Escape

What’s the hardest part about being a follower of Christ?
I would contend that it’s the troubles; the suffering and hard things that we go through.
We know we’ve been redeemed but the pull to act out according to our old man is still very real. Of course, now that our eyes have been opened, we’re grateful that bad choices become more apparent that they are, bad choices. Unfortunately, that fact doesn’t stop the constant barrage of the old flesh's suggestions to the contrary. In response, we grow in our strength – not just to resist, but to acknowledge our faith in God who has better intentions for us.

This thinking about the struggles of the Christian faith drove me to consider long and hard about two words: Escape and Refuge.

Most times, we want escape – total removal from even the perception of harm or danger. God hardly ever provides this option for us.

How can He?
Everything about sanctification is growth. Growing stronger beyond old cravings. Growing more resolute in a God who fights our battles. How can you know that God fights your battles if you’re so far removed from it that you can’t perceive Him working it out?     Exactly.
Faith grows on the battlefield, not the meadow.
To make us like Christ, we face temptations like He Did. We disarm and tear down offenders the way He did, by rightfully handling the Word of Truth, so we study. We’re brought to and through situations and circumstances where our progression is lived out, being evident to us and those who seek to prove(or refute) our credibility.

Here’s The Word:

2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

It’s a worthwhile study to focus on these two words. When you see that they’re different, it clarifies how we should see things. Spiritually, we’re seen as having ‘escaped’ from the world. Christ is not a temporary refuge when it comes to salvation as if we have to go out and keep fighting to be saved, although He is a refuge for His believers….you see where that’s different. The Father sees Christ and we’re hidden IN Him, but our day to day still plays out in the midst of tribulation….faith building tribulation. A fight that the Father knows and provides refuge for.

As the Wonderful Father that God is to His children, He is a refuge. Refuge is a respite – an interval of relief. Our job is to keep things in their proper context and know the path we’re on.
If we’re not trying to realize our growth, we’ll try to see refuge as escape. We’ll rejoice and unload our burdens as if our individual struggles are won and done. Not so. This is just to gather your composure, re-orient your direction to Truth, let God wipe a tear or two and resolve to jump back into the fight reinvigorated.

Here’s The Word:

Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

See how closely related refuge is to the fight for our Christ-likeness. Take the time to feed on The Word, but also to become more intimate with it’s Speaker. Don’t expect that a blessed life as to be a trouble free life. That’s not how it works, but put it to the test. Live for Christ and amidst the trials, seek Him as a temporary respite. A refuge. Let Him give you times of refreshing that prepare you to get back to the grind, knowing that eventually, all of us called according to His Name and purpose – will ultimately escape this old world.


In Him,
Cros

First

Is Christ just first,
Or does HE have preeminence?
Allow me your attention,
I’ll explain the significance.

If you see Him as first,
He’s a simple priority,
But if He’s preeminent
Then He’s also The Authority.

Some people watch their mouths,
Yet they slip on occasion
They’re trying to DO right,
But not LIVE under the Persuasion.

Christ is not religion...
Read your Bible, sometimes pray.
He’s the deeper motivation
For every moment of everyday.

He’s the reason why I’m silent.
He’s the reason why I talk.
I consider that He’s watching,
So I watch the way I walk.

No matter how complex things get,
And despite the Devil’s tricks.
I cast my cares and keep in mind
It’s me He’s trying to fix.

I never cast my Christ aside
When someone crosses me.
His loss, my gain. For me He died
And suffered at Calvary.

Every thought, therefore held captive
In obedience to my Savior.
So He’s not just a cross around my neck
He’s the crux of my behavior.

I know without Him, I'm not just dead,
I'm an enemy on the offence.
Nothing I can offer, except submission.
Nothing else makes sense.

So there’s nothing after, nothing before.
No alternate persuasion.
It’s Christ alone. Christ is all,
In every situation.

This type of view may seem unbalanced,
Yet, this is why our faith is athirst.
Priorities can sometimes push Him aside
If He’s not preeminent, just first.

Here's The Word:

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

In Him,
Cros

Unite

Seems we're in a time where so many things are splintering. Yet, just as there is so much division-driven commentary, there's also determined solidarity. The voice of Peace and Unity is loud and strong...but it is right?

What?
The Bible does talk about how good and pleasant it is for the 'brethren' to dwell together in unity (Psalms 133:1)
However, my question is this: Is it possible to be unified, and still wrong?

Here's another one of those moments where I think our perceptions need to be challenged. Through no malicious intent of our own, biblical accounts produce pictures in our minds that can end up 'shading' the truth.
Think about the story of the tower of Babel:
Genesis 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
If you've seen John Huston's "The Bible" with Stephen Boyd as Nimrod, it's probably easier to see these people as ugly, scowling and therefore evil, defiant and antagonistic towards God, but what if they didn't look like that at all? What if they were pleasant, giving and a peace-loving people?
    It's important to see the downside of inadvertently encapsulating ideas with imagery - it moves things far from us. Far from the likelihood that these people were a lot like us with many of the same tendencies.

Our "instant" world draws lines quickly. Something provocative is said and seconds later, it's gone viral and garners just as many advocates as the number of people it offends and ostracizes. It's also not uncommon for a "Christian" voice to try and biblically support either side presented by the issue.

However, my question is this: Who is on The Lord's side?

Here's The Word:

Exodus 32:26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

In this situation, you would think that EVERYONE would just stop what they're doing and give ear to Moses. Nope, just the Levites.
The people believed Moses had probably died while talking to God. Aaron helped in their wishes to 'produce' another god which they all contributed their gold jewelry to create. Moses shows up with the first set of stone tablets fresh from the Hand of God, sees the worship service in progress and loses it! He smashes the tablets AND their golden calf god.
Then, after the sons of Levi joined with Moses, they took up swords and killed 3000 of their fellow Israelites.

The next day, Moses went to apologize. Not to the Israelites, but to God to atone for the sin of Idolatry committed by the people.

See where this is going? You can absolutely have the most people siding with you, doing what you think is right and be absolutely WRONG in the eyes of God. Why? because there are things that God hates and no amount of unity will change that.

Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Psalm 11:5 The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, And the one who loves violence His soul hates.

The thing that trips us up is our expectation of evil. We expect evil to look the part but Biblically, it seems that evil is better at masquerading itself, than our ability to detect it. So many are going against God's statutes, fighting hate with hate, returning evil for evil. It's time to be careful about the things we get caught up in; The band-wagon jumping and blindly following the crowd you're used to. We need to ask the important questions: What saith The Lord? The assumptions are prevalent on both (or all) sides that "God agrees with us"...but does He? Unity is wonderful, but NEVER at the cost of idolatry. Peace is a worth-while endeavor, but NOT at the cost of turning a blind-eye to sin. There's even an ecumenical movement gaining momentum trying to navigate social issues but are they "Godly" issues. Are we honoring God with our lips without realizing how far our hearts are from Him? (Matthew 15:8-9)

Psalm 139:21 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

Things are so splintered and polarized that I'm sure the only thing that will bring peace is The Prince of Peace Himself. However, until that day, let's keep our eyes open and prayers to Heaven that we would have wisdom in these times. It may be possible that there is no truly, RIGHT side to choose. In that case, for Christians, our marching orders haven't changed: Preach the word, in and out of season. Watch, endure and do the work (2 Timothy 4).

Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Choose that, and no matter what the masses are doing, even if they hate you - You've united yourself to the right side!

In Him,
Cros

Men From Mars

I have to try and keep myself in check. And really what that means is that I have to deny letting myself "seek" and go after fruitless things. Even in the selection for this week's picture & title: I like pictures that are thought-provoking and titles that are a play on words but not overly obtuse or far-reaching. I have to remind myself that the purpose of this is not to show myself as clever, but to present Scripture in all of it's Illuminating splendor.

It's a common motivation that exists in all of us....not just men. We absolutely resist attempts to belittle us (without probable cause) and some have inner-working "somethings" that push us to promote ourselves when opportunities arise.

This is the age old issue we see when Paul delivers his sermon at Mars' Hill

Here's The Word:

Acts 17:18 - 21 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

I imagine that philosophy hasn't changed much over these many, many years. That promotion of intellect and wisdom to the degree that you "understand" how it all works. Seeing the connections between nature, nurture, propensities and how desires dictate action. These men exalted themselves and found their status in intellectual aptitude. They established their social circle "cliques" based on the presentation of provocative topics.

Right now I'm at a "techy" conference in San Francisco and if you ever wanted to hear high-level pontificating - listen to computer specialists talk shop. Also, it's been almost 2 days since a gunman opened fire with automatic weapons on a crowd of outdoor concert goers, killing 59 so far. All of the news channels are all ablaze with interviews and speculations about "What did you do?" or "How could this happen?". The President has just landed in Puerto Rico to survey and influence the recovery effort since the devastating impact of hurricanes Irma and Maria. Talk about the immediate future and political sway of what's going on is center stage. Life is crowding the stage with more "Look here" events than we've seen in a while.

Remember, where I am right now is like many other major cities - there are really two cities. San Francisco has an alarmingly high and in your face homeless situation. It's a stark contrast to a tech conference attended by IT professionals where the sessions and venues are obviously high dollar. It's hard to understand how such affluence can exists alongside such desperation. People walk by the destitute intentionally oblivious to their plight. I know, it's hard to look at. However, with all of the issues that are promoting themselves as important, these people don't make the cut. But what is affluence? What is desperation? God gauges richness by righteousness, not prosperity or intellect. Paul probably saw these men as impoverished as any homeless beggar as they were spiritually empty.

That's why we have to check ourselves. We have to wake up each day and reaffirm what's important. In the midst of the all of these philosophical considerations, Paul directs their, and our attention to the fact that their "UNKNOWN" God is known. He's real, and He's considerate of all; all life, and breath, and all things (v 25). Furthermore, knowing God is not just an end to a philosophical argument. It's a launching point for action. In Him we live, and move and have our being...not just rationalizing. No one is beyond being served, and even if a person's situation seems beyond our ability to help, we shouldn't let a devaluing of them as a person be the reason that we don't try. God is God of us all.

Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

The Bible tells us to not only look after our own interests, but also the interest of others. This requires us to SEE people in their states and minister to their needs. If all we can do is continually provide for ourselves or polish our own presentation, we're really no different than these men from Mars'.

In Him,
Cros