“But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?’ As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” Genesis 50:19-21 ESV

“But Job replied, ‘You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?’ So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.” Job 2:10 NLT

The story of Joseph, Jacob’s favored son, is a powerful example of God’s sovereignty on full display. I’ve often reminded myself that I can literally read the entirety of Joseph’s life story in a matter of minutes, or hours. However, he lived it. He lived all of it. Years of trauma. Years of frustration. Years of unfulfilled dreams. When we finally see Joseph come to power in Egypt as Pharoah’s second in command, he’s not a dreaming kid in a colorful coat anymore, and his visions of bowing wheat sheaves have all but faded. It’s really an incredible story. A story only the Master Story Writer could pen.

There’s no denying the hand of God on his life, carrying Joseph through various hills and dark valleys. I think we sugarcoat the difficulties he endured and downplay his demonstration of utmost integrity. We often think it was basically a walk in the park with a couple of unpaved paths perhaps. However, there is no downplaying his summary statement to his brothers, “God did it.”

Uhm…What???

I wonder if Joseph ever told them the whole story, the drama of it all. I wondered if he told his brothers how he earned his place as top-slave in Potiphar’s house. How he resisted the temptation of Potiphar’s skanky wife. How God granted him the insight to interpret the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker. I wonder if his brothers rubbed their heads with mouths open as he told of being brought from prison after two more years to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh himself. It really is an incredible tale. But not necessarily one that I would personally characterize as a “favored” journey, right?

I mean, do you think Joseph was a little hesitant when Potiphar and his wife came asking for food during the famine? Did Potiphar’s wife wink at him when she stood in line? I don’t know. There are so many questions I have… I digress.

Joseph’s acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty is astounding. Saying to his brothers, who sold him — instead of killing him because that would’ve been unreasonable…insert eye roll— “God actually brought me here to save us. It was His plan.” 

Breathtaking. I think there should be a “Selah” after this verse!

I find myself literally speechless.

This moment in history is only rivaled by Job’s response to his severe loss and terrible suffering. Job says, “God gave it to me to begin with, and He can take it away whenever He wants. Praise Him!”

I’m sorry. What??

The realization that Job never receives any explanation in his lifetime is utterly astonishing. At least Joseph sees a full circle, but Job, not a word.

Who are these people who worship a God that does what He wants?

Who is this God who …does what He wants? …and without explanation?

He is the Sovereign Lord, Creator of Heaven and Earth.

He is the King of all kings.

He is worthy of all praise.

He is the Master Story Writer, the Master Composer, the Master Artist.

In the midst of your suffering and turmoil, you can trust Him.

Worship Him.

“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 

If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.” 

And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:14-15, 19-21

Joshua divides up the land, gives to each tribe their allotment, charges them to serve God, tells them to continue taking possession of the land, and then, he dies. In my reading today, I finished the book of Joshua and began Judges. As I turned the page from Joshua 24 to Judges 1, I found myself hesitating, mourning over what I know will happen not only through the book of Judges, but the continued downward spiral as the people of God do not look or act like the people of God. 

The hope and faith of Joshua’s generation is palpable as he nears the end of his life and his term as their leader. When you consider all they’ve been through with Joshua at the helm, the weight of his death is truly significant and quite devastating. These grown-up children who walked the desert with their unbelieving parents, stand in the Promised Land with renewed hope and steadfast faith in their hearts. They want to do right. They want to serve the LORD God. They believe, in this moment, that they will continue as God’s people who worship and obey God. 

Joshua’s death is the ending of an era, an era of faith and new beginnings. He led them into the Promised Land. He fought as their Warrior-Captain. He wasn’t perfect by any means. He made mistakes and took wrong turns, but here they were. They were in the very tangible promise that God had made to their ancestors, milk and honey dripping from their mouths.

At the beginning of a New Year, we can’t help but think of fresh starts and new beginnings. We tend to consider our mistakes and build new goals. We evaluate our missteps and look to new plans. A fresh clean calendar. A new planner. New workout clothes. New running shoes. A fresh budget. A new one year Bible plan. A new journal. All the things! There is hope and a sense of a clean slate. It is encouraging, right? We proclaim with Joshua’s generation, We will serve the Lord. We will do better. We will do right. Hallelujah and amen.

But… grouchy Mondays still come. The bills still need to be paid. The house still gets messy. The car still needs fuel. And, even in the new year, a cinnamon roll with a large frappe is still not the best choice for helping us in our health journey. We falter. We oversleep. We skip our session at the gym. We get bored reading through the genealogies, and grossed out reading Leviticus. And, low and behold, we are still sinners this year just like we were last year. 

Yikes.

Wow! Thanks, April. This is so uplifting for a New Year’s blog post, encouragement from The Word. 

What???

Here’s the good news. Our lives in many ways, resemble the habits of those Israelites who will live and die during the times of the Judges. 

We, like them, will forget the goodness of God. 

We, like them, will neglect our worship of God. 

We, like them, will worship other things besides Almighty God.

Where’s the hope? Why can’t we keep it together? Why do I falter? Why do I still sin?  

Well, Hope is on His way. The Truth is coming.

Joshua, in all his integrity, was not perfect. He was a great leader. He was a powerful warrior. He was obedient to what Moses had instructed. But he was not Jesus Christ. He could not remain perfect. He could not fully and completely follow the Law without fault. He grew weary in his old age. He could not completely conquer the land. He fell short. All the things we need, all the things Joshua and his people needed, only Jesus Christ could be. 

This year, when you find yourself setting a few new goals and pursuing new habits, and then falling back into old patterns all over again, look to Jesus. He’s the only One who can enable you to truly serve the LORD. 

The other day my precious, Jesus-loving friend sent a group-text to me and several of our momma friends. She wanted to share a verse from her daily Bible reading and hoped it would be an encouragement to all of us. She shared Leviticus 22:24…! (I’ll let you look it up.) 😉 We got a good giggle, not to mention the joking that followed for some time… and then we encouraged one another to press on.

It’s early March and I’m wondering today if you’re sticking with your commitment to read the Bible through this year. I know right now it’s tough because maybe you’re still pounding through Leviticus, or not quite sure if you can count anymore Numbers. Perhaps you’ve chosen a reading plan that has you rolling your eyes or scratching your head at Job’s longwinded friends. I want to encourage you to press on.

The time you’re spending in the Scripture right now is profitable. Plodding through passages that seem to be so irrelevant or out of reach, sometimes boring — or embarrassing, the Scripture is training you. Be corrected. Be instructed. See the hand of Almighty God at work…even in the Numbers. Look for the hints of what is to come. See the foreshadowing of the Messiah, of who Jesus will be and what He will do. Watch for those things that God makes provision for within The Law that have connections with your favorite Bible stories and characters. (Hint: Mine is Ruth. See Leviticus 19:9-10.) And all the while, hear the voice of Moses as he sits down to teach the children who grew into adulthood while wandering the wilderness one last time.

Press on. Keep reading. Keep studying. And on occasion, text your friend about “the warp or the woof.” (Leviticus 13) 😉

In the future, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’   Exodus 13:14a

As a child sitting on a pew, I remember watching the tears fall gently down my mother’s face as she held the small cracker and the little plastic cup of purple grape juice in her slender hands. I looked intently into her face, leaned into her ear, and asked her why she was crying. I was concerned, and curious. She told me because of the meaning…all that it meant, the implication of those two little things, and all they represented. How they were a reminder of all Jesus had done, and all He was going to do.

In all honesty, I do not remember her exact words that day in church. I cannot recall the precise description or the heart-felt explanation of her tears. However, I can tell you this: I was never the same. The bread and the cup became so sacred, so precious, such a treasure from then on. I longed to experience what she was experiencing in that moment.

Now, as a mother myself, it’s rare that I take the bread and the cup without tears falling down my face. The treasure of the moment stirs a joy deep in my soul. And, it is also my turn to look into a concerned little face, with whispering lips, and lean my ear toward a curious child…asking, “What does this mean?” And just as my mother did all those years ago, I tell my child how by the “strength of His hand, the LORD” has done marvelous things.

As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it,

gave it to the disciples,

and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.”

Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks,

he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you.

For this is my blood of the covenant,

which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Matthew 26:26-28

Although I’ve experienced one Passover Seder, I remember very little about the details of what was on the Passover Table that last time Jesus sat with his closest followers just hours before his betrayal by Judas and subsequent trial, scourging, and ultimately his crucifixion. However, there are two items I will never forget: the Bread and the Final Cup.

If my memory is correct, during the meal, the middle of a stack of three unleavened pieces of bread is taken and broken as it is passed and shared. Jesus said, “This is my body.” The disciples were the first to hear this new line in the Seder script, this revelation that had been concealed for hundreds of years was now unveiled to them, and would become so utterly tangible in the days to follow. The unleavened bread cracks and snaps in the hands of those at the table. His body would be broken for them – and for us. This symbolic meal, a foreshadowing in ages passed would be fulfilled, lived out, and demonstrated in living, vibrant colors in the days, hours ahead. No longer would the symbol be a veiled-foreshadow, but forevermore, a completed fulfillment of all the Law, all the requirements, an accomplished work, and a bright vantage point of view of our final redemption and salvation. The breaking of the bread at the table that night would be part of the forever confirmation that Jesus Himself was the Yes and Amen to all the promises of God.

I’m confident there is no way the disciples would or could have grasped in the moment everything that was actually happening; but as you and I can now sit and read the account of this holy meal, do we see the significance? Can we grasp the gravity of the moment? Holy Spirit, enlighten our minds.

Hallelujah.

After the bread, next comes the cup of that deep-red liquid from the crushed fruit of the vine. The color of the communion grape juice has always been a favorite of mine. The combination of the red, purple, almost black and blue holds such depth in that little plastic cup I hold between my fingers at my church pew.

When Jesus lifts the cup and declares it to be His blood of the New Covenant, I can’t help but wonder if Abraham and Moses were leaning off the front porch of Heaven, recounting in their own minds the impact of that cup, the impact of a New Covenant, the significance of a New Covenant with the Covenant-keeping God, and the stark realization that there is no covenant made without the shedding of blood.

Although the words of the Seder script in this portion I cannot recall, there is one line in the Holy Scripture that catches my attention every time I hear it. There’s this one thing Jesus says that draws such a strong reaction from my heart every time I take the cup that I almost cannot contain my emotion…

He looks at his disciples and says,

I will not drink this again until I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. (Matthew 26:29)

Let that sink in.

Jesus is about to face the most intense, horrifying, grueling, strain of physical and spiritual agony and punishment; and yet He’s already talking about the victory that lies on the other side. He’s already talking about the banquet. He’s already talking about the true end of the story. He’s already looking beyond the betrayal. He’s already smiling past the beating. He’s already over the isolation He will experience. He’s already forgiven and finished the task. He’s already thinking past the grave. He’s already casting the vision for a new earth…the old will just not be there.

In that moment, He is preparing them for a kingdom mindset.

In that moment, He is training them for kingdom work.

In that moment, He is giving them victory for a battle yet to be fought.

In that moment, He is the Yes and Amen of all the Promises of God.

Anticipating that cup.

Do this in remembrance of Me.  1 Corinthians 11:24-25

Aritcle #3 in April Kyle’s series on 1 Peter.

Thoughts on 1 Peter…

“…not with perishable things…”

The milk in my fridge has an expiration date. The loaf of bread in my pantry has an expiration date. Even the bag of tortilla chips that I must purchase with the necessary jar of salsa has an expiration date. These things are perishable. They’re going to go bad. They’re going to grow moldy or stale or clumpy or…well, you get the picture. And quite frankly, that is not shocking to me…these things will not last forever. They will – and are – perishing. Heavens knows if some of them will not perish by the end of the week.

Think of the things in your house that are fading and perishing. Books on the shelf with covers faded and pages torn. Photographs of little people who are now taller and hardly recognizable; or photographs of loved ones who have passed on. Old t-shirts and ripped jeans; faded wood flooring striped by sunshine pouring in through the window. Even looking in the mirror, there’s a whole lot of perishing going on there…! All these things we live in and around from day-to-day. Our stuff is fading. Expiring. Perishing. And yet, truth be told, this is not too shocking really. We know our stuff is getting old.

In contrast, I checked the inside of my gold wedding band and it does not have an expiration date. There’s no timeframe of when I should expect it to crumble off my finger. I don’t anticipate the perishing of my gold wedding ring or the perishing of the diamond sitting so sparkly on my left ring finger. I think of these things lasting forever…as I fully anticipate my marriage doing, but that’s a sermon for another day. I would be all-together shocked and very upset if my diamond stud earrings were to somehow dissolve or disintegrate. They’re made of gold! The real stuff…in my earthly vernacular. I do not think of my gold jewelry as perishable!

Good o’ Peter sets me straight however. He uses this word perishable to describe the silver and gold of this world. He sets my perspective aright. He says my inheritance was not purchased with the perishable stuff like silver and gold. He says my living hope was not established by the acquisition of mere silver and gold. He says my sanctification is not achieved by the trading of cheap metal like silver and gold. He says that what I have in Christ is not going to perish – not like bread and milk – but it’s not going to perish like silver and gold perishes.

Somebody better shout Glory! Amen.

The Word of God has a way of setting our priorities straight, does it not? So often, I’m caught up in my perishable stuff. I lose sight of the imperishable things of Almighty Eternal Creator God that are a part of what makes me His royal kid. I forget that this earthly home is fading, expiring, crumbling. That it is in reality perishing.

Peter tells us the inheritance that belongs to the child of God is imperishable and is being kept in the un-expiring all-glorious ever-preserved Heaven. This non-perishable item was purchased by the raised-back-to-life-pouring-out-mercy Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Peter says that I no longer exist in an “empty way of life” but that I have a new way of living that was redeemed with non-perishable items. And again he compares this to “things like silver and gold.” I mean, Peter, what could possibly be more imperishable, more non-perishable than silver and gold…??? Peter, I have to question your knowledge here! Silver and gold. That’s the good stuff.

Peter says that I have been born again of imperishable seed. The life I now live is no longer perishable. He even says my faith, my character is being refined into imperish-ibility!!! (yes, I made up that word…) I no longer live in a fading, expiring, crumbling existence. I’m called to, established into a non-perishable, imperishable life.

This world can get my attention off these truths. This earth is so…crumbly.

The gold of my ring – hardly 19 years old – is already scratched and bent. It will fade away one day. The milk in my fridge needs to be dumped out.

But my inheritance, not expiring.

The living hope I live in, not fading.

The faith I hold is being made more valuable.

My eternal home has no cracks in the walls.

The fountain from which I drink deeply will never run dry…or sour.

The position I hold is imperishable.

Praise be.

 

 

 

by April Kyle

John 9:1-7 (ESV) – The Man Born Blind

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

This story has been a fascination of mine for some time… well, for almost nine years now.

Watch the beginning, how the Holy Spirit chooses to lead you into this story…

The disciples ask Jesus whose sin has caused this man’s blindness, his disability. Were his parents diehard trespassers who were punished by a physically hindered son, as opposed to a healthy, seeing son?

Did he do some wrong to bring this predicament upon himself?

“Who sinned…?”

Reminds me of Job’s friends… Job knew he was clean and guiltless before his God; but his buddies couldn’t comprehend such tragedy coming by any other vehicle than that of the consequences of sin. The Bible says that Job held to his integrity. Pretty intense.

“Who sinned…?”

I said this passage has fascinated me for some years now…

I have a niece who was born with some hindrances, some restraints. She was diagnosed in the womb with Down syndrome, as well as esophageal atresia – that’s a fancy word for when the esophagus and stomach do not meet. Pretty intense.

“Who sinned…?”

I remember praying for that sassy girl with such intensity, such fervor, pleading, crying out for God to work a miracle.

“Who sinned…?”

…reminding God how as a family, we stood blameless – not perfect mind you – but faithful to all God had called us to. We were trusting Him to do what He does for good people. At least, that’s what I was trusting Him to do.

You see where I’m going with this…

Good things happen to good people. Bad things happen to bad sinners. God works miracles for us good kids. He saves the tragedy, the heartache, the disabilities and birth defects for the wicked.

That’s how we think, isn’t it?

Oh my, we wouldn’t dare say it aloud, but deep down in our heart of hearts, that’s exactly what we think.

“Who sinned…?”

It’s shocking really. Jesus’ answer is really rather earth-shattering, life-altering. It rocks traditional thinking to its very foundation. Typical Jesus.

Much to the dismay of Job’s friends, Job stands blameless before them. In the end, they get the real scolding.

Much to the astonishment of the disciples, nobody’s sin has caused this blindness; nobody’s sin has deserved this punishment.

Then why?

Why is this man blind?

Why was he born blind?

Why does Job lose everything?

Why does he sit in a garbage heap, scraping his sores?

Why does my niece have Down’s syndrome?

Why does she wear scars from too many surgeries?

“Who sinned…?”

“No, guys,” says Jesus. “This one isn’t about sin. This one isn’t about punishment. This isn’t a public display of judgment.”

Then what? … and why!?

“This is about glory, God’s glory. His mighty acts and deeds. His glory. No one will miss God’s glory today.”

I’m not sure if I picture Jesus with a slight smile, a glimmer in His eye, and a “watch-this” glow on His face; or if He’s wearing that determined-to-praise-my-Father-on-the-Sabbath-rebel’s jut in his jaw. (Jesus is totally awesome.)

At this point, Jesus does something very spiritual…NOT.

He totally spits in the mud! I cannot even imagine what the blind guy is thinking. I mean seriously. Ewww.

(You know Jesus couldn’t have done it this way if this had been a blind GIRL. We would have been like, “No thanks, Jesus. I’ll pass on the spit/mud remedy.”)

Hilarious. (You know Jesus thought it was funny.)

Jesus heals him. To God be the glory. No other explanation.

You know, Job got possessions bestowed upon him a double portion. He even had more children and then grandchildren… and more. The Bible even says that his daughters were the prettiest in the land. But, nonetheless, he suffered like no other…outside of the perfect Lamb of God upon that rugged cross; no one knew unwarranted suffering like Job.

God used the wonderful doctors at Vanderbilt to repair my niece’s esophagus. She can put away some chips and salsa, and she loves pretzels. Oh that girl. But, she still wakes up every morning with Down’s syndrome.

Why?

I’ve asked that question a bazillion times…

The Answer is always the same…

Glory. God will get His glory today, and everyone will see it.

Praise be to His name!