Year Of Favor, Day Of Vengeance

“The God of peace…”

“The gospel of peace…”

“Blessed are the peacemakers…”

(Heb 13:20; Eph 6:15; Matt 5:9)

I live in a small town in southeast Texas that became home to the 4th deadliest school shooting in America on May 18, 2018. That is, until we were bumped to 5th place by the school shooting in Uvalde. That day in my classroom, when I heard the news about the death toll in Uvalde, I felt numb. It’s my go-to reaction when I know that if I were allow myself to feel, I wouldn’t be able to bear the intensity of it. 

Over the next two days, as I listened to the polarized political and cultural narrative unfold, I kept asking the Lord, “What are the right words in a time such as ours?” I wanted words that would bring people to silence. I wanted words that would cause people to stop pointing fingers and stop grasping at superficial and misguided solutions. And the words that kept repeating through my mind like a foghorn were, “…the Lord longs to be gracious to you…” (Is 30:18). But I didn’t want those words. I wanted answers. So I stubbornly decided to sit at the Lord’s feet until He gave them to me. 

This morning during my devotional time, the Spirit spoke again, reiterating His perspective that seems so antithetical to ours— offering grace, compassion, and mercy when we are seeking retribution, vindication, and practical solutions. During the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, the Jews understandably wanted Jesus to bring retribution to Rome, to vindicate centuries of wrong, and to give them practical solutions to their problems. But He gave them grace and truth instead, and He was killed. Because Jesus doesn’t give people what they want, He gives them what they need. 

I’m not sure how much more tragedy lies ahead of us, what more God will have to allow to bring us to our knees in utter recognition that there is no answer, no fix, no practical solution other than His Son. Our wound is incurable by human standards. No doubt we will continue to try and put bandaids on our mortal moral wounds, no doubt we will continue to fracture ourselves into a thousand opposing perspectives. No doubt, the Lord who longs to be gracious to us will continue to give us grace and truth until the door is shut on “the year of the Lord’s favor,” and we face the maw of “the day of our God’s vengeance.”

Beloved, the Lord longs to be gracious to you. Accept that grace while there is still time. 

(Is 61:1-3) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn, to console the mourners in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair.

(Is 30:5-8) For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength." But you were not willing, You said, 'No, we will flee on horses.' Therefore you will flee! You said, 'We will ride off on swift horses.' Therefore your pursuers will be swift! A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee, until you are left alone like a pole on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill. Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.

(Jer 17:5-8) This is what the LORD says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

The Two Enochs

The Spirit keeps ministering to me about the theme of two types of humanity throughout the biblical narrative. 

Throughout the Bible, we see the dichotomy between those who pledge their allegiance to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, versus those who wittingly or unwittingly pledge their allegiance to the prince of lies. Those who are the sons of light, versus those who are the sons of darkness. Those who trust in what they cannot see, versus those who see that they cannot trust. Those who simply walk with the Lord, versus those who build systems and cities on earth.

At Genesis 4 and 5 we are told of the two Enochs. Cain, the first murderer, “went out from the presence of the Lord… and built a city, and called the name of the city Enoch, after the name of his son.” Then we are told of Enoch, the descendant of righteous Seth, who “walked with God” and never died— he was raptured by the Lord and never saw death, “for God took him.” In these two chapters, we see the distinction between those who build and those who walk. We see Enoch, the name of the first city built on earth, the descendant of unrighteous Cain who “went out from the presence of the Lord.” And we see Enoch, the descendant of righteous Seth, who walked with God rather than build structures in this world, and was taken up by God to dwell in His heavenly presence forever. 

Cain the murderer, left the presence of the Lord and the first thing he was compelled to do was build something in this world that could be measured, seen, and admired. Cain’s city was built for Cain’s glory. Cain’s home was this cursed earth. Enoch, the descendant of Seth, built nothing. He “walked with God, and then he was no more, because God had taken him away.” 

His home was the heavenly city, the Jerusalem above. 

(Heb 11:16) Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

(Gal 4:26) But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

(John 3:31,36) The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all…Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.

(John 8:23,24) Then He told them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

(John 15:19,21) If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you…But they will treat you like this because of My name, since they do not know the One who sent Me.

(Matt 16:23-25) But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Then Jesus said His to disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

The Measure Of Your Words

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matt 12:34)

There are all sorts of things you can pretend to be through your actions. You can feed the hungry, care for the sick, visit prisoners, teach Sunday School, march on the Capitol for all sorts of noble causes and inalienable rights. But at some point, the mask will come off through your words and you will be utterly oblivious to your own hypocrisy. You will stand naked and exposed as foolishness and ignorance flow freely from your mouth, and you will be none-the-wiser to your own self-condemnation. 

Jesus teaches that on judgment day, every human being will be held accountable for every “ARGON” word that they have spoken (Matt 12:36). This Greek word means “unprofitable, blameworthy, mindless, thoughtless”— injurious words due to lack of any effort to “get wisdom” (Prov 4:7). Words spoken from the self-centeredness, ignorance, and wickedness tucked away in men’s hearts. Words that are an overflow of a heart that has not been purified by the active residing and dwelling of Christ within. 

We can pretend to be a lot of things, but we cannot pretend to be the image of Christ. And one of the truly terrifying realities, is that you cannot even discern this truth until Christ indeed dwells within. In a paradoxical way, you cannot know until you know, you cannot see until you see. You can think you speak reasonable, logical, and noble things, until the Lord helps you understand that you in fact, do not. And then you are devastated at all that came forth from you before. You are devastated because you finally see, but there is a part of you that wishes you couldn’t. 

On that day you tremble with the fear of God, because you realize that by our words we will be either be acquitted or condemned. 

(Prov 9:10) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

(Matt 12:34-37) Offspring of vipers, how are you able to speak good things, being evil? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.

(Ps 37:30-33) The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter. The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death; but the LORD will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

(Prov 4:7-9) Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding. Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you. She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty. 

More Than These Things

Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?”

At John Chapter 21, the resurrected Christ interrupts Peter’s work. Peter and four other disciples fished all night and they caught nothing. Jesus appears and tells them where to throw their net, and they catch so many fish they are unable to haul them all into the boat. Jesus calls them to join Him for breakfast on the shore and when they finish eating, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love Me more than these?”

Many think that Jesus was asking Peter if he loved Him more than he loved the other apostles. But Jesus didn’t say, “Do you love Me more than them?” He said, “Do you love me PLEON TOUTON…” which in this case, should be understood as, “Do you love Me more than these things?” Do you love Me more than your nets? Do you love me more than your boat? Do you love me more than your large catch? What Jesus was asking Peter, was “Do you love me more than your work? Do you love Me more than the thing you have found your identity and purpose in up to this very moment?” Peter needed to understand that even though he was a fisherman, his identity and purpose was to be found solely in the Lord Himself. 

The work of the cross must have its way with our compulsion to “do for the Lord.” Like the Lord brought Peter his great haul of fish, He will bring us into a great work and then ask, “Do you love Me more than these things?” Do you love me more than your net and your boat? Do you love Me more than your great haul of fish? The Lord asked Abraham, “Do you love Me more than your Isaac?” And like Abraham, we must be willing to prove our trust in the Lord if He asks it of us, and lay our Isaac on the altar and walk away.  

We must be willing to love Him more than all things.

(John 21:17) Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.”…

(Rev 2:2-5) I know your works and your labor and endurance, and that you are not able to tolerate evil ones…And you have perseverance, and have endured for the sake of My name, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

(Matt 22:36-28) “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”

Walking While The World Burns

While enduring the crucifixion of my “doing,” I cried out to the Lord, “Shall I walk with You while the world burns?”

Just because we observe a need, doesn’t mean that the Lord is calling us to fulfill it. I have learned the hard and humiliating lesson of seeing a need in the church and assuming that the Lord expected me to meet that need, when indeed He did not. We are not called to meet needs, we are called to know Christ, and the sooner we learn that lesson, the better. Knowing Christ far surpasses anything we may ever do for Him. 

To be sure, Christ will use us to meet certain needs in His Body, but it will be the simple outflow of His abiding presence within us as we focus on growing in knowledge and understanding of Him. We will be tempted to take up platforms, we will be encouraged to take up causes, we will be convinced that we are abiding in Christ, when really, we are simply abiding in Christ-like things and activities. We are very good at convincing ourselves that the bricks we hold in our hands are the living stones that build the Lord’s temple. 

I, too, have been a victim of my good ideas in Jesus’ name. Of pursuing noble causes and following the dangling carrot of meeting never-ending needs. Of busying myself, rather than allowing myself to be broken. Of building with bricks, instead of simply walking with the Lord. It has been a long and arduous route to understanding that the “good works prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” are the works of the Lord Who dwells within us. The only way to walk in those works, is to walk with the Lord. 

So if the Lord says walk, we walk. Even while the world burns.

(John 6:28,29 AMP) Then they asked Him, “What are we to do, so that we may habitually be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered, “This is the work of God: that you believe [adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith] in the One whom He has sent.”

(Matt 7:21-33) Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’

(Matt 22:37-39) Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

Walk As He Walked

“Faith is the steel of the soul.”— Amy Carmichael

Nothing was explained to the early pioneers of the church. Decade after decade, waves of oppression, persecution, and impending destruction buffeted those few lights scattered across Asia Minor and the Middle East. I think we are remiss to understand the early church as a movement, rather than the proclamation of a new reality. The early church was focused on proclaiming the reality won for mankind on the cross, more so than embedding theological truths on paper to be pontificated upon within the four walls of a building.

The discipleship that Jesus instructed His followers to engage in among the nations was not a discipleship from a workbook. It was not a discipleship from a podcast or a sermon series. It was not a discipleship that was meant to fit neatly into a bullet-point outline. Discipleship in Christ, is Christ. It is the transference of personal knowledge and understanding of Jesus Himself, to another human being. It is learning and observation and walking. It is showing your relationship with Christ by relationship. 

When Paul was in prison in Caesarea and Rome, he was chained to a Roman soldier. I wonder if Paul ever thought, “Lord when you said disciple the nations, this isn’t what I had in mind.” But Paul in prison, chained to a pagan is exactly what the Lord had in mind. Amy Carmichael states that the early church was “trusted to accept the unexplained..and not to be offended in their Lord.” She goes on to say that a great deal of what we call faith “is too flimsy to be called by so strong a word. Faith is the steel of the soul.” 

To disciple in Christ, we must know Christ. To teach others to observe, we must walk as He walked— implicitly trusting in the Father, rather than continually asking Him to explain Himself. 

(Matt 28:18-20) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

(Mark 16:15,16) He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

(John 5:19) So Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”

Pillars Rooted And Raised In Christ

The Lord woke me up this morning with the Scripture, “I am from above…”

All morning, half-in, half-out of sleep, this Scripture kept repeating over and over in my mind. I had been wrestling with sharing a word that the Lord gave me last week. But He has now confirmed in multiple ways that it is indeed a word that He wants shared. So here it is:

The Lord showed me a pillar.

Those in Christ are both a physical creation and an eternal reality. We are creatures of limbo, whose flesh is bound in time and space, but, in a peculiar way, we have also existed since before the foundations of the world as God's thought, will, and purpose in mankind in Christ Jesus. I was born in 1975 in the U.S., but I was foreknown and predestined in Christ before earth ever existed. My name was known to the Creator and written in His Book of Life long before it was ever written on a birth certificate in Louisiana. I am rooted and built up in Christ, and Christ is eternal, existing since before the foundations of the world.

When we place our faith in Christ, we are plucked out of linear time, and become seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus in the eternal realm. Those in Christ become pillars, whose foundation is the rock eternal, the chief cornerstone of all creation, and whose top reaches out of created time and space and into the eternal realm. The earth and all that is in it will pass away, but all who are in Christ will not pass away. All will fade to black, except those who dwell in eternal Light. In the evil day, we will indeed stand firm as the waves of chaos tear this world apart. “Yet not a hair on your head will perish. By your patient endurance, you will gain your souls.”

This is the word the Lord has given me to share. This world is destined for destruction, there is no escape from this truth. Do not be shaken as you see the scaffolding continue to crumble. You are a pillar whose foundation is not rooted and grounded in this world (John 15:19), and whose top exists beyond this world. We are not of this world, even as He is not of this world (John 3:31; 8:23). We are a new creature (2 Cor 5:17). We are a new man in Christ (Eph 4:24). We are “other than”. We are “more than”. We are “beyond than”. We are eternal: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.” (John 10:28)

“Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.” (Col 3:1-6)

These are the Scriptures that this understanding is based on:

Our eternal foundation: (Rom 8:9)(Eph 1:4-6)(1 Cor 2:6-8)(2 Tim 1:9,10)(Col 2:6,7)(Matt 25:34)(Rev 13:8)

Our eternal reach: (Eph 1:3; 2:4-7)(John 14:2,3; 18:36)(Luke 17:20,21)

All will pass away, but we will not pass away: (Matt 24:35,36)(1 John 2:17)(Heb 12:25-28)(Ps 102:25-28)(Is 51:5-8)(2 Pet 3:10-12)

Pillars: (Ps 144:12)(Rev 3:12)(Jer 1:18)(Ex 24:4)(1 Kings 7:21)(Ps 75:2,3)