Doubt God's Word?

Even righteous people occasionally doubt God’s Word. Zecharias was such a man, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. (Lk. 1:6b NKJV)

Then one day, as he fulfilled priestly duties in the temple, an angel appeared to Zecharias, telling him, your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. (v. 13b)Furthermore, the child would be unusual, set apart by God for a special purpose.

But both Zecharias and Elizabeth were old—too old to have a baby—and Elizabeth had been barren their entire marriage. Zecharias questioned the message. That was when the angel pronounced a hard saying: you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe . . . . (v. 20a)

Perhaps it was all part of the master plan. People understood that something unusual had happened when Zecharias could not talk—that he might have seen a vision. When Zacharias received his voice again—and immediately prophesied about his son and about the coming Messiah—they knew God was at work.

Originally published December 15, 1989.
Picture: Wild flowers, Minnesota Lake Country, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

Wisdom from Above

Godly wisdom and worldly wisdom are not the same. Worldly wisdom is based on self-promotion. People controlled by desire for worldly status or wisdom will try to promote themselves. They cannot be trusted because their motives are warped—and they will use their influence for personal gain. They eventually cause problems, For where envy and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. (Jas. 3:16 KJV)

James warned against worldly wisdom when he said, This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. (v. 15)

Godly wisdom, on the other hand, is characterized by meekness. James has something to say about it, too: But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. (v. 17,18)

Lord, help us desire godly wisdom.

Originally published November 28, 1986.
Picture: Viewed from the street, Winona, MN, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

Distill as the Dew

After struggling forty years as leader of the Israelites, Moses shared final thoughts with them before his death. Then he prayed a poetic prayer that many identify as the Song of Moses. (Deuteronomy 32) He said, Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, As raindrops on the tender herb, and as showers on the grass. (v. 2a NKJV )

We might have expected something different from Moses at this point—something harsh or judgmental. After all, the Israelites were the source of many trials for their leader. But at the close of his long and fruitful ministry Moses had nothing but gentleness in his heart. He didn’t ask God for lightning and thunder—for a display of power to set the people straight. He asked only that his words be received—and that they give life-sustaining nourishment to the people.

Ascribe greatness to our God, Moses said. He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice . . . Righteous and upright is He. (v. 3b,3c)

Originally published September 26, 1986.

Power to Convict

Jesus said, “And when He (the Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; of sin because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” (Jn. 16:8-11 NKJV)

This passage tells us the Holy Spirit uses His power to convict and to change people’s minds. First, He reveals sin by revealing the person of Jesus Christ. Without Jesus we might try to justify our thoughts and actions; in the light of Jesus’ perfection, however, we recognize our nature as sinful.

Second, the Holy Spirit reveals righteousness and purity by revealing Jesus’ position in Heaven. Because Jesus is with the Father He intercedes for us, and His victory over sin becomes our victory over sin.

Finally, the Holy Spirit reveals the truth of judgment by giving us understanding of Jesus as our victorious Lord and Savior and by exposing Satan as a defeated prince. When we see Jesus in heavenly splendor, we recognize Satan as a deceiver.

The Holy Spirit is God’s arm on earth today. Everything He does points to Jesus.

Originally published November 15, 1991.

Satan, the Accuser

It’s difficult for the human mind to accept Jesus as non-condemning. Yet He made that clear when He said, “If any one hears my saying, and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.” (Jn. 12:47 ASB)

Someone else is eager to point out people's sin. Scripture identifies Satan as the one who accuses Christians and non-Christians alike: Satan, who deceives the whole world . . . accuses them before our God day and night. (Rev. 12:9b,10b) He functions like a dreaded prosecuting attorney whose total purpose is bringing men to destruction.

There is an Old Testament illustration: A high priest named Joshua stood between the Angel of the Lord and Satan. The Lord rebuked Satan—not Joshua—and replaced Joshua’s filthy garments (sin) with festal robes (God’s righteousness). (Zech. 3:4b)

Originally published February 12, 1982.
Picture: Flowers in the courtyard, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2008. Photo by Solveig.