Guided By Christ, or Culture?

The devil is a master manipulator. Jesus warned in John 8:44 – "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it." From the get-go the devil demonstrated an amazing and alarming ability to take the clearest, most compelling and direct of God’s commands and convince human beings God didn’t really mean what He said. The first prohibition God placed on Adam is found in Genesis 2:17. After stating in verse 16 he [Adam] was free to eat of every tree in the luscious Garden of Eden, God immediately made one exception in verse 17, in unambiguous words – "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." That seems clear enough. In the words of a hit country song by singer Lori Morgan in 1992, "What part of no don’t you understand?" Didn’t Adam understand, and didn’t Eve "get it?" Genesis 3:1-3 makes clear Eve did, indeed, understand. When "the serpent" (the devil – see Revelation 12:9) asked Eve, "Has God indeed said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" she quoted to him the precise command God had given in Genesis 2:17 (see Genesis 3:1-3). She knew, and Adam did, too! Eve turned out to be the forerunner of people like Marla Maples, the "other woman" in the marital breakup of Donald Trump and his first wife Ivana. Maples told interviewers she believed in the Bible, then added this disclaimer – "but you can’t always take it literally and be happy."



Interestingly enough, the apostle Paul made a direct reference to the devil’s successful efforts to deceive Eve in 1 Timothy 2:13-14. On the heels of instruction that women in corporate church worship assemblies "learn quietly with all submissiveness" and "not teach or exercise authority over a man (1 Timothy 2:11-12 ESV), Paul stated two reasons why: "For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived , but the woman, being deceived, fell into transgression" (2:13-14). These days taking that literally leaves many folks unhappy! Today a lot of fancy arguments are being advanced insisting God didn’t really mean what He said through Paul – that it’s just too "sexist." Paul was dealing with a "cultural" situation when he wrote to Timothy in Ephesus. Since culture has changed and women are now more "equal" with men, that restriction no longer applies – so the argument goes. But Paul’s restrictions on women having authority over men in the church are not grounded in cultural conditions and practices. They are grounded in God’s sovereign creation order and the order in which the woman and man fell into sin. Logically, Biblically, and exegetically – so long as it is true Adam was formed first and the woman was the first to be deceived, it will be true that women are not to have authority over men in the church’s worship assemblies and leadership roles. Common sense is needed here. Women are truly equal to men in their and standing before God in Christ (see Galatians 3:26-29). They can – and do – serve God in many vital and powerful ways. But being equal is a far cry from being identical. God help women AND men in the church to be guided by Christ in their service to God, not culture.

       – Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN

Fulltime Gratitude!

     Heads up: the next eighteen words you read are going to present a great challenge – "giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." Those words come from the apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:20. How are you doing with that Bible directive? I have often, with tongue only half-in-cheek, said I wish that verse said "giving thanks sometimes," or "giving thanks most of the time," or "give thanks when life is good." Gratitude would be easier if it was a part-time practice, wouldn’t it?! In context, the apostle declares that full-time gratitude is one of several important attitudes displayed by Christians who are "filled with the Spirit" (see verse 18). Christians are urged to have an attitude of constant gratitude! When life is good or filled with pain, God calls His people to be grateful. Note – Paul was not on a luxury cruise on the Mediteranean Sea when he called for fulltime gratitude. His life circumstances when he wrote Ephesians were far from favorable. Earlier at Ephesians 4:1 we read that he was "the prisoner of the Lord." Later at 6:18 we learn he is "an ambassador in chains." Not a political ambassador, but in his own self-description at 2 Corinthians 5:20a he was an "ambassador for Christ." An ambassador in prison. His crime? Not preaching revolt against Rome’s emperor or Senate – but, "as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20b). In spite of his all- out devotion to God, in spite of the injustice he suffered from people who could release him, in spite of being in prison for no crime but preaching Jesus, he calls for fulltime gratitude! Is it really possible to "give thanks to God always" – even while in prison? Is fulltime gratitude within reach or is this all just "preacher-talk?" Paul sends a Holy Spirit inspired directive – Christians not only can "give thanks always," but we should – always! And not just to each other but to "God the Father." And not just in the name of good health or good finances or a good life – but "in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Always! Eighteen words that challenge every Christian to live a lifestyle of fulltime gratitude.

A seven-year-old boy reminds us we can always find reasons to give thanks to God if we think it through. It was his family’s custom on Thanksgiving Day for each family member to give a list of things he / she was thankful for. The list had to be read in turn at the Thanksgiving meal. As the little boy read his list, one thing he expressed thanksgiving for was his eyeglasses. That surprised his parents because he had complained and resisted getting them when the doctor had prescribed them. He explained he had thought it through and was now thankful for the glasses for two reasons. "First," he said, "they keep the boys from hitting me; and second, they keep the girls from kissing me." Friends, we all have good days and bad days. But the testimony of Scripture is that God is good all the time, and all the time God is good! No prison, pressure, disease, disaster or disappointment on earth – no, not even death itself, can lock a true Christian away from even one of the many spiritual blessings we enjoy in Christ! In sickness or in health, in poverty or in wealth, on good days and on bad ones – there are always reasons to give thanks to God. Don’t take even a day off from being grateful. Let gratitude be full-time, as in always.

– Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN

Jos 23:1 And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.

Joshua is now an old man. He has served God all his life. He has completed what he was commissioned to do. Like Paul, he could declare: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). As God’s faithful servant, Joshua is concerned what would happen to things after he is gone. The last two chapters of the book of Joshua records his concern. What was his chief concern? His chief concern was that the people might depart from God after he was gone. So, he reminds them about God’s love for them: “Ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you” (v.3). Then, he reminds them to be faithful: “But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day” (v.8). But cleave unto the Lord your God –  The word “cleave”  appears in Genesis 2:24 for the first time and it refers to the marriage bond: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” The word literally means to glue together. Our Lord says it is a joining together: “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:6). Only a husband and wife relationship is joined together. Parents and children are not joined together. Friends are not joined together. So, a husband and wife have a “sticky” relationship. They are joined together and become one flesh. When we join two steel plates together by welding, they become as one. And, that union is stronger than if each were to exist alone.  Solomon says: “Two are better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9). A wife and husband relationship is stronger than if each were to exist alone; something is wrong if it isn’t. The cleaving to the LORD denotes an intimate union between God and the soul. When we cleave, glue, or join, to God, it becomes a strong bond that cannot be easily broken. Paul wrote: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). The bond between Christ and the church is like that of a husband and wife; it cannot be broken. Christ will do everything He can to protect her, even if it means to sacrifice Himself; which He did. My question is: “Are we cleaving to the Lord?” Is our relationship with Christ a casual or an intimate one? As human beings, we make many acquaintances and friends; it is called friendship. Among our many friends, we choose one to be our spouse; it is called relationship. Relationship is a term that indicates that two people are more than just friends. One can have many friends, but one can have only one special relationship. A marriage relationship involves things that do not exist in friendship – love, romance, emotion, intimacy, commitment, and cleaving. When we cleave to the Lord, we have a relationship with Him. We will want to read His word, talk to Him, worship Him, and serve Him. We will do those things every day and not just on Sundays. We will love and be concerned about the church as Christ loves the church. Are you concerned if the next generation will cleave to the LORD? Joshua was and he encouraged them to cleave to the LORD. He sets an example of faithfulness and he exhorts them to do likewise. It’s great to live to a ripe old age. It is better if it is found in faithfulness (Proverbs 16:31). We pray that our next generation will cleave to the Lord as they are doing today.

Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

The most famous last words ever uttered by a New Testament character are that from the apostle Paul: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). The most famous last words uttered by an Old Testament character were from Joshua: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (v.15). Joshua was God’s faithful servant. He was faithful from young to old age. He was faithful to the charge that was entrusted to him. He was faithful in bringing his family to God: “…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” In his lifetime, Joshua had witnessed how God had delivered Israel out of Egypt. He witnessed the plagues in Egypt and the opening of the Red Sea. They reinforced his faith in God. He witnessed how Israel had so fast lost faith in God when they saw the giants in Canaan (Numbers 13:33). He witnessed how Israel had committed idolatry by worshipping the golden calf, and how debased the people became then (Exodus 32:6). He had also seen how God's wrath burned so intensely against the Israelites at Shittim, when they were seduced by Midianite women to commit fornication and to worship an idol called Baalpeor. Twenty-four thousand Israelites were struck dead in a plague because of it! (Numbers 25:1-9). Joshua would not want history to repeat itself to Israel again. So, he caused them to remembrance those things that God had done for them in the past (v.1-13). He called on them to make a choice: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” He wanted them to maintain loyalty to God. What was the people’s answer to Joshua? They said: “We will serve the LORD” (v.21). But, did they keep their words? “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10). Sad, isn’t it? A whole generation that did not know God! Certainly, they had heard about the great works of God. But, those things did not make an imprint in their hearts. The new generation had no personal relationship with God. They did not have the same affection for God as their fathers. As a result, the new generation was too readily yielded to the corrupting influences of the idolatry that surrounded them (Judges 2:11-13). Joshua's last words to Israel are applicable to us. Dearly beloved, we are facing the same issues today; we are losing a new generation. We have a new generation of Christians that do not share the same earnest affection for God as their parents’ generation. One writer wrote: “True Christianity is not biologically transmitted; it must be caught by each new generation, by the new generation having their own personal relationship with God and seeing His works on their behalf.” (David Guzik, e-sword). Young men and women, do you have a personal relationship with God? When you were young, you might be pigging on your parents’ back. Now that you have come down from their backs, do you have a faith that is your own? Is God real to you? God wants you to be steadfast and unmovable (1 Corinthians 15:58). He wants you to have a personal relationship with Him (James 4:8). Can you say you have it?

Est 1:12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

Ahasuerus was king of Persia. He was proud, sensual, and at the same time, a fool. He threw a great feast for all his officials that lasted six months (v.4). After that feast, he made another feast that lasted seven days for all of the people in Shushan (v.5). While the king was making his seven-day feast, his wife, Queen Vashti was making another feast for the women (v.9). After seven days of drinking when the king was very drunk with wine, he wanted to show off how beautiful his wife was. He sent his servants to bring Queen Vashti. But, Vashti would not come. The queen was beautiful, but she was more modest. She did not want people looking at her just because she was beautiful. She did not want to be a sex object in front of a group of drunken men. What would be in their minds? What lessons can we learn? 1. Wine is a mocker (Proverbs 20:1). Wine makes men do foolish things; Ahasuerus was a fool to treat his wife as a sex trophy. And, he is not the only one. Noah acted like a fool when he became drunk (Genesis 9:21). Noah was a good man but alcohol made him look like a fool! Wine is a mocker! Lot was drunk when he committed incest with his daughters (Genesis 19:33-38). He was so drunk he didn’t know what he was doing. He was probably a social drinker. For two nights he drank too much.  Ahasuerus, Noah, and Lot were not the only people fooled by wine. Many women had been stripped naked and raped when they were highly intoxicated; many remained ignorant what had happened the night before. Many men had done foolish things because they were drunk. Why do so many Christians still continue to look for excuses to drink alcohol? The moderate drinker always becomes an excessive drinker. They say they can handle alcohol! In the end, alcohol handles them (Proverbs 23:31- 35). Wine is a mocker! 2. Modesty is the best policy. Though Vashti was by no means a follower of the true God, she had enough wisdom and modesty to know that this was something she should not do. Sisters, as Christians, your clothing sets the tone for how others see you and your faith. Being modest in your appearance is just as great a witness to those around you as your words: “While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear” (1 Peter 3:2). By being modest you allow people to see your inner faith rather than your outer appearance. Sisters, remember, it is both unchristian-like and a sin to tempt others with your clothing. So, if you find that people are getting the wrong impression through your clothing then it may be good to evaluate that piece with a discerning heart. It is not a sin to like nice clothes, but it is a sin when that desire for fashion becomes more important than your faith. The foolish women think parading naked is self-confidence. The confident women keep their bodies under wrap. Paul wrote: “Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire” (1 Timothy 2:9). Note the word “self-control”. The godly and confident woman has control over her own body. She does not need to reveal her body to others for their opinion and approval whether she is a 7 or 10. Only the foolish women will do that. The body is yours; respect your body or others will disrespect it.

Est 2:22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.

The book of Esther is the only book in the Bible in which there is no mention of God. Yet, we can see that God was active in Esther, working behind the scenes. God was always ahead of Satan. God knew what Satan was up to. And so, He prepared things in advance to counter the devil’s attack. God prepared for a Jewish girl to become the queen of Persia. The idea was unthinkable. How could a Jewish girl become queen of Persia? Well, no one knew Esher was a Jew except Mordecai. King Ahasuerus, in his drunken stupor, put away her queen. So began the search for a new queen. So it was, a decree went out that every fair young virgins be brought into the palace. Esther was taken to the king’s palace. It seems that Esther didn’t really have a choice about this. A few things we see in this chapter that show forth God was working behind the scene. 1. Vashti was removed as queen and the search for a new queen (v.1-2). 2. A Jewish girl, Esther, became queen of Persia (v.17). 3. The identity of Esther was to be kept secret (v.10). The purpose was revealed later and which came in handy for good use (chapter 7). 4. Mordecai unfolded an assassination conspiracy against the king, saving the king’s life (v.21-22). 5. But Mordecai was not immediately rewarded for saving the king’s life. Nevertheless, his deed was recorded in the chronicles of the king (v.23). God sees to it that the reward should come when the time is ripe (chapter 6). God had everything planned ahead for the devil to strike. God knows the future; the devil doesn’t. Satan can never win when his opponent is God. Who was Mordecai? He was a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin (v.5). Esther was his uncle’s daughter (v.7). This means they were cousins. Obviously, Mordecai was much older than Esther, for the Scripture says when Esther’s parents died, Mordecai took care of her as his own daughter (v.7). Mordecai learned about an assassination attempt on the Persian king. He told Esther, and she informed the king in Mordecai’s name (v.21-23). Why would Mordecai want to save a pagan king’s life? But, as the story progresses, we are glad he did. Thankfully, Mordecai’s attitude wasn’t “I’m a Jewish man in exile under a pagan king, so I do not care if he is killed.” Like Daniel, he was loyal to the king. Peter wrote: “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king” (1 Peter 2:17). As Christians, we are commanded to “honour the king”. It means we are to submit to governments. Paul says governments are ordained by God and we are to obey them in all things lawful (Romans 13:1). He says one of the purposes of its existence is to restrain anarchy (Romans 13:3). If human governments do not exist, we would be in a state of total anarchy. Anarchy brings hardship and terror to the common people. Hence, a bad government is better than no government. Paul warns: “Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God” (Romans 13:2). To resist government is to resist the ordinance of God. Therefore, if the government’s decisions are not a manifest violation of the laws of God, we are to submit to them. Let us pray for our government that they be wise in their governing so “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:2b).