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Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #310: The Matter of Separation vis-a-vis the Truth

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The Issue: The Matter of Separation vis-à-vis the Truth

Background: For over a year now I have been teaching the saints from class. We are near the end now of Matthew’s gospel. This Sunday we will be in Matthew 26. This is where the chief priests and elders plot together to kill the Lord Christ. It is also the section in Matthew’s gospel where a woman anoints Jesus’ body with very expensive ointment she pours from her alabaster flask. And do you know what’s happening? A separation is occurring. A division between the spiritually hardened (the chief priests and elders) and the spiritually regenerate and tender (the woman with the flask of ointment) unfolds in real. Two types: those hostile to the truth vs. those who embrace the truth.

Jesus’ Words about the Woman:

10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her” (Mt 26:10-13, ESV).

Teaching: In sum, Jesus was rebuking those who were more concerned with criticizing the woman than with embracing Him as the only Savior. They were more concerned with external appearances and finances. Meanwhile Jesus says this woman’s obedience will remain forever lauded wherever the gospel is proclaimed. How’s that for a commendation?

Encouragement: When your desire is to please the Lord, rest assured that separation will occur. Those whose longing is for the approval of man will resent you. But your obedience is known by the Lord Christ. Stay true, stay humble, and trust the Lord.

Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #309: (3) Profound Verses about Discernment

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Introduction: There are three verses in Proverbs 9 that are utterly profound. Here they are:

7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
    and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
    reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction  to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
    teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. (Pr 9:7-9, ESV)

How are they profound?

In at least (3) ways:

  • It is unwise to try and lead scoffers. They’ll just resent you for it. That’s what vv. 7-8a teach.
  • It is wise to try and lead the teachable, the wise, and the humble. That’s what v. 8 teaches.
  • It is wise to invest in those who are genuine; it is unwise to exhaust yourself upon the posers/impostors/foolish. That’s a summary of all three verses.

What’s Proverbs about as a whole? Wisdom.

Encouragement: There’s a stunning passage in John 6 where many folks walked away from the Lord Jesus, truth incarnate. Verse 66 of John 6 reads, “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him” (Jn 6:66, ESV). That should break your heart, folks. They abandoned the Holy One, the truth-teller. They simply left. And yet that is what God used as part of His plan to redeem His people. We cannot miss that or we misread Scripture.

67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.

So how is this encouragement, you ask? I think it’s this: We are told and shown up front in Scripture that truth divides. Most don’t want it; they in fact hate it. That’s why Jesus was treated the ways He was. When truth appears in history, we sinners have a tendency to crucify it. But truth won’t be silenced. It rises from the grave, you see. Why? Because God will not be mocked. Truth eventually is revealed. Let us teach those who desire it, and know up front what Solomon taught in Proverbs and what Christ Himself taught in the Gospels. Just be faithful, entrusting the results to God.

Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #308: Leadership Lessons

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Introduction: In 1 Samuel 28 we read this episode of wicked King Saul first disguising himself to get his way. Second, wicked King Saul practices necromancy in this episode. He consults a medium and summons the dead. Third, we see wicked King Saul be again rejected by God due to his (Saul’s) disobedience and lack of integrity.

  • Disguises
  • Spiritual darkness
  • Divine rejection

First, “So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night” (1 Sam 28:8a, ESV). Disguises. Masks. Saul’s wickedness is on full display.

Second, “And he [Saul] said, ‘Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.’” (1 Sam 28:8b, ESV). That’s spiritual darkness on full display. Consulting a medium is strictly forbidden in Scripture (Lev 19:31; 20:6, 27; Dt 18:10-12; 1 Sam 15:23).

Third, the truth-teller and prophet of God again was the vessel through which God rejected wicked King Saul:

15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” 16 And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.” (1 Sam 28:15-19, ESV)

  • Disguises
  • Spiritual darkness
  • Divine rejection

Encouragement: What we see repeatedly with the wrong leader is narcissism and weakness of character. Saul was a man of disguises, of masks. He was a fraud. His kingship was characterized by darkness, secrecy, suspicion, envy, and insecurity. What he feared more than anything else was for the spiritual lights to shine in on his backroom deals. Finally, however, we see God remove him. God had his truth-teller Samuel who again served to teach wicked King Saul that he was a dead man walking.

How is this instructive for us? We are to be a people of discernment and not be deceived by the Sauls of the world. We’re to seek out leaders who care for the sheep rather than fleece the flock for their own comfort. We are to watch how our leaders respond to demands for transparency and for the light to be shone upon them. Lord, forgive us for falling for salesmen. Teach us to cultivate authentic shepherds. Equip us to understand the times in order that we know what to do. Raise up Godly shepherds for Your people.

Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #307: Biblical Reminders about Leadership

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Introduction: It is perhaps a story from history with which you are familiar. It’s the story of David being anointed king. It’s found in 1 Samuel 16. But we dare not allow familiarity blind us to profound truths here, namely, that it was God who provided the king, and that it was the circumcised heart of a man (David) that God used to shepherd His people in distinction from the uncircumcised heart of a false shepherd (Saul) that wrought destruction upon the people.

Text from 1 Samuel:  

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest,[a] but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

Teaching: In the very first verse, we read this—that God provided for Himself a king. In other words, God was doing what man fails to do—be 100% faithful. Was David going to be 100% faithful? No, of course not. He would sin grievously against Uriah, with Bathsheba, in his failure to deal with Absalom, and on and on. But the point is that God was pointing the way to the pattern of how short we sinners fall. We fail. We demand Sauls. We get what we deserve in our choice of leaders. Therefore, God, being rich in mercy, provides for Himself the King. In the temporary and immediate sense here, that king was David. In the infinitely greater sense, that King is Jesus, the Christ.

Second, will you notice the command to discern? It comes in v. 7: But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” I don’t know how that could be any clearer. Discern. Learn to discern. Learn to think deeply and not fall for salesmanship and empty suits. Why? Because what’s down in the well comes up in the bucket.

Encouragement: We fall short. Therefore, God satisfies what He demands—perfect obedience. David was a type and shadow of the greater David who was to come, the Lord Jesus. Second, we still must learn to discern. It is a commandment of God. It serves both our own good and God’s glory, two patterns that are inextricable.

Another Reason to Believe

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Intro: I had a few hours of drive-time ahead of me. Several hours alone in my car. A friend from Sunday school had sent me a text message that said, in short, “Watch this. Important.”

After I labored to teach the saints from Matthew 25 this morning, I was once again on the road, headed out. Back to work.

The power of music: As is my custom, I had a few moments of unfiltered thanksgiving where I told the Lord what He already knew: “Thank you, Lord, for the opportunities You gave me yet again today … to love, to serve, to teach, and to be with Your saints. There’s nothing like it, nothing I love quite so much. I don’t deserve a seat at Your table. I’m well aware of this. Therefore, from the bottom of my being, thank You for mercy.”

Then, again, as is my custom, I put on my favorite driving tunes for the drive back to post. My go-to music includes the Allman Brothers Band, the Beatles, scores of tunes from Van Morrison, Cream, John Mayer, E.L.O, E.L.P, Rush, Zeppelin, more Beatles, the Atlanta Rhythm Section (ARS), the Eagles, Johnny Cash, Jackson Browne, George Jones, and more. But mostly, it’s the ABB.

Perhaps it’s because I spent most of the formative years of my life a stone’s throw from Macon and know the ABB’s zip code today as well as I knew it then. I still hate the heat and humidity and gnats, but in terms of music, the ABB’s best tunes pluck my soul’s strings like little other soulshine.

But back to reasons to believe… My friend Jim had texted me. As a former Roman Catholic steeped in reliquaries, he said, in sum, “Send this out.”

I listened to Jeremiah, the interviewed scholar, non-stop. He was/is clearly very bright and steeped in academia and history. I was hooked.

What’s the draw? Science, evidence, empiricism, blood samples, 3-D imaging, non-reproducibility, etc. It can all get technical, but Jeremiah (PhD from Oxford) kept it relatable.

Showing my cards: I don’t believe this is a clincher argument, to be sure. Most will not believe. We are told that up front in Scripture (John 3:18-36). But for those with integrity, with those who will truly follow the evidence, for those who say, “If You’re there, I’m here. And I’ll follow the truth!” then this is gold. Enjoy.

https://youtu.be/rKMQY49py4w?si=W08vly-42yL94a_X

Jim, thank you, brother.

Press on.

My goal is to see you both in the end zone and hear, “Welcome …”

Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #306: Learning from a Bad Example

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Bottom line up front: Learning from a Bad Example

Text: 1 Samuel 15

Context: Wicked King Saul Is Rejected by God

Overview: Wicked King Saul continued to reveal his true colors. God commanded Saul via the prophet Samuel to “devote to destruction all” that the Amalekites had. Saul was to lead Israel and not spare any of the wicked Amalekites. God was calling Israel’s king (Saul) to be a people set apart unto God, and for the people he represented (Israel) to be a light amongst the fellow nations. Would Saul succeed? Would Israel succeed? Would either be faithful to execute God’s word to them? That’s the issue.

We only get to v. 9 before we see Saul’s true colors: “But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them.” And just like that, the Lord speaks again to Samuel, the prophet and truth-teller: “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments” (1 Sam.15:11a, ESV).

Saul had “turned back” from following God’s word. And the people who followed (like undiscerning sheep) wicked King Saul, were likewise being judged. That’s the key issue here—the turning back/turning away from God’s word. “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Sam. 15:22b, ESV). It doesn’t matter how many oxen, sheep, or rams we sacrifice if our heart is not one of obedience to the Lord, the Commander. We can get all puffed up with pride if we point to ourselves and say, “See how much I’ve done? See how much I’ve sacrificed? See how many successes I’ve accrued to my credit?” That is pride – plain and simple –and it is damning.

Learning from Saul’s Failures: We can learn from anyone if we’ll but pay attention. That is, we should learn, even from bad examples. Saul is an example of a failed leader. Saul’s favorite person in the world was Saul. He wasn’t out for the good of his people. He failed his nation. He failed in God’s eyes, too. God was going to seek a king after His own heart, a true shepherd. In the immediate context, that man was going to be David. In the greater sense, however, that Shepherd is the Lord Jesus. But for now, let us learn from Saul.

Slice-of-Life Story about Covering Down & Studying King Saul

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Another chaplain was out of town, and so I was asked if I’d cover down on his lunch-hour Bible study. I absolutely welcomed the opportunity. The biblical texts the group has been going through surround Saul’s imprudence. Saul was definitely guilty of that.

No matter how many times I go through Scripture, I learn so much about leadership from studying Saul and David. Saul was, fundamentally, a judgment upon Israel for the nation’s lack of discernment and their sin.

1 Samuel 8:7 (ESV) reads,

And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.”

There it is in overt terms. God tells His prophet Samuel that the people didn’t want God. Therefore, as a judgment of their rejection of God Himself, God tells His prophet to give the people the human king they desire, and to watch the destruction that flows from that choice.

Samuel, as is typical of prophets and truth-tellers, sees where things are headed, and he is grieved. In fact, Samuel pleaded with the Lord about wicked Saul.

One of the most important sections in the whole saga of Saul is in 1 Samuel 8. Samuel sees what’s coming. He knows Saul’s going to be disastrous:

But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” (1 Sam 8:6-9, ESV)

Did you catch that introductory phrase? “But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.'” That’s so important. Why? Because that’s exactly what Saul was: judgment. They as a nation had been imprudent and undiscerning, and now Saul was the embodiment of imprudence and obtuseness.

My fellow soldiers will be arriving soon. I will ask them questions:

  • What patterns do you see in Saul?
  • How should we learn from them?
  • Why do you think the people liked Saul initially?
  • What does that tell us about the importance of discernment when it comes to leadership?
  • In what sense was David a man after God’s own heart?
  • What traits do we see in David that were not in Saul, and vice versa?

Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #305: A List from the Apostle Peter

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Introduction: We Soldiers love lists. We have packing lists, lists for manifests, lists of personnel and equipment, lists that accompany various pieces of equipment, etc. I carry a little black notebook nearly everywhere with me that contains, you guessed it, lists that I have for each day—everything from my Bible-reading plan, to Soldiers I counsel, to what I’m teaching on at church, to reminders to contact my dad for his birthday this week.

Segue: The Apostle Peter provides a list, too, and it’s for the Christian.

Here’s the text:

“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pt 1:5-7, ESV).

Teaching: In plain terms, all Peter is teaching is that our theology is made visible by our lives, our behavior. “What a man believes, he lives; everything else is just talk,” is a way I’ve heard it and even phrased it myself.

To what does the phrase “For this very reason” in the beginning here refer? The reality of true repentance and saving faith that God grants to His people. Peter’s saying to us, “If you’re born again, live like it.”

Encouragement: What encourages me so much is that Peter knew his own weaknesses. He wasn’t too big for his britches. I mean, think about it. The Apostle Peter was also the man who denied his Lord three times on the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested—just as Jesus had predicted. It was fulfilled in precise detail. Don’t we think that Peter always carried that shame with him? I do. I don’t think he ever forgot how he betrayed his Lord. But Peter was still a ransomed sinner and apostle of Christ. Be encouraged, is what Peter’s saying. Why? Because he, too, blew it. And yet Christ restored him. May we learn from Peter’s list, just like the Apostle Peter did. He gave his life in service to the Redeemer. What an honor.

Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #304: The Importance of ‘Insofar As’

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Text from 1 Peter 4:

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And

“If the righteous is scarcely saved,
    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Context: “Suffering as a Christian” is the superscription editors have placed in most English Bibles. As a summary headline. It summarizes the big idea(s) of what immediately follows. Therefore, let us examine what follows in these sentences from the Apostle Peter, especially the phrase “insofar as” found in verse 13.

Here are the “big ideas” from the passage as a whole:

  • The wisdom of spiritual vigilance (v. 12)
  • The necessity of suffering due to one’s Christian witness, not suffering due to one’s folly (vv. 13-16)
  • Judgment of the Christian/church (v. 17)
  • Trusting God as sovereign (v. 19)

This Phrase: “Insofar as” is crucial as a phrase. It appears in v. 13: “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” Grammatically speaking, it functions here as a conjunction that essentially means, “to the degree that” or “to the extent to which.” It’s a meausement, in other words, a comparison.

Why It’s Important: Context, context, context; that’s why “insofar as” is vital. What’s Peter’s main point in his first letter? Joy amidst suffering. Don’t forget that. It’s not to be a fake joy, a sort of perfunctory facade of “Too blessed to be stressed” nonsense platitudes. No, none of that silliness.

Rather it is a divine joy imparted to the Christian who has learned to understand that trials come by the providence of God who ordains even evil for His purposes. Isaiah 45:7 (ESV) reminds us of this truth:

I form light and create darkness;
    I make well-being and create calamity;
    I am the Lord, who does all these things.

Encouragement: “Insofar as” is important, dear reader, because, as a conjunction, it links the thoughts of joy and suffering. We’re not to be surprised at the fiery trials (v. 12) because they’re part of God’s plans for His people. He uses our sufferings for His glory. Admittedly, this is a hard lesson of Scripture, but it is there nonetheless. Learning to persevere in God amidst the fiery trials burns away spiritual fat in our lives, conforming us to the image of God the Son. We don’t like suffering, but it is (we must say it) good for us when it’s part of God’s plan. Not self-inflicted suffering, mind you; that’s our own folly. But the text says that when we suffer as Christians, then we should rejoice and be glad. That’s a hugely important distinction.

Are you struck down? Are you amidst fiery trials? Are you persecuted? If you’re a follower of the Lord Christ, rejoice, Christian pilgrim, for God has His hand upon you and is using those sufferings to draw you to Himself.

Chaplain Daily Touchpoint #302: Sagan’s Folly

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Introduction: I was reading a book of theology and cosmology recently. In it the author quoted atheist Carl Sagan. I’m old enough to remember Sagan’s melodramatic program Cosmos. Here’s what Sagan wrote: “In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.” That’s from Sagan’s Pale Blue Dot book. You get the idea straightaway: We humans are flying solo out here on this globe known as earth. No pilot. No architect. Just material in motion. Cosmic dust. As John Lennon sang,

Imagine there’s no Heaven

It’s easy if you try

No Hell below us

Above us only sky

If the materialists are right, it’s pretty soul-crushing. You’re not special. I’m not special. We’re all just molecules in motion. Flotsam and jetsam afloat on a pillow of meaninglessness.

Isn’t it ironic, however, that Sagan aimed to convince others of his view? Why work so hard in life if you really believe, deep down, that you’re nothing, and I’m nothing, and we’re all nothing? Seems paradoxical at best.

Why would John Lennon ask us to try and imagine that we’re cosmic dust but then ask us to love one another instead of blowing one another up? Seems like a fair question, right?

Consider the Christian Alternative in Psalm 8:

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

     The moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

What is man that you are mindful of him,

     And the son of man that you care for him?

But v. 6 of the poem teaches us that we’re not cosmic dust, but that God has created each of us imago Dei, and has given us dominion and stewardship of His creation. That’s a far cry from Sagan’s depressing materialism.

Encouragement: “What’s down in the well comes up in the bucket,” is some country wisdom I grew up hearing. That’s very good theology. Why? Because as a man thinks, so is he. Let us labor to learn from the wise and eschew the foolish. You’re not a cosmic accident. You’re the creation of the good and sovereign God. Our duty is to know Him and His revealed will, and Scripture is where you’ll discover both. Sagan’s a believer now, too, by the way.