“YOU SURE LOOK LIKE YOUR FATHER!”

April 10, 2018April 8, 2018 | lindamowles

Many years ago, before my biological children were born, we were foster parents for several children who were placed, for a variety of reasons, in a nearby children’s home.

As an “adventure” one weekend, we took our foster children to a Civil War battlefield, complete with canons and stacks of cannonballs. It also had a museum and much for the children to interact with as they learned about what happened at the Chickamauga Battlefield so many years earlier.

When we went to the cashier to pay for our souvenirs, the Park Ranger standing there looked at our family and said to our son, “Boy, you sure look like your Father!” and to our daughter he said “And, you really look like your Mom!” We smiled at him and paid for our goodies, and then left.

In the car, we chuckled about the Ranger’s well-meaning comments. They were especially humorous since both children were in foster care and of no blood relation to us. Furthermore, they were not brother and sister but were from two separate families.

Ultimately, I did have two children, a son and daughter, and when they were in preschool, my husband left us and divorce ensued.

Then the Lord brought Bill into our lives and, 31 years later, we are still married and the “children” (now in their 40s) are very much in love with him.

When Bill had taken our son to the store for some clothing, the cashier looked at the two of them and said “Boy, your sure look like your Father!” Without correcting the clerk, without discussing step-relationships, and without missing a beat, our son said “Yes, I do.”

Father and son marathon cropped — Father and son running in a marathon.

We were thinking about these comments recently and I wondered if I looked like my Father. Do you?

We have just concluded consideration of just a few of the attributes of God, the Father, and I thought we should bring those discussion down to earth. Do we look like our Heavenly Father?

I know that we cannot be like God, we are merely creatures who are sinful and who live in a fallen world. But some of the attributes that are of God can be found in us if we let Him live in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

For example, Eternality is totally outside of our experience, we are time-bound, temporal, finite. But Mercy is something that we can extend to those who wrong us in some way.

Omnipotence, Omniscience and Omnipresence are attributes that no one would ever credit me with having, that’s for sure. They reside within God and are not communicable to either you or me.

Holiness is surely one of the attributes that sets God apart from the sinful creation ever since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. But, Scripture says that we are to be holy.

“For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.””

Leviticus 11:45

“but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.””

1 Peter 1:15-16

I cannot be holy on my own nor can I become holy through any effort or action that I take. I am sinful and will be sinful all my life. But through the righteousness of Jesus Christ, in the eyes of God, I can be holy.

Justice is another attribute of God that is tied to His Holiness. God is repeatedly called Just in Scripture and we are told that His actions are always just.

“For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.”

Deuteronomy 10:17-18

While Justice is an attribute of God’s intrinsic nature, it is also something that we are commanded to be.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Micah 6:8

Love, the attribute of God’s nature which Jonathan Edwards called “the sum of all Christianity”. God loved us even when we were sinners and unable to approach Him even in prayer. Through the Holy Spirit, we were made part of God’s family because of His love.

In Romans 11, the Apostle Paul uses the imagery of an olive tree into which branches have been grafted, the tree, rooted in Jesus Christ, is referencing the Jews while the branches that were grafted onto the tree reference the Gentiles.

Adoption is another image presented in Scripture with respect to God’s love. The Amplified Holy Bible renders Ephesians 1:4-6 as follows:

Just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself] [as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will to the praise of His glorious grace and favor, which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved [His Son, Jesus Christ].

We have been loved by God, through Christ Jesus, and have been adopted into His family. What does that mean for us here on earth, surrounded by so many who do not know Him? We are to love each other and are to live as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ so that men can see Him when looking at us.

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”

John 15:8-9

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

John 15:12

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”

John 15:16-17

So, the question hangs in the air – do you look like your Heavenly Father?

At church on Sunday morning?

At the supermarket on Tuesday?

At the work meeting where your project is being criticized?

When someone cuts you off on the highway?

When you can’t think because the neighbors’ dogs are barking?

Do you look like your Heavenly Father? Do I?

Father, we so easily call You Father even though we had nothing to do with Your adoption of us. Your grace in giving us eternal life came at the incredible cost of Your Beloved Son’s atoning death. Your mercy was extended to us even while we were still wallowing in our sin. Oh, Father. Your love and compassion is too wonderful for us to comprehend. All we can do is thank You and pray that we would be transformed through Your Spirit into the image of Your Beloved Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. May we look more and more like Jesus and, thus, more and more like You each day.

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD – JUSTICE

March 9, 2018March 9, 2018 | lindamowles

Aristotle said:

“At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst.”

Unfortunately, in our world today, it seems that “the worst” has come to the forefront. It seems that there is injustice everywhere you turn. We hear of corrupt politicians, of immoral preachers, of lawless officials, of abuse of innocent children, of hordes of homeless and refuges leaving their homes and all that they have to save their lives. Injustice has always been with us, but now we have instant access to television and media that can vividly show us the extent of injustice that exists. No longer is it a line in the newspaper or magazine. Now it is an image on the television screen, a digital reminder on the cell phone that horror is happening, all over the world. And it never ends.

We look at the statistics and weep because there seems to be no hope; injustice reigns, and it seems that there is nothing we can do to stop it or avoid it. Where is justice? Does it exist anywhere?

Beloved – the Holy God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the Source of justice. The God who loved us so much that He gave His only Son to be our Savior, is the God of Justice.

God’s justice is never divorced from His righteousness. He never condemns the innocent. He never clears the guilty. He never punishes with undue severity. He never fails to reward righteousness. His justice is perfect justice. (Emphasis added)

Scripture says much about justice, as it is one of the immutable attributes of our Holy God. For example, when Abraham was arguing with God about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, he focused on God’s justice.

“Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”

Genesis 18:25

The Psalmist writes:

“The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.”

Psalm 99:4

While there is an abundance of injustice in our world, we must remember that true justice will not be rendered in this world. Those who seem to lie, cheat, steal, and kill with no seeming repercussions will be subject to justice in the true realm, the eternal heavenly realm. At that time, each man/woman will receive justice at the hands of an immutable God who cannot be persuaded or bribed.

Deuteronomy 10:17-18

Elihu, the fourth speaker in the book of Job, gave this comment about God and His justice:

“The Almighty–we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”

Job 37:23-24

Christ will look at each person’s heart, and if it is not covered by His righteousness, that person, not being pure, will receive justice, but it will not be heaven. Indeed, Saint Augustine said:

“Punishment is justice for the unjust.”

All mankind would receive punishment because all of us fail the test of righteousness because we are all corrupted by sin.

But, for the believer in Jesus Christ, we do not need to fear God’s justice, rather we are covered by Jesus’ righteousness and we will be received into the presence of God as His child. Then we will find comfort for all the wrongs done against us and against mankind.

“For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.”

Psalm 33:4-5

After hearing of the judgment that King Solomon rendered when two women both claimed to be the mother of a newborn baby, we read:

“And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.”

1 Kings 3:28

In speaking to the Pharisees about their misuse of the Old Testament law, Jesus said the following:

“”But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”

Luke 11:42

The most violent expression of God’s wrath and justice is seen in the Cross. If ever a person had room to complain of injustice, it was Jesus, he was the only innocent man ever to be punished by God. If we stagger at the wrath of God, let us stagger at the Cross. Here is where our astonishment should be focused. …

The Cross was at once the most horrible and the most beautiful example of God’s wrath. … With the concentrated load of sin [Jesus] carried, He became utterly repugnant to the Father. God poured out His wrath on this obscene thing. God’s holy justice perfectly manifest. Yet it was done for us. He took what justice demanded from us. This “for us” aspect of the Cross is what displays the majesty of its grace. At the same time justice and grace, wrath and mercy. It is too astonishing to fathom.

All will be judged and all will receive justice. This is a scary thought for one who truly knows his heart’s deceitfulness and is not a believer in Jesus Christ. However, “for us”, those who rest in their faith in Christ, our judgment will be sheltered in Christ, and that we will be accepted by God through Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice.

Look to the Lord, the Almighty Holy God. He will bring justice to all mankind, in His time. But we can be confident, whether we see justice now or not, that true and correct judgment will ultimately be rendered by our God. Praise Him for this comfort and for this promise. Rest in His love, Christian, and don’t be anxious about the injustice you see in the world. It will pass away because God is victorious!

Next week we will consider the mercy of God, which is also present at the cross of Christ.

Father, I thank You that You execute justice according to Your providence and plan. Enable me, through Your spirit, to do justice, and to love kindness, and help me to walk humbly before You, I pray, in Jesus name, Amen.

THE FEAR OF GOD

February 7, 2017 | lindamowles

When we were in England, we visited a number of cathedrals and were amazed at the exquisite details in the construction and decoration of each of them.

bath-cathedral-c — Bath Cathedral, Bath, England

The exteriors of the cathedrals had a focal point, upward to the sky as if the very building was praising God in prayer and thanksgiving.

canterbury-side-view — Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, England

Even the walls of the cathedrals evidenced exquisite workmanship and beautiful detail.

canterbury-wood-carvings-adorning-the-walls — Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, England. Carved woodwork adorning the walls of the Cathedral.

The church in Canterbury was established when Saint Augustine was sent as a missionary in 597 A.D. In the town of Canterbury, there has been daily worship of God for over 1,400 years. Just think about that for a moment!

The original cathedral was rebuilt completely by the Normans in 1070 following a major fire. Although there have been many additions to the building over the last nine hundred years, parts of the Quire or Choir, which is the area between the nave and sanctuary in a cathedral, and some of the windows and their stained glass date from the 12th century.

canterbury-stained-glass-windows — Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, England. Stained glass windows. They were removed and sequestered for safety during World War II and reinstalled when the war ended.

See the Canterbury Cathedral’s website for more detailed information on this glorious church. https://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/heritage/history/cathedral-history-in-a-nutshell/

We came to the entrance of the cathedral property and walked through this gate. At first I thought this was the church … then I realized it was “just” the gate to the property. Even this aspect of the cathedral was designed and constructed with an emphasis on the heavens.

canterbury-the-archway-into-the-church-property — Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, England. Arched gate into the Cathedral property.

Why go to all this trouble in creating such glorious buildings in which to worship God? Why do all this incredible craftsmanship during a period of time when people were living in far less sturdy structures? Why do this at all?

I suggest that these folks had a right understanding of the “fear of the Lord”.

Scripture has much to say about learning and fearing God. See for example the following passages in the Old Testament:

“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,…”

Deuteronomy 10:12 ESV

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!”

Psalm 111:10 ESV

“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV

So, what does it mean to fear God? One definition of “fear” is, of course, to be afraid, to be in terror when we face God.

The struggle we have with a holy God is rooted in the conflict between God’s righteousness and our unrighteousness. He is just and we are unjust. This tension creates fear, hostility, and anger within us toward God. The unjust person does not desire the company of a just judge. We become fugitives, fleeing from the presence of One whose glory can blind us and whose justice can condemn us. We are at war with Him unless and until we are justified. Only the justified person can be comfortable in the presence of a holy God.

The justified person, the believer in Jesus Christ, is not afraid of God, rather God is his Father and fear is washed away. Paul wrote this to his spiritual son, Timothy:

“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

But we are still admonished to “fear the Lord”, so if we are justified by Christ, what does it mean?

“Fear” when used in this context references our actions of “reverence” and “worship”. We are to “be in awe of” Him and we are to “honor” Him.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Proverbs 1:7 ESV

The note on Proverbs 1:7 in the Reformation Study Bible says, in part:

The fear of the Lord is the only basis of true knowledge. This fear is not distrustful terror of God but rather the reverent awe and worshipful response of faith to the God who reveals Himself as the Creator, the Savior and the Judge.

Have you ever been in awe of our God when looking at His expression through the majesty of His creation?

yosemite-2011-wrm-126-waterfalls-and-river-c — Yosemite National Park, waterfall and river.

Have you ever been in awe of our God when looking at His expression through the detail of the small baby, a child created in the image of God?

baby-girl-1-month-old — One month old baby girl.

Has your spirit ever soared when entering a place of worship as you anticipate spending time with your Savior and God in worship?

canterbury-cathedral-view-of-the-altar-area — Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, England. Interior of Cathedral looking at the altar area of the church.

Have you considered our Savior God who sent His only Son to die for your sins? Have you thanked Him today, even this moment, for such love, grace and mercy?

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Unfortunately, our culture has forgotten this precept. We have instead turned to human philosophy and social engineers. We have created a generation of children who have turned to Hollywood or the Internet for their heroes and role models. The fantasy world of television and movies, with computer generated special effects, has become the reality that our youth crave. Young and old alike seek thrills and/or escape by turning to drugs and alcohol. We kill children without batting an eye, while we worry about the spotted owl or the snail darter fish.

Scripture does not change – its teachings are true and they are timeless. Thousands of years ago, God stated that the fear of the Lord was the beginning of wisdom. It was true then, and it is true today.

I believe that those building the cathedrals were honoring God and creating a place of worship that was a physical representation of the glory and magnificence due Him in worship.

Note that I am not saying that all churches need to be this elaborate. Nor am I ignoring the role that the Popes or other “leaders” likely played in desiring a place of magnificence for his own benefit.

What I am saying is that we, even in our “modern” age, need to have a holy fear of our God. It is a heart issue, not an architectural one. We should give God the reverence, awe and honor to which He is due. In short, He is not the “Big Guy in the Sky”. He is our Creator, Sustainer and Savior … He is our Father and our God.

Father, forgive me when I have not given You the reverence that You deserve. Let my heart sing “Praise God from whom all blessings flow” throughout the day and let my praise to You be last on my lips as sleep overcomes me. May I love You and glorify You in all things.