Word for Life in Love— Scripture Meditations By Stephen Brown
Luke 18:32 (NIV)
32He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him.
God’s chosen people hand over the Savior to the Gentiles. Christ was delivered through the Jews to the world. This is part of the plan and mystery of God. The shadow of things to come enable the light of revelation.
How is it that some deny intelligence behind creation using their own intelligence? Is it that hard to believe that there is something greater than ourselves?
Matthew 28:1 (NIV)
1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
After the Holy Day was past, the light of the world begins to shine forth into the darkness that had held creation tightly in its grip for so long. The beginning of the end ensues on that first day. The women go to look at the tomb, but what they will find is beyond their expectations.
They travel in the light of dawn without complete understanding of the light that draws them. Just as the star appeared in the darkness of the night announcing His birth, so does the the dawn of the first day announce the light of His resurrection and life.
Luke 16:19 (NIV)
19"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores
Notice in this parable that the rich man has no name, but we are given the name of the beggar. Lazarus is taken into heaven, and the rich man is excluded. I wonder if it is because in the darkness apart from God one doesn’t need a name?
In life on earth, Lazarus is unable to enter the gate of the rich man. When they die, the roles are reversed. Lazarus enjoys the riches of heaven, while the rich man is unable to enter the gate.
It brings into focus the difference between the eternal reality of God and the temporary illusion of this world. We all have a name, but will it be remembered?
Psalm 53:1 (NIV)
1 The fool says in his heart,
"There is no God."
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
there is no one who does good.
Fool is a term reserved in the Bible for the one without God. For this reason, it is not one to be used lightly, and we are not to refer to another as a fool.
Behaving with no regard to God and His commands places one in that company. There are many who are companions on the way to destruction. To them, their way seems right. How could it be otherwise, unless the Word of God is sought and understood? That is why it is so important to hold out the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus in our lives. It is life.
The Jesus calls us to trust and obey. Trust allows us to obey. Obedience confirms that trust.
Luke 12:37 (NIV)
37It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.
In the upper room Jesus did this very thing for the disciples. He said they would not understand what He was doing until later, but they would come to understand when the Holy Spirit was given.
He had said He came to serve and that everyone who followed him would have that same spirit. Jesus was about to serve others in the ultimate way. He would give His life for the life of others.
His servants will be served. They will rest at the table of life and He will see to their every need. They will eat and be satisfied. They will drink and thirst no more.
Job 2:6 (NIV)
6 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life."
Satan continues to accuse Job. He still says Job loves God for the wrong reasons, not for love, but for what he gets out of it. Satan cannot understand love, for he doesn’t have it.
God gives Satan power over Job. Why? Could it be that so that Job would choose God? Could it be that Job would come to know more about God and himself? Could it be for God’s glory? The Bible is about God sparing and redeeming life. That is the Word. That is the good news. Job gives insight to our condition and situation.
The stream of life will never run out, there is no end. The destination is but where we begin.
1 Chronicles 12:32 (NIV)
32 men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;
To know leads to understanding.
Understanding leads to repentance.
Repentance leads to salvation.
Salvation leads to witness.
Witness leads to the glory of God.
Where we are includes the body and spirit of our life. We are given a unique constellation of gifts and capabilities in a particular place of time and space. These are found only in God’s light. These are true riches.
Luke 10:10-12 (NIV)
10But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' 12I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
Jesus says this to the seventy-two He sends out before Him. The kingdom is come! It will arrive fully when He arrives.
Sodom’s day was before the kingdom arrived with Jesus. Just as we were not held accountable before the law was given, Sodom did not have the revelation of salvation and faith in the Son. God must have something in mind, for He is an awesome and just God. But now there is no excuse. For those who reject Jesus, it will be unbearable.
John 14:6 (NIV)
6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The rest of the Bible, God’s Word, elaborates on this fact, providing the witness of Jesus.
Revelation 18:6 (NIV)
6Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup.
The “she” here is the world, referred to as Babylon. She is in sharp contrast to the Bride of Christ. Both will receive as they gave.
The parable of the talents teaches the same truth. The faithful servants were rewarded with much by being faithful with little.
As we give mercy, so will we receive mercy. How we live makes a difference. God is abundant in His reward.
Job 1:21 (NIV)
21 and said:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."
Every person enters and exits the world in the same way, unless we are reborn and transformed. We will be no longer naked, but clothed with immortality. He gives us something He will never take away: Life.
Jesus speaks to us where we are in language we can understand. The simplest words can contain profound truth, thus the parables. The Holy Spirit infuses the Word, opening to the deep things of God.
Luke 13:20-21 (NIV)
20 Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
The gospel of Jesus will prevail. His Spirit is the yeast that is working in all flour of the earth. His body is the bread of life.
In Genesis Chapter 18, Abraham tells Sarah to make bread for his three visitors while a calf is prepared. He then stands under the tree while they ate. This pictures the tree of life. The bread continues to rise.
We are called to translate the gospel into our lives. Knowledge of the words alone is of little use. The Word is living. We are transformed when it lives in us.
Luke 13:20-21 (NIV)
20 Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
The gospel of Jesus will prevail. His Spirit is the yeast that is working in all flour of the earth. His body is the bread of life.
In Genesis Chapter 18, Abraham tells Sarah to make bread for his three visitors while a calf is prepared. He then stands under the tree while they ate. This pictures the tree of life. The bread continues to rise.
We might stand amazed that the “church” routinely and comfortably discriminated in the past and discriminates against people of “color” even now. Many today stand amazed that “church” routinely and comfortably discriminates against the testimony of Jesus. True color is this: the red of His blood covers the blackness with each one of us, and the believer comes out in the color of His righteousness. These are the true colors and the colors that matter.
Psalm 42:2 (NIV)
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
The Hebrew word “yspn” is translated here as soul. That one word encompasses all that we are: heart, breath, mind, and spirit. The Psalmist speaks of yearning for the living water of Christ. Jesus provided the way to meet with God. When we go to Him we find the way of life in the Father.
1 Corinthians 1:27-28 (NIV)
27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,
I am foolish enough to believe God, and foolish enough to say so.
2 John 1:7 (NKJV)
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
Confessing Jesus means being in Jesus. Not confessing and acknowledging Him is to be antichrist. This is the sword of truth that He brought into the world after having created the world. This is the sword of His mouth which will defeat all foes and restore creation.
Why do we all have different faces? What does this tell us about God if we are made in His image?
Everyday holds the possibility of something new. God is making all things new and that includes us.
Exodus 7:3-4 (NIV)
3 But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt,4 he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out my divisions, my people the Israelites.
Pharaoh serves as a “type” of Satan, and gives insight to New Testament teachings about the strongman who was tied up after refusing to set his captives free. Despite the miracles before him, Pharaoh chose not to believe. That choice was made long before this hardening of his heart. God did not change Pharaoh’s heart, but gave him over to what was already there.
This a historical event which provides Spiritual teaching. One day our Father will lay his hand on the world and bring out His children. The world has grown hard, but we await the day of a new earth. He has promised.
Proverbs 3:6-8 (ESV)
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
God is first. I acknowledge Him.
I am not wise, but seek after the One Who is Wisdom.
This is my refreshment and healing.
"We settle for so much less than who we are
We are children of the living God, sons and daughters
And we cry out in our emptiness for drink to quench our thirst
When we stand beside the fountain of living water"
...lyrics from the song "Let Us Remember Who We Are"
by Stephen Brown
John 14:6 (NIV)
6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Elsewhere Jesus said the way to destruction is wide and the way to life is narrow. There is no ambiguity here of what He means. He is that narrow way.
John 8:44 (NIV)
44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
The devil was not created as a murderer, but went down that path when he chose himself over God. He became a murderer because he brought death into the world. As a result of sin he became death’s first victim. Others followed him and turned from God. At first the fruit seemed pleasing to Adam and Eve. It does to you and me as well.
Death enters our world in the same fashion. A heart that does not cling to the truth falls prey to lies and deceit. There is One that speaks the truth, the words that lead to life. He carries out His Father’s desire. His name is Jesus, the Son of God.
Hearing from God is almost always Spirit to spirit, a knowing and confirming internal witness. This is faith, believing the One outside nature even though it is not natural. It is by faith we are saved.
Luke 19:47-48(NIV)
47Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words
It would soon come to pass that Jesus would hang on the cross for all people. Those that thought they has succeeded in killing Him were wrong.
As a result, today some hang on to Jesus, though others prefer to hang out with someone else. Even now there are many who would kill Jesus and silence the words He spoke. Even now they will not find any way to do it.
Proverbs 16:20 (NASB)
20He who gives attention to the word will find good,
And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
What we find in the word will strengthen our trust in the Lord. Blessings will come the more we lean on Him. The more we lean on Him the more we can embrace and rest in those blessings.
John 16 7-11 (NIV)
7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt[a] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
All of us will be convicted, one way or the other. Some will be convicted by the Holy Spirit and see the need to follow Jesus. Others will just be convicted.
