3+ and a Wish

     Years ago, I had the opportunity to do classroom “pragmatic” language lessons.  I had a six-week curriculum that covered how to ask questions that get the answer you want, listening versus hearing, tone and timing of conversation and delivering constructive criticism.  I taught the kids a lesson called “3+and a Wish”.  Later it became part of a professional development presentation for teachers.  Before offering constructive criticism,  it was suggested that you offer three positives comments.   The “wish” was the statement of correction. 

   Correction is a necessary tool for students in a classroom.  Also, a necessary tool for the Christian, no matter how long you’ve served the Lord. 

        Jim Cymbala of Brooklyn Tabernacle NYC has started a new series of devotions from the first  four chapters of Revelation.  I highly recommend his devotions; 7-10 minutes of your morning, engaging and compelling.  https://media.brooklyntabernacle.org/devo_media.html 

   In the book of Revelation, John writes the literal words of Jesus.  “This is the message from the One. . .”  (2:1 NLT) to the churches.  Note, to the churches, Us.  This isn’t for the unbeliever.  Our Savior and Redeemer employs the 3+ and a wish method to his letters.  This one to the folks in Ephesus.  

   He compliments their “deeds”, “hard work” and “perseverance”.  This is a good church.  They’ve been through some persecution but emerged without compromise.    In this definition,  I have been a member of the church at Ephesus.  The church whose doors are open seven days a week, some meeting or service or outreach happening all the time.  There was always something going on at the church,  every day.    I was blessed to be part of that church.  I loved that place and I still love the people who walked through my life there.  Still, there was a need for correction in some areas.  Just like the church at Ephesus.

   Jesus gave them 3 + and then His wish,  “But I have this complaint against you.  You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!” (NLT)    Sometimes sitting in a Sunday morning service,  I confess my mind would wonder to the to-do list or a good idea for the ministry.  Often I was ticking off what needed to be done while I was at the church,  as soon as I can get out of the sanctuary.  I was oncedescribed as a "steamroller"  when directing an event. I can get the job done,  effectively and cheaply.  I'm grateful for that gift.  We can become so busy DOING for the Lord, it takes away from our worship.  Works abound but relationship is gone.  

   I’m going to mark some things off the to-do list today and spend some time in His word and prayer. 

Thinkin’ you can join me?   

The Hezekiah Treatment

    Been thinkin’ this week about the division and downright hatred among our citizens.  Wondering at the threats and insults hurled across our congressional floors.  Shocked at some of the social media posts that pop up in my news feed. 

   Reading through Isaiah, the Full Life Study Bible calls chapters 36-39 a “historical interlude concerning Hezekiah”.  Hezekiah ruled the Israelites from 700-680 BC.  Like many of us, Hezekiah starts out strong.  He was a Godly king who trusted and served the Lord.  He stood up to the lies and insults of the King of Assyria.  When he faced trouble, he “tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord” (Isaiah 37:1) He sought Godly counsel and inquired of the Lord.  In the face of continued persecution, he prayed.  The time came when a wicked king sent Hezekiah a rather intimidating letter outlining the victories the king had against other nations.  He goes as far as to warn Hezekiah, “do not let the god you depend on deceive you” 37:10 (I was nervous just typing that).

   Hezekiah responds by going to the temple of the Lord. Take a closer look at chapter 37:14-18. He has a targeted plan as to how to respond to this letter. 

    First, he acknowledges who God is.   He calls Him the “Lord Almighty, God of Israel”.  Then, he asks that God see and hear.  

    Hezekiah takes the letter and spreads it out before the Lord.  He points out the parts of the letter that are true with a sidebar about that truth.   He ends with the faith statement he began with.  Hezekiah acknowledges who God is.

   This earthly king give us a three-point plan to deal with the lies, insults and harassment that is being aimed at Christians today.  

1.     Bring the issue into a place of prayer.  State the facts of what’s being said and/or done.   In the temple, Hezekiah pointed out the obvious. Sennacherib was mocking and ridiculing God.

2.      Acknowledge any truth but consider why there is truth.   Assyria had taken over other countries and defeated their gods, BUT those gods were wood and stone.  Hezekiah says, “not gods at all”.

3.     Proclaim who God is and what He has promised. Hezekiah proclaimed that “you alone, oh Lord, are God.

Think about that divisive, hurtful issue that is interrupting your life today.  Give it the Hezekiah treatment and watch the God, who is God alone, work it out.    Thinkin’ ‘bout that today. 

Donkey or Elephant?

   One of my 2021 goals is to read the entire Bible.   I've done the chronological one year Bible for several years now,  in a couple of different translations.  The Genesis to Revelation plan bogs me down in Chronicles.  In an effort to find a new way,  of course,  I went to google.  I was intrigued by a  Genres weekly Bible Reading Chart  from IntothyWord.org.  That's how I found myself reading Joshua and Judges, studying the history of the Israelites last week.  

  I started thinkin' of how the America of today  mirrors this history.  Repeatedly, we can note two of the same trends:

1..They did not inquire of the Lord

2.  Israel sinned in the sight of the Lord.  

    As you read these chapters, verse after verse repeats these two sentences.  Every battle lost happened when the leaders made a plan without consulting God. When Israel and it’s leaders sought "the Lord's counsel"  they were successful.   Clearly asking for God’s opinion on the battle was paramount for His favor.   

   These chapters record that Israel would win the battle and be at peace until " the people of Israel did again what was evil.”   Back to war,  over and over again.  It’s easy to judge these people.  They had Moses’ testimony,  they had Joshua’s leadership,  they had the promise of victory.   They had seen miracle after miracle in their wilderness.  There was no doubt they knew how to live in prosperity but “they did again what was evil.”  I wonder what was wrong with them that they couldn't get it together.  Then,  I watch the nightly news.

  During the last election, both sides of the aisle claimed to be “Christian”.  Many  politicians claimed to be “born again”.  The church became divided due to the arrogance of both sides. During a battle in Joshua 5:13-14,  Joshua  encountered the angel of the Lord. “Are you one of us or one of our enemies?”  he asked.  Hear the answer and imagine God speaking it today,  “Neither one!  I am here as the commander of the Lord’s army."   God is neither for the donkey or the elephant.  He is here for himself.  

   The Pulpit Commentary suggests that when God arrives for “neither’,  it is because the battle is so intense, only God himself could save now. The battle for Jericho was going to be intense.   God appeared to Joshua as a man of war.  He had never appeared to anyone in that capacity before. 

    The battle for America is intense.  Only God can save us now.  As never before, the people of God are "pressed on every side by troubles, perplexed,  hunted down, and knocked down." (2 Cor. 4:8-9 NLT)  The battle is intense,  but " we are not crushed,  we are not driven to despair, never abandoned by God, we are not destroyed."   What's next?  We don't know, 

Thinkin' about inquiring of the Lord.  

Supernatural Wedding Plans

   A recent sermon by Jim Cymbala of Brooklyn Tabernacle NYC grabbed my attention. In full disclosure, I frequently catch his sermons, I listen to his daily 8–10-minute devotion every morning.  Cymbala stated there are reasons we do not see a supernatural move of the Holy Spirit in our churches.   I thought it was because we’ve lost our first love, become compromising and totally inclusive. Maybe, but he takes his points from scripture.

  Come to the wedding at Cana, Jesus’ first miracle on earth.  Watch episode 5 of The Chosen for a modern look at the miracle but I always digress when I start writing about the Chosen.   Pastor Cymbala said there are 3 specific things that happened in that miracle that we do not see happening today. 

1.      Jesus was invited.  He wasn’t a wedding crasher, he didn’t just pop in.  He was an invited guest at the wedding.  He knew the bridal couple and he came to celebrate with them. 

2.     His mother approached him and stated the need.  She didn’t ask him to do anything.  She just told him the problem.  She didn’t make any suggestions as to how he could fix this.  Here’s the problem. Period.

3.     His mother told the SERVANTS to do whatever they were told.  Again, she didn’t tell Jesus what to do, she ordered others to follow his directions. 

Every one of us would say Jesus is always invited into our services.  We start with prayer every time.  Of course, Jesus is invited into every service.  Few of us would think  Jesus was unwelcome in our services.  

“Yes, Come on in, Jesus. Just one thing, we’re on a timetable here, people don’t want to stay over an hour.  So, we’ve got 20 minutes of ‘praise and worship’.  The team has practiced their songs so don’t lead anyone to sing a chorus we didn’t plan.  There will be five minutes of announcements and 35 minutes for the preaching. The speaker may throw in a prayer sometime during that. We’re in a series right now, so don’t try to lead Pastor down a rabbit hole.  Come on in, we want you in our service.”

   Don’t be offended, it’s true.  It’s true every day as we try to fit Jesus into our agenda.  Tony Evans called that “an add on”.   We plan, we execute, and we add Jesus in where we can.  We invite Him to be part of our day, our life, our church, within our parameters. 

  We bring our requests to Him and tell Him how we think this can be fixed or worse, we try to fix it ourselves and then ask him to bless it.  We really don’t want Him to do it His way.  It might hurt, it might inconvenience us.  Nobody likes the unknown. 

   The servants did what they were told.  They must have because Walah!  Wine in the ceremonial washing jars. Filling them with water must have seemed crazy, but servants don’t question a command.  They probably filled those jars thinking this is the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.  God seems to delight in asking us to do things that are quite out of the ordinary.  This servant is a frequent naysayer.    I want the supernatural in my church, but I’m selfish.  I want it in my life too. 

Thinkin’ ‘bout tellin’ Jesus what I need today and doing whatever He says.