corps! May you plant many seeds this year.

Scene Seven

With Christmas coming let’s focus on Jesus calling Himself the Son of Man looking at a few reasons why this is important during this season.

First of all, the prophet Daniel wrote about the Messiah coming to the Ancient of Days (God, the Father) calling Him the Son of Man. He’s the Son of God and also the Son of Man, who’d be miraculously conceived by a virgin (Is. 7:14), born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), and raised in Nazareth (Is. 11:1). John 1:14 tells us Jesus was a human being living among His people: He’s the physical Son of Man. As Son of God He accepted the Plan of Redemption for mankind by giving up His divine form in heaven and taking on the form of man to complete the task (Phil. 2:6-8). 

Let’s look at a few statements of Jesus indicating why He called Himself by this name.

• He told a Hebrew teacher that animals have homes, but He, as the Son of Man has none (Matt. 8:20). Jesus knew heaven was His home and when the assignment was completed and He’d return there.

• The religious leaders asked for a sign proving He was the Messiah and Jesus pointed to Jonah who spent 3 days inside a fish and He, as the Son of Man will spend 3 days in Hades after His death (Matt. 12:40). 

• Jesus told His followers that when we acknowledge Him, He’ll acknowledge us in return. However, the reverse is true; deny the Son of Man and He’ll have no choice but to deny you (Luke 12:8-9).

• Jesus was the Son of Man with authority to forgive sins and heal people (Luke 5:17-26) since He came to seek and save lost mankind (Luke 19:10).

• After revealing Himself as the Messiah, the physical Son of Man, Peter declared that He was the Son of the Living God. They didn’t get His dual nature yet, but eventually they would (Matt. 16:27-28).

• Jesus called Himself the Son of Man who serves people as an example for us and to give His life as a physical ransom (Matt. 20:28) preparing them for His death as He’s physically ‘lifted up’ on a cross (John 8:28).

• The Son of Man is looking for faith on earth when He returns, but will He find it (Luke 18:8)? He’s preparing His followers for His death, but also His return.

• The ‘coming of the Son of Man’ will be in a glorified body, but He’ll retain His dual nature (Matt.  24:27).

Jesus is returning in a physical body because He’s the Son of Man, but also the Son of God who physically suffered, physically died, physically rose again, and physically ascended back into heaven. He’s the Son of Man who’ll return on the clouds in human form to retrieve us for eternity. That’s why His name, Son of Man, is important as we celebrate His first coming at Christmas.

Beatitudes Part Seven: Pure in Heart

When I was teaching a science unit on weather to fifth graders we discussed the mystery of wind explaining that even though you can’t see the wind you know it’s real. You can observe its effects in creation: a flag blowing, your face burning with an icy-cold or burning-hot gust, a sound or odor that invisibly travels through the air. Wind isn’t tangible, you can’t literally touch it, but you know it’s there. Jesus even used this phenomenon in His illustration of our spiritual rebirth.

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8 

Our sixth beatitude is pureness of heart, that hidden part of you (1 Peter 3:4) that only God can know. It’s the place our desires come from as well as our behavior to fulfill those desires; it all begins in the heart, living to please God and not ourselves. Now stay with me, I’ll soon connect the wind. Desiring a pure heart sets the bar pretty high for a believer in Jesus Christ since our sinful nature drives us to patterns of behavior that make us feel good. Conversely, the Holy Spirit compels us toward holy thinking and therefore, holy living. Phil. 4:8 gives us a list of things to think on … things that are pure made that list. What we think about we usually act on, so true. 

We may think that since we go to church most Sundays, occasionally read our Bible, send in a financial gift, and maybe even volunteer our time and energy to a ministry, we have this pure heart. On the contrary, Jesus said that unless our righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees we will never enter into kingdom living. The scribes and Pharisees were all about having the right behavior without the right heart. They looked good on the outside but God knew their heart. Our standard is higher; it’s love for God and love for others. Paul tells us:

The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. 1 Timothy 1:5 

What does all this have to do with the wind? Watch Jesus’ connection. When you have a pure heart, the right motives and attitudes that drive your behavior, you will see God. 

You’ll observe His work in your life, mysterious, like the wind, and watch your circumstances change. Do you want to see God? Ps. 24:3-6 gives you instructions. Constantly check your heart and analyze why you do things. God wants you to see that flag blowing, feel His presence, hear His voice, and give you the peace that only He can deliver. You are blessed when you desire to please God more than yourself: that’s a pure heart and that’s how you see God.

Scene Six

I’m getting more attuned to watching for the Gentile/doctor connection in Luke’s gospel, especially in Chapters 8 and 9 as he learned about Jesus’ ministry from those he interviewed. I immediately noticed that he, and no one else, named some of the women who not only followed the Savior, but also served Him from their own, private resources. Did the eyewitness relate to Luke how revolutionary that was? Both Jewish and Roman culture were male-dominated, perceived women as inferior, and yet the Son of God treated them with respect, compassion, and care. 

Take the raising of Jairus’ daughter (8:40-56), for example. This Jewish leader of the synagogue fell at Jesus’ feet begging Him to come and heal his young daughter, to which He responded by heading directly to his house. Here’s the revolutionary event; a woman who’d spent all her money on doctors to stop her vaginal hemorrhaging interrupted His trip by crawling through the crowd to simply touch the hem of His robe. That faith released power to be healed (unique to Luke) which Jesus publicly declared. Interestingly, only Luke included her clinical history, why she came and how it happened. This miraculous healing by our Great Physician was this woman’s only hope and must’ve intrigued Dr. Luke as he recounted the event. 

In Judaism monthly menstrual bleeding made women ‘unclean’, but Jesus stopped His trip to Jairus’ home to heal not only an unidentified, unclean woman, but one who’d been bleeding for 12 years. That’s revolutionary! 

Luke was undoubtedly coming to terms with the fact that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, a miracle-worker, healer, and deliverer who’d come to earth to welcome both Jew and Gentile, male and female, into the family of faith. 

When we hear a good message we tend to focus on certain parts that touch our hearts and interest our minds not remembering the whole message but only parts. Luke’s eyewitnesses were people still alive some 60 years after Jesus’ ascension back into heaven, probably pretty old, but how many were actually left? God made sure Luke found them or they found Luke.

With his medical training and knowledge of our physical bodies, Luke tended to hear and write about the physical nature of Jesus as the stories unfolded; that’s what interested him. He was learning that Jesus was fully human and yet fully God; how could he process the divine and physical nature of God? Someone must’ve given him, as a Gentile, the Old Testament promises of Messiah who would accomplish this feat and for what purpose. Remember, only Luke gave a detailed account of Jesus’ miraculous conception and birth, proving He was a physical person and yet remained divine. The religious leaders simply could not accept that truth; but we do.

For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the Head over every ruler and authority. Colossians 2:9-10 NLT

Beatitudes Part Six: Mercy

I read about a photographer who once had a woman comment on her photo, “Oh, that picture doesn’t do me justice!” The photographer responded, “Lady, you don’t need justice, you need mercy.” Ouch! However true that may be as believers we have not received the justice required for our sin, but His mercy. Today we move into the beatitude that reminds us of the spiritual law of sowing and reaping. 

When we come face to face with our sin, the Father of Mercies clears our record and forgives. We are expected, Jesus tells us, to extend that same measure of mercy and forgiveness to others. 

With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. Psalm 18:25, 26 

What exactly is mercy? Simply put, it’s keeping from someone what they deserve. Someone wrongs you and you didn’t deserve it. Granted. Mercy says, don’t give them what they deserve, release them. We call that a paradox and Jesus loved to use them. A paradox is a seemingly contradictory, even absurd statement that nonetheless states the truth. It doesn’t seem reasonable to love your enemies because if they’re an enemy, then they hate you: paradox. Jesus said to turn the other cheek and love them. Honor your parents, even when their behavior doesn’t warrant it. Submit to your husband, even when he seems wrong. Are you kidding? No, Jesus taught in this Sermon on the Mount  how to experience kingdom living. It may be a paradox, it seems absurd, but its true. 

There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when He judges you. James 2:13

Not only did Jesus teach using the paradox, but He loved telling parables; it’s a story with a spiritual lesson interweaved. Matt. 18:23-35 is a very serious parable teaching the value of mercy. A king forgave the debt of a servant who owed him a huge amount. That same man refused to show mercy and forgive a fellow servant his debt which was small. The king was furious; listen to his response:

Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you? Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.” Matthew 18:33-35 

In this spiritual law of sowing and reaping or planting and harvesting, we’re taught that if you plant seeds of mercy you can be confident that you’ll receive mercy. Whatever spiritual seeds you plant, just like with natural gardening, you will grow. You don’t plant orange seeds and expect to grow apples, do you? Therefore, pay attention to your heart attitudes and grow a vibrant, mercy-filled garden.

Scene Five

Luke’s conversations and discussions with eyewitnesses uniquely equipped him for reporting the most healings in the Bible, but in Chapter 7 something rare occurs in His ministry. He visited the village of Nain, whose name means beautiful or sweet, and what happened there fit the bill. 

As a medical professional Luke cared about the well-being of people, but nothing prepared him for what happened in Nain: a resurrection. Here’s the story. An unnamed widow was following her only son’s funeral procession with Jesus watching behind the scenes. When His eyes locked on this hopeless, grieving widow, who didn’t ask for His help, compassion filled our Savior’s heart and He commanded the corpse to stand, consequently, her son’s dead body obeyed the Voice of God. Now remember, Luke’s listening to this account, knows death is permanent, hadn’t physically met Jesus, and yet writes this all down in apparent wonder. Who is this Man who has authority over terminal sicknesses and chronic diseases, but also over death? Wouldn’t it have been wonderful if Luke was interviewing the widow’s son? Speculation, I know, but what an interview that would be! Of course the people responded giving glory to God, admitting that Jesus was at least a great prophet, but thankfully they declared that “God has visited His people.” 

Think about it, Jesus proved His power over death, but just as important, He restored a family. Know any family that needs some reconciliation? Jesus is our Mediator, our middle man, therefore, we can ask Him for that same power to speak life into our loved ones.

Luke is listening and recording the life of our Lord who loves people, all people, proves it with story after story … like the next one: Simon the Pharisee (7:36-50). Only Luke includes this story of a religious leader who invited Jesus to dinner, however, we learn that He was shown none of the common courtesies of the day, contrasted with a sinful woman who snuck in, hid behind Him, with a gift already prepared. Pride or humility, rebellious heart or repentant heart? Simon, a religious man, cared about rules; she, a sinful woman, cared about relationship. Where do you fit in? 

Luke must’ve been fascinated with this narrative as he documented Jesus’ parable driving home His point. Two debtors, one owed $500 and the other $50 and yet both were forgiven their debt. Jesus poignant question, “Who will love more?” Like a good Pharisee, Simon answered correctly, and yet Jesus took the opportunity to take a lower story and give us the upper story: Jesus forgives our debt of sin that we could never repay, however, we have to humble ourselves and ask for it. That’s called repentance and He’s ready to forgive and wipe your slate clean today. 

Let’s take the time this week to tell Him how much we appreciate what He did for us by suffering an unspeakable death in our place. “Who will love more?” Let the answer be you.