Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  1 Timothy 1: 12 – 14

This is the renowned Apostle Paul writing to a young disciple of Jesus, encouraging him to be faithful in his calling as well.

Letters can say a lot.  This one is no exception.  First, the author. He was the once powerful Pharisee who ran down believers in Jesus and had them persecuted and killed, one of the most promising young Pharisees among the Jews at the time. Even though he was born and raised in Turkey, he took Jerusalem by storm because of his zeal.  He was known as the person who hated the followers of Jesus more that most and tried to have them eradicated from the face of the earth. He obeyed the Law of Moses to the letter.  He represented a new generation of strict adherents to the Law.

Second, the recipient of the letter. Timothy. He was also from Turkey, the son of a mixed marriage, a Jewish mother and a Gentile father.  The mother of that Jewish mother also married a Greek. So his father and grandfather were Gentiles. His mother and grandmother were sincere Jews so Timothy grew up as a Jew. However, because he had a Gentile father, he could not pass through the Jewish rites so he was not circumcised, the mark of being a Jew.

Paul was a pure Jew, Timothy partly Jewish.  Paul was a learned Pharisee, Timothy was raised a Greek, the tradition of his father and grandfather.  He was a nobody as far as the pure-blooded Jews were concerned.  He was unknown and undesired.

Hold on. When Jesus met Paul and when Timothy became a believer at the knees of his mother, the foundation was laid for a phenomenal relationship, not a common Judaism but as two saved sinners, cleansed by the Blood of Jesus – therefore in a new family, the followers of Jesus Christ.

Letters can say a lot.

It seemed to me to be a bit late, after all it is over two weeks into Spring and then this snow!!!  It was lovely and lasted only two days on the ground.  I do not think that anything at our place really froze.

Now for some nice sunny warm weather.

For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened.  66:4

These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.  66:2

Am I among those who are humble, who are repentant and needy, who want desperately to hear the word of God?  Those who simply tremble when God speaks?

Or am I among those who close their ears to the word of God?

Isaiah encourages us to listen, to allow the word of God to shape our lives and to live and walk among people with hope, courage and zeal.

The past few days were a flurry of activities here. A funeral of a friend in Virginia, Income Tax preparation, appointments, and so forth.  My meditation time was somewhat crammed. Can you understand that?  For now, that is, for me, it is life as it is to be lived. I am active and busy with limited time to ponder the word of God.

I do, to be honest, like and enjoy the habit of spending time with the Lord every day. I find that to be very helpful. That is good in that it keeps me structured and focused. As I grow older, however, I find myself relying on my regular devotional habit, so to speak.   That is good, I will not deny that for a moment. But it has a snare – I find comfort in my habit – not in actually walking in the light with Jesus and opening myself to stand eagerly before the Lord, but enjoying my “spiritual habit?”  My “precious time.” I do not think the Lord is even suggesting that I try to break that habit.  It is a blessed one.

However, as I was thinking of this a day or so ago my mind went back to Isaiah 66.  God does not despise my spiritual habit but he reminds me of what really matters.

Who does God look upon with favor?  Surely those who are humble, those with contrite hearts, those who tremble at his word, in his presence. God knows what is in our hearts, even better than we ourselves do.

So I live in that reality in the ebb and flow of daily life.  God knows. And I know he knows. Our fellowship is constant, always there, always directing and always providing focus. What a way to live this life on earth!! May I never waver in my devotion to Him. He will never leave me.  Of that I am certain.

Lord, grant me the grace to be humble, broken in spirit and  ready to tremble as I reflect on God’s Word and the free gift of grace.

God bless all you tremblers.

Our energetic granddaughter, Elizabeth, seems to be floating!  Look at that exuberance!  I love this picture – and of course Elizabeth!  If you can figure out if she is rising, falling, or what you are amazing.  Go for it, Elizabeth.

“These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word. 

“Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at his word.“ 

Isaiah 66: 2, 5

Sing along with me.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Oh!  Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

Oh!  Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

Oh!  Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

Were you there when he rose up from the dead?

Were you there when he rose up from the dead? 

Oh!  Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when he rose up from the dead? 

The author of this profound hymn is unknown.  In my mind’s eye I see African slaves gathering for worship somewhere in the American south.  They love Jesus and are thinking of what it cost Him to open the door of full salvation.

Come, they sing, ponder once again the most amazing work of God.  Move in close, open your eyes, Jesus is being crucified.  They are nailing Him to the Cross.  They lay him in the tomb.  You are there.  Then, just stand or kneel and tremble, tremble, tremble!

To be honest, I do not know how to “tremble.” The person who wrote this song knew how. I think it was a mixture of awe, of thanksgiving, of mystery, of looking upon a broken Jesus and then falling down in worship and admiration with unbelievable thanksgiving. That is trembling!!

The Prophet Isaiah, 700 or so years before Christ, trembled! When he was overwhelmed by the “word” of God’s redemption he simply trembled.  He wrote to “tremblers.”  Am I one of them? Or am I undone by the love of God in Jesus, one of those who simply bows in adoration at the Cross of Jesus?

Help me, Lord, to tremble!!

This Spring the daffodils are either especially beautiful or I am maybe concentrating on their beauty more than usual.  This beauty beside our house just has to be examined and appreciated. The intricate design and color flow are simply marvelous. It exudes beauty, simple and classical at the same time.  Thank God for daffodils and the gift of joy that comes from just looking, and looking again at them.

Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

We here in the United States are in the middle of an election season.  We are bombarded with so many voices that it is confusing. I realize that our citizenship is in heaven but we are in some way in the kingdoms of this world.

I must admit that now and again I find myself saying to myself, “Hold on a bit.  Stick your head above the news of the day – way, way up – and look to Jesus who made it clear that he came to establish his kingdom on earth that is continuous with his kingdom in heaven, where he has already taken the seat of sovereignty.  His kingdom is open to all who believe and follow the Lamb where it goes.”

I find myself processing what is happening here in our nation.

First, as our culture becomes more and more secular, it will have less and less interest in the kingdom that Jesus is reigning over. I see signs that the majority of the voters in this nation have little regard for that Kingdom or even know that it exists. Therefore, secularism is growing and growing.  The followers of the Lamb are a distinct minority, the likely result. Only rarely does an entire national population want to follow Jesus as revealed in the Scriptures.  I should not be dismayed by that.  Christianity does not depend on the arm of the flesh to live the life of Christ nor should it expect that secular governments will want to protect them. As a matter of fact, the followers of Jesus Christ in many lands, while hoping to be protected by their governments, live every day as minority communities with a world-view unlike their fellow citizens.  Like here.

Second, I think it can be assumed that governments will shield their minorities, even Christian communities.  Those who do not, such as in the nations that have embraced Islamic Sharia Law, would like the Christians to leave, as they have done to a large degree in Turkey that used to be a strong center of Christianity. Much of Christianity today resembles the first three centuries when they were an ignored minority.

Thirdly, we, as believers in the whole world, need to embrace the fact that the kingdom to which we belong, the Kingdom of Christ, will continue to not only survive but will keep advancing all over the world as it has been since Jesus ascended into glory with the parting words to evangelize the whole world!

Fourth, we should be thankful that our nation is committed to protecting religious communities.  We should use those privileges, as we have done for the past two hundred years, to share the Gospel all across our planet.

It is always fun to look for Easter baskets, this year no exception. The grand children and great grandchildren set the tone.   Fun indeed.

“Surely I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Jesus.

Matthew 28:20 (the closing verse of Matthew.)

As I was praying this morning I was reminded of a simple but awesome truth.  Jesus wants to be with me!  That I can depend on – surely!  My prayer is to be with him where he is. That is the best place to be, ever. I think Jesus likes that prayer and answers it the best he can.

But far more consequential is Jesus’ promise, his prayer, that he will be with me where I am!  My zeal has peaks and valleys.  His love for me is constant, fluctuating not at all.  I cannot depend on my feelings but can certainly depend upon the faithfulness of God Almighty, on Christ my Savior, and the Holy Spirit, my helper.  I pray that I will remember this all the days of my life.

This morning I hear the voice of Jesus, “I am with you.”  And I utter my heart-felt response, “And I am with you.”   That confluence of desire and promise makes all the difference.

Glenn’s mother, Miriam, spent Easter Day with the family here.  Anna Ruth joined them for a memorable picture.