The action of Moses at Meribah—quarreling—Numbers 20:1-13, at the beginning of Israel’s 40th year of wandering—cost him and Aaron the chance to enter the Promised land Numbers 20:12-13. One sin against God’s word that Moses committed in his 120th year, and after 39 years of leading Israel, forfeited his entrance into Canaan. Just as Uzzah’s one sin against God’s word cost his life II Samuel 6:6-7.
One sin in each case, Moses’ by anger, Uzzah’s in sincerity. While it’s an issue that critics love to surface, and believers tepidly defend, it’s the nature of Law. It defines wrongdoing against accepted norms of behavior. (And just because America’s litigious nature, fueled by lawyers who must sue to earn a living, weakens law, the police still enforce laws.) However, should anyone pity Moses for getting only a virtual tour of Canaan—the second of its kind in history. Abraham in Genesis first had the pleasure of a personal journey Genesis 12:6-9, 13:3-4; then a virtual tour, followed by a personal tour in Genesis 13:14-18. However, God chose Moses, the embodiment of Law, and Elijah, embodiment of Prophetic Preaching, to stand with Jesus at his Transfiguration, and discuss his embodiment as God in the flesh, replacing Law with Grace. While Law defines sin and punishes it according to its severity, Christ’s Grace empowers forgiven sinners to alter their mind, which alters their thinking, which alters their behavior. While some time may occur between the second and third step, the first assures eventual success in the next two. It’s not unusual in unforgiven humans to periodically: do good, be merciful, share with the unfortunate. They may even occasionally shame the forgiven by their humanness. Just as it isn’t unexpected that between Thanksgiving and Christmas, a resurgent, hopeful, positive spirit pervades American life, even in unbelievers. Don’t be deceived in either situation, however, What the unforgiven do by the vestiges of God’s image in their lives, Christians do as a consistent lifestyle by the Presence of the Holy Spirit creating new natures in old sinners.
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Everyone knows that Par is the average shots necessary to hit a golf ball from tee to cup on the green. Lesser golfers hope to beat Par. Professional golfers want to get as far under Par as possible. The best for each tournament gets farthest of all under Par.
It’s one of the few popular game where the less you do, the better you are. Bobby Jones began winning major tournaments when he finally conquered nasty temper tantrums that limited him to runner-up or tertiary each time. In his new emotional state Jones said he always played against Par, not against his partner for that round. His goal offers a parable of discipleship. The less that Self intrudes on it, the stronger our witness for Jesus, the SOLE example of HUMAN PERFECTION ever to live. Any intrusion of Self into our discipleship weakens Christ’s robust nature in us. Any additional infusion of self runs the risk of returning our lives to Par—or to sub-par, which means we have the very least human trait possible. Christ’s perfection MUST be our goal. It’s what keeps us from being:
Now…a point of encouragement. Knowing that our human nature will settle for Par, the Holy Spirit reminds us of HIMSELF within us:
Five scientists have received a Nobel prize twice—K Barry Sharpless, 51, of Scripps Research, La Jolla, the last one so honored. He said it motivates him to keep thinking as he does, “when everyone thinks I’m crazy”. Of the nearly 8 million in science and engineering, only 5 have won the Nobel prize twice. That immediately puts Sharpless in esteemed company. AAAS, Internet.
What honor, then, do we think Jesus Christ should receive as the SOLE person in history Capable, Able, Worthy to take from God’s hand “the sealed with 7 seals-scroll”—and open it? Or to be the SOLE Savior of the world? Or to be GOD’s ONE and ONLY Begotten Son? OR…to be SOLE Judge of all mankind? Or to have every single person ever to live bow in his presence and confess his LORDSHIP of all? Or…well, there’s much more to say about Christ’s Singularity! How, then, can frail, stupid, sinful, dying mortals throw his name around like it weighs an ounce? When no measure we can fathom can gauge his importance to humanity now and forever? In the beginning that has an end—Genesis 1:3, Jesus Christ proved his historical importance by creating elementary, non-duplicated light from within himself. In the new beginning, that has no end, the Father’s Glory always shine through the Lamb’s Lamp Revelation 21:23, 22:5. From an eternity we cannot calculate, Father and Son remain:
Always. Then. Now. Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow…Always and Ever, world without End! Amen! We delight in God’s knowledge of our personhood. As in:
Do we as readily embrace his challenges to our discipleship? As in:
Our lapsed or inconsistent obedience more automatically employs Christ’s Saviorhood than our bold, competent discipleship his Lordship. Though his LORDLY determination to rule equals his pastoral disposition to forgive. To achieve more balance, understand the meaning of BREAD in the Lord’s Supper. With the Eleven disciples, we delight in the CUP of Communion, for what Jesus does for us. The BREAD often remains simply what we take with the juice. But no…the BREAD of communion forecasts our devotion to Christ’s Lordship following forgiveness:
Rest assured: Matthew 18:19-20 refers only to settling disputes among believers, with no reference to worship. We surely won’t mis-interpret scripture to justify a selfish choice. What is clearly more evident:
Christians: dare we claim possession of Grace when we arrogantly assert our opinion over God’s Truth? When Andrew Jackson learned that the British had arrived within 5-10 miles of New Orleans, his truculent nature immediately surfaced. "We must attack them tonight." Which he did, fighting the invaders to a draw-which stopped their offensive and led to their ultimate defeat.
Christians can take one of two positions vis á vis society. One, the best we can do now is “strengthen the things which remain” Revelation 3:2a, b. Or, two, the position Jesus saw his church taking in Matthew 16:18c. The first is defensive, preserving. The second is offensive, re-taking positions lost by our inaction. Evangelizing the unsaved is the one way Christians can recapture positions now held in society contrary to God's word. Satan fears evangelism because he has no defense against it. While he has any number of ways to torpedo musician-based, fellowship-centered, entertainment-level worship services. Christians could reverse America’s moral downward plunge in months if only half the Bible-based, Christ-honoring churches in America specialized in winning lost people to Jesus, and encouraged their outreach to friends and family. We don’t need to feel discouraged if we get busy verbally evangelizing those outside Christ. We have the choice. But…listen…the spiritual fate of countless thousands depends on which one we make. Laura Bryant had a passion: music. And a rare compassion: encouraging a young man who forfeited all honors in high school by the sin of taking a college-entrance exam for a football-player friend.
She demanded that he accept the shame publicly as:
Her love of music, and passion to teach it to boys, led her to become a football coach—1902—and storm the sidelines like any man, haranguing referees—all in her best dress and hat. They in turn sang for her glee club. What set her apart was the desire to see all children under her supervision be best with whatever gift God gave them. Reader’s Digest, 70 Most Unforgettable Characters, 379-384 The Holy Spirit leading us in discipleship is like that. We may not have the voice of a girl who became an opera soloist; or the artist’s touch of a boy who became cartoonist for a Midwest paper. Never mind. Whatever gift God gives, develop it. Work at it. Pay the price excellence in any virtue demands. Christ will always put to work any believer willing to serve:
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