Verse of the Week...

The Visible Universe within 14 billion Light Years

http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/universe.html

As a Minnesota native and avid sports fan, it’s no wonder the Twins have a special place in my heart. They won two world championships during my childhood, once in 1987, when I was 8 years old, and another in 1991, when I was 12. I still remember running home from school with my best friend during certain autumn afternoons so we wouldn’t miss an at-bat of the Series. Well, much has changed since then. The Twins, though a perennial division contender, are notorious for making the playoffs, only to be immediately eliminated (usually a casualty of the seemingly invincible Yankees). So, the Twins’ marketing team has had to devise plans to get fans, and more importantly, keep them. One recent campaign that stood out emphasized the tagline, ‘Get to know ’em.’ The theory, I think, was to attract committed fans through increased exposure. They figured people would become more passionate (fanatical) as they became more knowledgeable. They were right. The more I watched these less heralded teams of the new millennium, the more invested I became. They weren’t that great, even good, but I knew the lineup, I knew the players, their tendencies, what made them tick. And I grew to love those teams.

So it is, or can be, with Jesus—if only we’d ‘Get to know Him.’

Over the next handful of entries I will seek to bring to the forefront some of the lesser known, or at least less mainstream, attributes of the Christ. Of course, in the hopes we’d become bigger fans.

Here goes.

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. –Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)

It’s probably safe to assume most understand that Jesus, the Son, actually created (John 1:3). The Gospel of John says, ‘In Him was life…’ (verse 4). This, then, is not only true spiritually, but physically as well. But here's where it gets really good. Because Jesus spoke, and the universe came to be, He has absolute governance over it…to the point that its very subsistence is directly dependent upon the power of His enduring word. Let that marinate for a minute. Jesus, with divine authority, created life—all that exists. And He has, to this point, upheld His creation; He (literally His word) is the Force that causes all to hold together and persist—from the broadest standpoint of the course of supernatural history (God’s will for evil to eternally perish and His children to be rescued through His lifeblood unto salvation) all the way down to the natural forces and principles that rule the minutest of atomic particles. If that weren’t enough, He will, again, by His word, continue to cause universal solidarity (in the physical and spiritual) until the End.

And we ever doubt His power? To my shame, I have…and do.

Jesus is the Lamb of God because He takes away the sins of the world, not because He’s weak. Don’t let the Sunday school flannel graphs fool. When it comes to strength, power, He is the Lion of Judah, uncontested in His reign. There is nothing that exists that is not subject to His authoritative command. Another way to put it: the power of His word holds continued dominion over that which it created (and creates…remember, it is the Holy Spirit, of Jesus Himself, that breathes spiritual life into the hearts of men).

This concept of Jesus’ supreme and sustaining word isn’t isolated. Paul’s letter to the Colossians reiterates the writer of Hebrews:

And He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. –Colossians 1:17 (ESV)

What, then, can we conclude? Of the many things, let’s focus on two.

First, there is great profundity that Jesus was the member of the Godhead whom created. He spoke, and it was. He speaks, and it is upheld. And He will speak, with unparalleled power, when He comes again, riding on the clouds of heaven. He gave life at the very Beginning, and then He gave His own to ransom our captive hearts. Does that hit you like it does me? The Potter was rejected, crucified at the hands of the clay. But not because He was at all impotent, and thus, subject to forces of evil or man. He was willing, simultaneously for the sake of His Name and our rescue.

And secondly, this same Jesus, the God who holds the entire expanse of the universe together by the divine decree of His lips, cares for you and me. Intimately. And so He will continue to uphold us physically and spiritually—until the work He began is completed. This, even when all seems to be falling apart.

But anyone can care, right? Jesus takes a step further—to a point no one else can come close. Not only do we know (and are getting to know better) the God who cares about us…we know the One supremely powerful to carry us to eternity in heaven.

Grace to you, to get to know Him better,

Voice of another

Verse of the Week...

‘The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.’ –John 1:9 (NLT)


If you’re anything like me, you can’t help but notice themes. Themes of the grand things, and those of the utterly trivial—both are perceived and pondered, often without relent. Perhaps I’m one of a loony few. Nevertheless, Christmas is one of the most thematic times of the year. Think about it. Lights, food, music, movies, décor, the sweet smell of gingerbread and sugar cookies wafting from the oven, cartons of egg nog lining the refrigerated section of the grocery store (if not the stomachs of its dedicated drinkers), even a generally more pleasant and charitable public readily depict the season. In fact, one might argue that if the stage were set just right, Christmas could be replicated in June or July almost as believably as it occurs in December, minus the temperatures…and snow-covered streets, for you Midwesterners.

The point is, every year, without fail, a thread of lightheartedness runs through fabric of our society post-Thanksgiving through the New Year, and people are happier. But why (my daughter and I are alike—we have to ask!)? There’s got to be a reason why almost everyone, believer in Jesus as God or not, has an uplifted spirit during the holidays. My answer is this: people are happier because people are hopeful. The Christmas season brings hope, by its original nature and intent, but also by society's secular crafting. We’re hopeful for the gift(s) we’re craving, we’re hopeful for the reunion with loved ones the holidays can secure, we’re hopeful for things as trite as time off from work (be honest!), and, some of us more than others, are hopeful for the culinary delights that for whatever reason only emerge during this particular season!

This year, I’ve recognized another Christmas theme. It, too, has to do with hope—though its object is fundamentally dissimilar from the aforementioned. In critically listening to the music of the season, particularly those Christmas hymns of yesteryear, it’s apparent they were referencing the hope of rescue. And more narrowly, rescue from spiritual darkness. Christmas, then, according to many of these traditional tunes, is about the True Light that came into the world (and still comes, again and again, when we need Him now, by the way). It’s about the dawning of our rescue, the birth of our salvation, the coming of our King. This kind of hope can hit the heart in its deepest regions. The result when it does? Rejoicing. Part of our nature is to rejoice in hope (just ask Paul). But the rejoicing these carols convey is more than a passing mood or a simple cheerfulness over the trifling things that expire with current calendar year. It is, rather, a soulful praise which emerges from the depths, and with freely flowing tears, as you grasp the unconditional grace of His arrival, His Advent…for you, personally. And as the singularity of the hope His birth inspires comes into full view, you cannot find yourself anywhere but on your knees before the Him, right where the lowly shepherds and trio of nobles found themselves that night, 2,000 years ago.

Check it:

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer


Our spirits by Thine advent here


Disperse the gloomy clouds of night


And death's dark shadows put to flight.


Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel


Shall come to thee, O Israel


And again:

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices


For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn'


Fall on your knees, oh hear, the angels' voices


Oh, night divine, oh, night, when Christ was born


And again:

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh


Come peasant, king to own Him


The King of kings salvation brings


Let loving hearts enthrone Him


This, this is Christ the King


Whom shepherds guard and angels sing


Haste, haste to bring Him laud


The Babe, the Son of Mary


And finally, though admittedly not a Christmas carol:

Here is our King


Here is our Love


Here is our God who's come to bring us back to Him


He is the one


He is Jesus


Immanuel, the ‘with us’ God, came to our rescue.

Light broke into the world that first Christmas eve, with great force and fury, to dispel the darkness that leads to death.

Let us enthrone Him in our hearts, then, and haste to bring Him laud, that His light within us would shine unto eternal life.

A merry and hope-filled Christmas to you and yours,

Voice of another

Verse of the Week...

3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
(2 Corinthians 4: 4-6)

After you’ve read the passage above, go back and read it again. Only this time, insert ‘good news’ where you see ‘gospel.’

You might do this already, as I do, to better understand the literal meaning of Paul’s message, rather than merely glossing over another religious-sounding word. It makes a substantial difference, especially in this particular context.

‘The light of the good news of the glory of Christ…’ Had you ever recognized the association between ‘gospel’ and ‘glory of Christ’? Truthfully, I hadn’t. But what a profound statement emerges when we do! Normally when we see ‘gospel,’ we immediately think of the good news of our salvation, paid in full by the death and resurrection of Jesus. We take it to mean our sins are forever forgiven, we’ll live eternally in heaven, pain and suffering will be long gone, and the news of that couldn’t get any better. Right? No doubt that’s all true. But perhaps we’re missing a crucial component. Perhaps what we’re perceiving is only a sliver of the story. Perhaps, the best part of the gospel remains hidden. What is it? Better, how will we find it? Shedding a little light on the subject will help, as Paul acknowledges. The best news of the good news is the glory of Jesus! Our salvation, our forgiveness, our redemption, purchased by the blood of the Savior, is ultimately for the sake of His Name. The cross, then, is certainly a symbol of hope and wholeness for you and me, but even more, it’s a mark of His magnification. God was lifted up that all men might see (amidst the illumination of the Light of the World) and savor Him…forevermore.

Check out Jesus’ prayer captured in John 17, just before He was betrayed, tried, and crucified:

“Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you…” (Verse 1)

Further, the Gospel writers, in their depiction of Jesus’ ministry, make one thing absolutely apparent—Jesus was about His Father’s work. That is, He was about His Father’s will. And fundamentally, God’s will is His worship. So if we consider our salvation the (sole?) subject of the good news, it turns out our aim is slightly awry. The central character to the Story of Life is God; at best, we play only a supporting role. The good news, the Gospel, then, is most directly Him and His glory. Therefore, the saving work of Christ was primarily for the Father’s glory, exactly why Paul points to our salvation as more a means of God’s glorification than the end of our eternal well-being. Notice how the Apostle describes his own ministry:

5For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. (2 Corinthians 4:5)

It’s not about Paul. He’s not the theme, he’s not the famous one, he has no desire for the Corinthian church to see him. Rather, he preaches Jesus. And not only that, he preaches Jesus as Master (Lord), which is a position of authority, one worthy of praise and full of glory. Paul is simply a shipwrecked servant, traveling, preaching, enduring hardship on every side…for his Master’s sake. Why? Because the eyes of his heart have been opened. And they can see the gospel (good news!) of the Father’s glory.

One more important point. The fact that God is all about His glory in no way means He is guilty of the sin of egocentrism. Not in the least. For you and me, centeredness on us and our own exultation is sinful. It is idolatry. But not so for God. Think about it. If He wasn't enraptured with Himself and His glory, He’d cease to be God. Be careful, then, not to apply to Him, the Creator, that which applies to the created.

Lastly, God’s passion for His glory is perfectly in accord with His unconditional, unending love for us. In His infinite wisdom, He knows the very best for us is our worship of Him. And so He solely wills and acts according to the purpose of His praise, and concurrently lavishes us with His love. It’s a beautiful thing—if you can see to believe it.


Grace to you, to see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of the invisible God,

Voice of another

Verse of the Week...

He who hears, let him be found

with his face into the ground—

where repentance is found,

where Jesus is found

              ‘You Say,’ Shane and Shane


The posture of kneeling is not an uncommon practice globally, despite its relative rarity in Western society. This is especially the case with orthodox religious practice. Many faith systems call for the position out of reverence and submission, and in fact, each year during the Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, one might see upwards of a million people at once bowing before Allah. I’ve only seen pictures, but it’s a staggering sight nonetheless.

For those unfamiliar, I grew up attending a smallish evangelical church, one which did not practice corporate kneeling during worship services. As one might imagine, then, the thought of bowing before God only surfaced when reading a Bible story or seeing someone do it on the evening news. It was a completely foreign concept, that is, until I truly became a child of the King. At that point I found myself, time and again, drawn to my knees. I couldn’t help it. My spirit, in worship, begged my flesh, ‘Get low before Him.’ Then, when attending corporate services, I couldn’t understand why it was left out.

The physical act of kneeling before God is profoundly impactful. It’s so markedly distinct from our common stance it’s as if manipulating one’s posture directly influences one’s soul. It’s incredible, really. If you don’t currently do it, I encourage you to give it a try—you may be floored (sorry, couldn’t resist) at the result.

But enough of the ‘what,’ let’s move on to the ‘why.’ As I mentioned, falling prostrate before God became for me, as it has for countless others, a position of worship. No doubt, a reverent heart has a way of drawing one down. But as life rolled on, and as I continued in my faith, I noticed another prompter of this posture: repentance. As I committed sin after sin, and my heart broke over my infidelity, my face fell into the ground, where repentance was found, where Jesus was found. That’s why the above lyrics rang so true upon their hearing. It’s no wonder Psalm 51 so magnetized my living room floor!

Reverence and repentance—the two predominant provokers of this most submissive stance—began to blend. That’s when I realized they’re largely one in the same. Think about it. Repentance is the turning of one’s heart from sin, to God, but in doing so, it’s also a unanimous acknowledgment of His holiness. Our waywardness has a way of making His transcendent perfection crystal clear. And so as we seek the forgiveness of our Father, we declare the majesty of His matchless worth. He is exalted (worshipped) in our utter dependence upon His pardon. That’s why I personally love getting on my knees. I find that only in doing so do I grasp the reality of my absolute need. I cling to Him, to His awe-striking grace, when my face is buried in the floor. And my tears of worship become my food.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible (most of them have a way of becoming favorites!) is depicted in 1 Kings 18:16-39. Take a minute to read it (italics mine).

Elijah on Mount Carmel

16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, "Is that you, you troubler of Israel?"

18 "I have not made trouble for Israel," Elijah replied. "But you and your father's family have. You have abandoned the LORD's commands and have followed the Baals. 19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."

20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him."

But the people said nothing.

22 Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the LORD's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God."

Then all the people said, "What you say is good."

25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire." 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it.

Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. "O Baal, answer us!" they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.

27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me." They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD, which was in ruins. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Your name shall be Israel." 32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs [a] of seed. 33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood."

34 "Do it again," he said, and they did it again.

"Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.

36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."

38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD -he is God! The LORD -he is God!"


If you missed it, look again—the reverence of Israel’s acknowledgment that the LORD is God and the repentance of turning their hearts back to Him again, are closely related. And what did they call for? Faces into the ground.

Is yours a posture of pride and callousness? Or one of reverence and repentance? Go ahead, get down. Or keep getting down. There Jesus will be found.

Grace to you, to fall flat on your face for the sake of the King,

Voice of another

Verse of the Week...

As a father I’m afforded the joy of taking my daughter on a guided tour of life, revealing to her the beauty of creation, pointing out how things both tangible and abstract work, and why. In fact, it’s one of my favorite things to do. I consider it a privilege. I have the opportunity to showcase life to this ‘blank slate,’ through my eyes, assisting her to see what I see and, ultimately, to love what I love. I easily recall the stage when she was just emerging from babyhood and beginning to more fully perceive the world around her. One of the things I delighted pointing her attention towards was the moon. For one, it’s a physical sight to behold, sleek and mysterious in its midnight luminescence, captivating in its contrast with the black canopy of the night sky. And I relish its spiritual symbolism—it’s nothing more than a giant ball of dirt that, when aligned with the sun, reflects the radiance of its glory. Ask anyone who knows me—I have a thing for gazing upward at a moonlit sky.

One night, when the moon was particularly full and rich with white light, I knelt next to Annie and extended my arm, my index finger, like an arrow perfectly pointed at its target (I even squinted one eye to ensure the angle was precise!). There was no way she could miss it. ‘Annie, look! See where Daddy is pointing? Look at the beautiful moon!’ My rapt attention shifted from the vast heavens to my little girl. But as my eyes landed on her, I was startled at the sight: Annie was looking intently at my pointer finger, completely missing the brilliance of moment. What gripped her innocent mind was the thing nearest her line of sight and, unfortunately, as a result, the majesty of the moon was lost on her altogether.

So it often is with my faith. So often I lock in on the finger, the things of God, and entirely miss the Person they’re pointing towards. Perhaps you can relate?

The problem is we almost can’t help it. We’re ‘human,’ easily distracted, constantly bombarded with material stimuli. Rarely do we open our eyes to see and savor the immaterial. And so we, like little Annie, often only see what’s nearest our line of sight—in this case, the tangible blessings of God. Little do we realize what’s behind it all. See, God, in His perfect will, pours out blessing upon blessing, but for a distinct purpose: that we would perceive Him, the Giver, and give praise. HE wants to be beheld. The forgiveness, the grace, the mercies, the love, the peace, the hope, in a way, even the salvation, serve as a pointer finger. That’s the main intent of their outpouring.

Like I said, I regularly marvel at the things at the expense of their Supplier. And there’s no doubt, I’m the loser in the transaction. God is literally sparing nothing to captivate my heart, to help me behold the majesty of Himself, and I can’t see beyond a foot from my face. Is that you too?

Let’s quickly look at the Story of the Prodigal Son. I’ve referenced it before, but consider it again. The son demands his inheritance, leaves his father, and blows it all in unbridled revelry. He ends up destitute, sitting in slop, contemplating what a fool he’s been, what his father would think. But he literally has no choice, so he emerges from the mud and returns to his father’s wide-open arms. Unfazed by his former irreverence, the father covers him with his finest robe, puts a ring on his son’s finger and orders the choicest calf slaughtered for the celebration of his homecoming. Quite a story, huh? What forgiveness. What grace. What a moving display of unconditional love. For sure. But here’s my point: the point of the story is, what a father! What a father! And what a Father we have in heaven! His grace, his mercy, his love—they are amazing, indeed, but they exist to point to a Person! And the Person to whom they point passionately wants us to relate to Him, to commune with Him, and to only utilize the stuff of Him as a means to get to Him!

There is a Creator behind the creation, a Giver behind the grace, a Great Physician behind the healing, a Prince behind the peace, a Savior behind the salvation.

Oh that we would not be so childish as to miss the majesty of Him for the fondness of the finger.

Grace to you, to behold the Blessed behind the blessings,

Voice of another

Verse of the Week...

We live in a day of extremes, do we not? Never have the rich been comparatively richer, the poor, poorer, and the chasm between the educated and the ignorant continues to widen. The path of truth and its contesting counterpart, namely the reality of the day, continues to diverge, with the road of the former being far, far less traveled. Then there’s religion. Competing worldviews, or better, ‘godviews,’ cause friction to the point of death, between those dutifully yet tamely attending Sunday or Sabbath services and those strapping a bomb to their chest in the name of religious obedience. Indeed, extremism defines the times.

And what’s at the root of all the tension? What’s the thing so hotly contested by word, by creed, by action? Truth. It’s at the center. It always has been; it always will be. Throughout the ages people have debated it, fought for it (or at least about it), lived for it and died for it. Who is God? Who shall we worship? And how shall we worship? Who has got it right and who is outright misled? Though it first appears these questions have largely fallen by the wayside, it only takes a second glance to see that’s simply not the case. Relativism may reign, but it’s still very much a stance one takes on what’s true and what isn’t. To its adherents, what’s true is there is no truth; each is left to his own moral and spiritual compass. This is, obviously, itself a truism.

It is against this backdrop, then, that we live and move and breathe. And it is exactly within this climate that fundamentalism (in its broadest definition) is so radical. Makes sense, right?

So here’s my argument: though it’s portrayed in an almost exclusively negative light, religious extremism or fanaticism or fundamentalism or whatever you want to call it, has gotten a bad rap. That is, if you ask Jesus. See, He’s always prescribed to the notion of fanaticism: exercising uncommon faith in the great and small. And not a day went by when he didn’t preach fundamentalism: that He was the Way, the Truth and the Life, and that no one reaches the Father but by Him. The question surfaces, then, why do we look at suicide bombers and polygamists with such wonderment? Are they not merely endeavoring to be faithful followers of their respective religions? Though most would contend their methods are misguided, their fanaticism, their fundamentalism, is exactly the kind of faith God requests and requires of you and me.

To better illustrate, let’s look at the healing account in Acts 3-4. In it, Peter and John encounter a forty-year-old man, a beggar, crippled from birth. When he asks the apostles for cash, they give him none. But they do offer him everything they have: the healing power of Jesus Christ. At their command the man immediately rises to his feet and confidently, albeit clumsily, follows them into the temple courts for all to see…and savor. The fact that this notoriously broke and broken beggar is leaping for joy on able legs is lost on no one. The crowd marvels, even praises God. But leave it to the religious leaders of the day to step in and try to sabotage the moment, the miracle. They ask, ‘By what power or what name did you do this?’ (chapter 4, verse 7) By the way, the question insinuated that the power of God wasn’t the cause of the cure (after all, these ‘godly’ clergy weren’t healing cripples by the command of their voice). But here’s where the story reaches its climax. In this very instant, fundamental, radical faith takes center stage. Peter, the subject of perhaps the biggest spiritual trip-up recorded in the Bible (denying Jesus three times within a few hours, once in His immediate presence), answers. He answers well, with boldness and in truth:

“Rulers and elders of the people! (note the exclamation point!) If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He [Jesus] is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:8-12)

You talk about an ‘in your face!’ And I’m not being trite. Peter, at great risk to his own well-being, emphatically condemns the religious leaders in his retort. He responds with strength, with zeal, but most importantly, in truth. There is no doubt here, Peter displays fanatical, yet fundamental faith. And God is glorified as a result.

It’s clear. God calls us to a faith that is staunch in its stance for truth (Truth). And think about why. If Peter were to have weakly or meekly replied to the underhanded accusation, if he hadn’t been able to find the words, or worse, denied his power source altogether, God would have been defamed. It would have been tragic. The onlookers would have walked away with less awe, with diminished hope. And the view of the absolute truth and might of the Almighty God would have been muddled, murky instead of magnificent.

God desires fanatical, fundamental faith because in it He is seen. In it He is savored. He requests this of His people. He requires this of His true people. And so we have the opportunity to answer life how Peter answered the Sanhedrin—with Spirit, and in truth.

After being released from jail Peter and John ‘went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.’ (verse 23) Then they raised their voices together in prayer. Acts 4:31 is a poignant end to a purposeful story:

‘After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken (shaken!). And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.’


Grace to you, to live a fanatical, yet fundamental faith, to the praise of His Name,

Voice of another

Verse of the Week...

11 "The multitude of your sacrifices—what are they to me?" says the LORD. "I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.

 12 When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts?

 13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—I cannot bear your evil assemblies.

 14 Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.

--Isaiah 1:11-14

In most churches today, and in most Christian circles, doing good is the best thing anyone can do; following God’s guidelines, as offered in the Bible, is considered life’s most significant endeavor, and I would agree…to a point.

One widely agreed upon tenet is the act of giving, and particularly giving money to a church. In fact, the sermon I heard last Sunday was about tithing, an admittedly important topic to hit from the pulpit. The preacher, like none other I’ve ever witnessed, called the congregation to the carpet for its measly financial offerings. He asked, in so many words, ‘Are you tipping God, or tithing to Him?’ A good question no doubt.

Check out the verses above. It’s a quote, delivered through the lips of the prophet Isaiah, from the mouth of God. Apparently He was upset with His people. But why? At first glance, they were doing exactly what He commanded them to do: sacrificing their choicest animals, meeting in the Temple courts, honoring the Sabbath, participating in New Moon festivals. At first glance, they were steadfastly obedient. So what was with God’s displeasure? He commanded, they obeyed. What gives?

To put it simply, obedience, true obedience (obedience that pleases God), is a matter of the heart, not the head. Let me explain. God’s people knew exactly what He wanted them to do. The details of what to sacrifice and when, those were clearly recognized…and performed. But their heart wasn't in it. And it’s often the same today, is it not? Go to church on Sunday. Maybe even Wednesday. Read your Bible daily for 20 minutes…30 minutes if you really want to stand out. Give to the poor. Tithe your money. We’ve got it down, just like the ancient Israelites. But I ask you, as I examine myself, is God pleased with your offerings? Does He delight in your good deeds? I know we’d like to think so. After all, at least we’re doing something!

The truth is, God just may be tired of us, weary of our empty(?) rituals and offerings. See, to God, the aroma of our deeds, even the exact things He commands, can become odious depending on how or why we do them. If we ‘obey’ out of obligation, out of guilt, with an unengaged, resistant heart, we stir His disdain. And we don’t actually obey whatsoever. Remember, God detests the whitewashed tomb that can so easily be our life. Jesus’ harshest words were reserved for those who actually did the most ‘godly’ things. ‘These people honor me with their lips…but their HEARTS are far from me.’ See? Heart, not head. Relationship, not religion. There’s such a profound difference.

So, to the mirror I go. Do I do right? Do I perform with purpose? Honestly, and sadly, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I'm compelled to go to church because of what others might think if I skip it. Sometimes I give because I know I should. Sometimes I do ‘good’ with no purity at all. And what does God think? Don’t do it. Stay home. Put your checkbook away. I don’t want your ‘offerings.’  Harsh? Maybe. But to God, the motive matters that much.

God loves a cheerful giver. Cheerful, as in, from the heart. I believe the opposite is true: God loathes a cheerless one. And have you ever thought about why? If we do this thing or that, and we do so out of ritual, with no heart, we dishonor Him. Basically, if we’re strong-armed into action, not compelled by love, we make Him, and a relationship with Him, appear unattractive, like He’s nothing but a distant taskmaster. Not the Lover of our souls who longs for our intimacy.

Think of your relationship with someone you love. Do you do kind things for them because you’re supposed to? Do you write them a sweet little note only because you ought? And if you did, what would that say about your relationship? About him or her? No, the manifestations of love flow freely from the heart, making their object feel prized, treasured like no other.  So it is, or is meant to be, with our good deeds, our offerings to the Creator of the universe.

Let’s tie this up.

‘If you love me, you will obey my commands.’ --John 14:15

Only if we truly love, will we truly obey.

The heart of the matter: it’s a matter of the heart.

Grace to you, to love Him, and only then obey,

Voice of another