EmmDev 2020-03-31 [Perspective: God, Faith and Covid19] Good will come out of it.

Good will come out of it.

One of the strong sentiments emerging at this time is "don't worry, good will come out of this."

I agree with the sentiment.

Wholeheartedly.

For me it is not a mere sentiment, it is a core part of my faith.
With all of my heart, mind and soul I believe that God can and does work in these circumstances. This is the ultimate message of Easter - Good Friday leads to Resurrection Sunday.
Tony Campolo said "It's Friday... but... Sunday's coming!"


There are two verses that immediately come to mind:

• Gen.50:20 (Joseph talking to his brothers who sold him into slavery) "You tried to harm me, but God made it turn out for the best, so that he could save all these people, as he is now doing."
  
  
• Rom.8:28 "...in all things God works for the good of those who love him..."

But I am concerned about some misconceptions around this thought...

Firstly, I am concerned that when we are too quick to say "Oh God will bring good out of this" we are in real danger of minimising or trivialising the reality and pain of the current circumstances.

Paul doesn't make this mistake. Having told the church in Rome that God was at work in their circumstances, he also connects powerfully, deeply and intimately with their situation of persecution. In fact, he describes their circumstances very candidly: "We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." And then he comforts them with the powerful affirmation that nothing can separate them from God's love. And not even Covid19 and its ensuing chaos can separate us from God's love!

My second concern is this: If we believe that God works in all circumstances, this does not mean that He is the author of our circumstances. As I noted in a previous eDev, we live in a broken world. And in a broken world, broken things happen. It is God's gracious, mysterious and even mischievous way to bring good out of evil, but that doesn't mean that God sent covid19 so that good could come out of it. Human hubris drove the world into the covid19 ditch, but in His kindness and mercy God will work to transform our pain.

My third concern is that many people are quick to say that "good will come out of this" or that "God will bring good out of this" but they sit back and wait for it to happen. They are not listening to the gentle whispers and prompts of the Spirit who would move our hearts, minds and imaginations so that we become agents of the transformation. God chooses to include us in His work of transformation. But  He doesn't work alone. If "good is to come out of this" we will have a part to play. We can't be passive. We have to be part of what God is doing.

I sincerely believe that real good could come out of lockdown and the world-wide impact of covid19. Our systems, our priorities and our habits could change for the better and I hope and pray for that.

But let us take time weep and pray at the loss of life, the plight of the poor and the devastating economic impact. Then, let us open our ears to hear the Spirit and roll up our sleeves to be part of the transformation. Use lockdown to think and pray, do what you can while you're there, but then come out ready for action!

Roman Christians were being put in front of gladiators and wild animals. They were being set on fire to light up Nero's garden. They paid a tough price, they "locked down" in the catacombs as they hid from their persecutors but through Christians like them the gospel went to the world.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ... Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.                    (Romans8:28-37)

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EmmDev 2020-03-30 [Perspective: God, Faith and Covid19] The Desert

The Desert

There are two possible backdrops for today's reading:

The first is in the life of a young David who'd been anointed as King by Samuel, but the current king, Saul, was trying to kill him. David and his rag-tag bunch of soldiers were scrambling across the desert barely keeping ahead of Saul and his lynching posse.

The second possible backdrop comes from the time of Absalom's rebellion which caused his father David to flee into the wilderness.

Either way, I can only imagine that David was struggling with his circumstances and the sense of helplessness he was feeling. I think the emotions he has are very similar to what many of us feel in this lockdown period...

His prayer reflects the desperation of his circumstances - I call it his hunger and famine. Look at the verbs that describe his hunger: "Earnestly I seek You", "My soul thirsts for you", "My body longs for you..." Then he describes his famine: "A dry and weary land where there is no water". (The phrase "where there is no water" is technically superfluous, but communicates the desolation he feels so clearly.)

It's such a powerful picture:
David is hungry but he finds himself in famine.

Maybe we are too.

So what do we do?

1.Remind yourself of God's Greatness
David has a moment that he clings to. A memory of worship in the sanctuary (probably the tabernacle at Shiloh) where he experienced the presence of God in a profound way. This moment is lodged in his soul and fills him with love for God in a way that sustains him in the desert.

Think back to a time where your heart was close to God. Dwell in those moments and re-kindle your "first love" (Rev2:4-5). Read your Bible, take time in prayer, listen to worship music and spend quiet time in your garden. Use the "slow time" of lockdown to "still and quiet your soul." (Ps131)

2.When you struggle - reach out in faith
But David also had to face "the dark night of the soul." His bed was probably a camping mattress in desert and he was probably waking up at 3 or 4 in the morning with thoughts racing and nerves jangling about a surprise attack from his enemies... But there he chose to remember God and the think about Him in the watches of the night. He makes a decision to cling to God and to sing in the "shadow of God's wings".

The famous preacher Louis Giglio describes a time in his life that he suffered from burnout and was having anxiety attacks that landed him up in hospital emergency rooms more than once. His toughest times were at 2-3 in the morning and over a period of time he learned to "sing in the shadow of God's wings." You can watch a clip about Louis' experience at www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HMACScjbKI
Are you hungry in a the desert?

Do you need solid ground in a time of lockdown?

David would remind us that God will
"keep us in the shadow of His wings" 
                and 
"uphold us with His right hand."

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.      (Psalms63:1-8)

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EmmDev 2020-03-27 [Perspective: God, Faith and Covid19] Under lockdown

Under lockdown

Today South Africa went into lockdown for 21 days.

There are many concerns people have and there is great uncertainty:
- Will the lockdown work?
- Will we "starve" the virus of reachable hosts?
- Will I get through 21 days of lockdown without going crazy?
- What about the economic impact?
- and I could list various other concerns people have...

Paul wrote a letter to Timothy while he was a prisoner in Rome - for the second time. The first time he was imprisoned and under house arrest, but this second time was after Nero burned Rome and so he was in a cold damp dungeon with Christians regularly being sent to the Colosseum or set on fire to illuminate Nero's gardens. It was a matter of time before Paul's time would come.

Paul's "lockdown" had challenges too:
- The political climate of Rome was a roller coaster
- The future was uncertain.
- Paul's life expectancy was uncertain. (He was eventually beheaded)
- The lives of Paul's beloved fellow believers was uncertain.

And so the request Paul makes of Timothy is unusual: "Please bring my cloak (for warmth) and my scrolls and parchments."

We can understand the request for the cloak. It was a thick blanket with a hole for the head so that it tented over the body. It would keep him warm in the cold cell.

But the request for his scrolls and parchments is remarkable. The scrolls ("biblia" for books) were likely to be the copies of the Septuagint (a Greek translation of the Old Testament) A few scholars suggest that the parchments ("membrana" (membrane) i.e. vellum skins) might have been his Roman Citizenship documents but the vast majority of scholars suggest that these were Old Testament texts and possibly even early versions of the gospels.
In the midst of very very uncertain circumstances Paul wanted to read and grow.

There's a temptation in lockdown and social distancing to gorge ourselves on social media, news and opinions or to binge-watch tv-shows and movies. We can fixate on the problems and check the stats and the news every hour. We can become consumed by worry alternating with mindless distraction.
Like Paul we should make a clear and deliberate decision to grow.

Drag your eyes away from the screens for a bit.
Read something solid and worthwhile.
Fill your heart mind and soul with solid food.
Your Bible might be a good place to start...

When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.       (2Timothy4:13)

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EmmDev 2020-03-26 [Perspective: God, Faith and Covid19] Are we in the "end times"?

(My apologies for the gap in devotions - we had a death in the congregation and a number of pastoral issues to get sorted out as our country prepares to go into lockdown over the Covid19 pandemic.)

Are we in the "end times"?

There are a number of emails circulating that talk about the fires in Australia, the recent locust swarms in North Africa, the earthquakes that have been taking place and now the Covid19 pandemic. They tie these up with various Biblical texts to argue that we are in "the end times".

Some clear thinking is needed here.

In Matthew 24 Jesus talks about "the end". It's a difficult passage that is best understood when we understand that Jesus was talking about two things:

1. He was talking about and predicting the destruction of Jerusalem which would happen in 70AD. When you look at the verses below: It's clear that He was talking about the destruction of the temple (which happened in 70AD). He is clear "this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened." Then He says a very important thing: "These are the beginning of birth pains."
   
   
2. But He was also talking more generally about the final judgement and second coming. He will cement His teaching about this in Matthew 25 when He tells the parable of the ten virgins and the master unexpectedly coming home from a journey. His emphasis is that "no-one knows the day or hour."

Birth-pains are a helpful analogy. A woman in labour will experience a contraction and then relief, another contraction and then relief. Ultimately one of the contractions will lead to the birth: the second coming of Jesus and the final judgement. Jesus was making it clear to the disciples: The destruction of Jerusalem wasn't the "end of the world" it was the "beginning of the labour pains".

So, to be Biblically correct, the end-times began when Jesus ascended into heaven and the church was born. Since Jesus' first coming and the conception of the church, history is pregnant and in labour.

Throughout history, on a global and sometimes in a corner of the earth, natural disasters, persecution and war have had God's people asking "Is this the end?" The responsible Biblical interpretation is: "This feels like a labour pain - it may lead to the birth or it may pass."

During the severe persecution of Christians in Rome, God have John the Revelation. This letter comforted the church in Rome. The symbols in the book made perfect sense to them. The beasts were Caesar and the Emperor cult. The mark of the beast on hands and forhead were that they had to burn incense (with their hands) and bow down (their heads) to the statue of Caesar and if they didn't they were excluded from society socially and economically or put to death. All the symbols in Revelation make sense in the context of the Roman persecution of Christians.

But Revelation has also been of great comfort to the persecuted church over the ages. It was a comfort to Martin Luther and John Calvin who were persecuted in the Reformation, it was a comfort to the faithful church in Nazi Germany who saw the beasts as Hitler and the Gestapo. The persecuted church behind the "Iron" and "Bamboo" curtains and the church in North Africa currently under intense persecution all find great comfort in the book of Revelation. This is because the symbols in the book and its message of Christ's triumph make sense every time there is a labour pain in history.
Even the passages about of the "Day of the Lord" in the Old Testament are best understood in this way. They often point to an actual event in history that has already taken place, but point through that event to the ultimate event. There's labour pains and then there's the birth.

So, our earthquakes, fires, locusts and Covid19 outbreak are part of the birth-pains. They may even be the labour pain that results in the second coming, but we don't know.

What should we do?
Some Christians withdraw and retreat into a "rapture theology" (that Jesus is going to come and take the Christians away while the final chaos unfolds). This idea has been popularised in novels and movies but it is not Biblical (and I'll deal with this another time).

In Revelation Jesus writes letters to seven churches in Asia Minor (symbolising the church in the world). At the end of each letter He says: "To them that overcome/endure/persevere..."

This summarises our task: To keep the faith. To persevere. To be the Church. To love and serve.
"Are we in the 'end times'?"

Yes, we have been in the end times for nearly 2000 years.

"Is this a labour pain?"
It looks that way, but God has promised to be with us!

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down." 3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, ' and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.      (Matthew24:1-8)

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EmmDev 2020-03-23 [Perspective: God, Faith and Covid19] Faith or Presumption

(The message today is long - it's a tough but important issue)

Faith or Presumption

Today I must address a very difficult topic. What do we do with all the verses that promise protection and healing for disease and illness?
There are a number of verses being circulated on social media which promise that God will protect us from illness and pestilence.

(There are even some churches refusing to close services because they believe that God will supernaturally protect the faithful. Sadly, there is a suggestion that 60% of the Covid19 infections in South Korea originated from people who attended a church that refused to close services. Not only did the worshippers get sick, but they infected others down the line. They increased the curve instead of flattening it.)

Some of the most circulated passages come from Psalm 91.

• v.3 "Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence."
• v.5-6 "You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
  nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday."
• v.7 " A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand,
  but it will not come near you."

If you read the psalm as a whole, it really does read like a guarantee of unlimited safety and protection. But we must recognise three key points:

1. There are other passages of Scripture that "balance" the promises we have here.
   Jesus tells us "In this world you will have trouble." (John16:33) and Paul (one of the most devoted servants of God I know) describes his hardships (flogged, beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, flooded, threatened, etc (all in 1Cor.11)). Paul also talks about his "thorn in the flesh" (which we think was a recurring eye infection) that God didn't take away but he was given grace to get through his trouble.
   This is important: Scripture often balances difficult concepts by giving us both ends of the spectrum.
   To give another example: We have passages that describe God's utter holiness and other passages that describe His endless mercy. These "opposites" are not "mutually exclusive" but paint the breadth of the matter at hand.
   So, holiness and grace are the full extent of God's character.
   And deliverance-from-trouble and grace-in-trouble are the full extent of our experience of life on earth.
   
   In life we will experience hardship but we will also experience rescue, protection and deliverance. Psalm 91 expresses one end of the spectrum and Paul's life the other. At various times in our journey through life we will have experiences somewhere between these two ends of this creative tension.
   
   
2. If we insist that Psalm 91 is a guarantee, then we have two practical problems:
   
   • If all sickness, disaster and war is overcome, then what will we die from?
     And how do we explain the pain that's in our world - even among Christians.
     It is simply not feasible to make this universally applicable to all believers.
     
     
   • If I do trust in Ps.91 and I get sick or go through a disaster, then who failed? Did God fail? (We're in trouble if He did!) Or did I breach my contract and therefore nullify its benefits? Did I sin? Did I not have enough faith? And can we then argue that everyone who gets sick or has a disaster lacks faith? I think Paul would beg to differ!
   
   
3. There is a fine-line between Faith and Presumption.
   Faith trusts in God without treating Him like a vending machine. Faith believes that God can do incredible things, but that God's ways are not our ways. Faith accepts that God sees the "bigger picture" even when we are limited by our smaller one. Faith recognises that the smaller picture may be a bumpy ride to a better bigger picture.
   
   Presumption makes God a servant of my interpretation of His promises. Presumption makes the current smaller picture (what we can see) all important. It can't see the bigger picture. Presumption insists that God must while Faith believes that God can.
   
   Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had faith without presumption
   "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able (faith) to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, (avoiding presumption) we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods" (Dan3:17-18)
   
   Interestingly enough, this very Psalm 91 was used by Satan to tempt Jesus. Satan brought Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and quoted v.11-12 for Jesus to presume on God's protection.
   
   Jesus responded very clearly: "Do not put the Lord your God to the test." He refused to presume.
   
   If Jesus, the Son of God, refused to use this passage as a guarantee, then surely we should be very circumspect about "naming and claiming" it?
   

My friend and fellow-minister, Brian Darroll, wrote this about Ps 91: "The picture before us in this passage is that of the eastern shepherd with his flock travelling the dry, barren hills of Judea. The sheep need food and water. But they also need protection from the blazing midday sun. And so the shepherd will call his sheep at midday to shelter in the shadow of some great overhanging rock. The wise sheep will know that its shepherd cares for it and although it may still be hungry and thirsty it will wait in the shade that has been provided."

Another Shepherd image is in Psalm 23 which also affirms the goodness of the Shepherd but also reminds us that we may "walk through the valley of the shadow of death" and may have to "eat at a table in the presence of our enemies."

Psalm 91 reminds us that God can and often does provide for and protect the faithful who stay near Him and trust Him and take refuge under His wings. (I've underlined every expression of devotion and trust I saw in the Psalm.) I trust in Him, but I don't get to "dictate terms". Jesus didn't and I shouldn't either.
I also think that this Psalm points us to a reality that is even bigger than this life and this world. While not "relegating" Psalm 91 as being only about heaven, I think it does point in that direction. When I shelter in Him in death, I find His ultimate refuge.

So... I pray daily that God will help us make a vaccine or that He will provide a solar flare or something that will supernaturally kill the Corona virus - I believe He can. I will also reach out my hands to help others wherever I can. But I'm also going to wash my hands and follow all reasonable precautions. I have faith, but I won't presume. I'm not God - He is.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you make the Most High your dwelling-- even the LORD, who is my refuge-- 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."      (Psalms91:1-16)

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EmmDev 2020-03-20 [Perspective: God, Faith and Covid19] Diseases in the Bible

Diseases in the Bible

A lot of people are asking "Is Corona God's judgement?"
In order to answer this question properly, we need to look at disease and pestilence in the Bible.

The foundation of our framework is the recognition that we live in a broken world because of the rebellion of humanity through Adam and Eve. When God unpacks the consequences of their sin in Genesis 3, He tells Eve that childbirth will be difficult and He warns Adam that the ground will not easily yield crops. This is the broken world. And in a broken world broken things happen.

Now let's look at plague and pestilence in Scripture.

1. It's normal in the "handbook": Leviticus was the handbook for holy living in daily life. Leviticus has all sorts of procedures for handling mildew and infectious skin diseases. When you read them you see testing, quarantining and physical distancing. Additionally, scientists have recognised that many of the "unclean animals" listed on the "Do Not Eat list" do, in fact, have more harmful organisms and dangers. (And yes, bat is on the unclean list!) This practical list of management mechanisms and do's and don'ts helps us realise that they dealt with diseases and had measures to put in place when diseases came prowling. Disease was a normal part of their life and world.
   
   
2. Some Plagues were seen as the judgement of God: Whether it's the ten plagues or the pestilence when David conducted a faithless census, the important thing to realise is that there is almost always a clearly defined causal event. A plague-as-punishment doesn't come about because of general brokenness.
   
   
3. Plague can come around and wake us up. This is demonstrated in Solomon's temple dedication prayer where he urges Israel to "wake up" when (not "if") pestilence comes.
   
   
4. There are examples of and promises for healing. Naaman was healed of leprosy and Israelites from disease. There are promises for healing of pestilence and even some passages that may sound like absolute guarantees of protection and healing (Ps 91 comes to mind and we'll look at it in detail tomorrow.)
   
   
5. In the New Testament we see Jesus powerfully healing people from leprosy, blindness and other illnesses but we also recognise that, even when the Jesus the Son of God was here, not everyone in Israel was healed. We also see Paul suffering from a nasty recurring disease, his "thorn in the flesh" that God didn't take away.
   
   
6. Sword, Famine and Plague are the "unholy trinity" used very frequently in Jeremiah and Ezekiel and remind us that life in this world is both broken and temporary.

Here are the "take homes":

• At one level plague is a regular part of life and should be managed with practical measures like hygiene and quarantine.
  
• For plague to be a judgement, there should be absolute clarity as to what sin the plague has come to judge.
  
• God can use the brokenness of the world to "wake us up." This should lead us to prayer, repentance and revival.
  
• While God can and does heal and protect, we should trust in Him as our God and not claim or demand healing.
• We're all going to die whether by sword, famine or plague. The only way into eternity is through the door of death. We were not made for this world and we should not cling to it too much.

I think the Covid19 outbreak fits the scenario of "waking up". The world population has fallen asleep at the wheel and crashed into the ditch. Covid19 is the ditch we crashed into and we need to turn to God for His help to get us out...

Our passage for today captures this beautifully and what I love about it is that it has both corporate and individual nuances of remorse, repentance and renewal.

"When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, 38 and when a prayer or plea is made by any of your people Israel--each one aware of the afflictions of his own heart, and spreading out his hands toward this temple-- 39 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of all men), 40 so that they will fear you all the time they live in the land you gave our fathers.      (1Kings8:37-40)

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EmmDev 2020-03-19 [Perspective: God, Faith and Covid19] Weeping and Weeping

Weeping and Weeping

I am sorry today's message is late...

I was going to tackle the issue of infectious disease in the Bible, but something else has been on my mind...

Since early last week I've immersed myself in the stats, facts and articles about Covid19 so that I could try to be at my best for the church in these times.

But somewhere along the way, the sadness set in...

I felt and still feel deep deep deep sadness for the loss of life, for the pervasiveness of the fear, for the loss of "life as we know it", for the hammering our economy is going to take and how the poor are going to struggle. I was/am sad, sad, sad.

I think many of you feel the same...

The devotional message down below is a very important part of helping with this, but I want to start with a few practical things that I am trying to apply to myself:

1. I think it's OK to be sad and it's OK to grieve. Take a moment to acknowledge the deep sense of loss we feel. Acknowledge it. Sigh. Shed a tear. Take it to God and say - "I'm sad."
2. Slow down a bit and breathe. Things are very fluid and it's tempting to try to respond to every change. Slow down. Zoom out. God is still the same - even though our world has changed.
3. Sleep more. Not only will this increase your resistance to illness, but it will increase your emotional and spiritual resilience.
4. Love more. When you do interact with people show extra kindness and concern. Incidentally, the healing you bring by doing this will help heal your sadness.
5. Spend simple time with your Heavenly Father. Sit outside, catch a sunrise or sunset. Put on worship music. Read the Gospels. Tell Him about your sore heart.
6. Fill your tank - we all have little things that give us pleasure and restore our sanity - make an effort to do the things that renew you.
7. If you get stuck, get help. If your sadness turns into something that cripples you, phone your minister, elder, or a mature Christian friend who can offer you some perspective and support.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Today's reading comes from Revelation. This section of Revelation deals with the suffering of the church over the ages. This is symbolised by a scroll with seven seals on it. The seals represent aspects of the suffering church: The white, red, black and pale horses of conquest, conflict, famine and plague; the cries of the persecuted and earthquakes.

Here in the opening of the seals we are offered a breath-taking and beautiful picture:
John is weeping and weeping because no-one can open the scroll - suffering is not something we can afford to be glib about. One doesn't want to stick cheap plaster on serious wounds. Whoever opens the seals can't be a lightweight.
Suffering is something we struggle with and whomsoever deigns to open the seals of suffering needs to have the necessary integrity, authority and comprehension of our struggle with the pain, violation and anguish that suffering causes us.

So who is capable enough to open the seals and the scroll??   Who has the credibility and integrity to open these tough seals of suffering in a worthy way??

John gets his answer: Jesus is worthy to open the painful seals of suffering!

• He is the Lion of Judah who has taken on suffering and overcome
• He is the Lamb who was slain - He has tasted the worst of suffering
• He has sent the Holy Spirit ("seven spirits") into our hearts to comfort us.

Suffering is a theological, philosophical, and emotional heavyweight.


We dare not risk cheap answers.

The good and beautiful news of Revelation is that Jesus our Champion takes on the heavyweight of suffering and, at great cost, overcomes and comforts you and me.

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals." 6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.      (Revelation5:1-6)

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EmmDev 2020-03-18 [Perspective: God, Faith and Covid19] Knowledge, Wisdom and Community

Knowledge, Wisdom and Community

Our reading for today comes from a list of soldiers who came to help transition David into kingship after Saul's death. It's a formidable list of brave warriors and heroes.

In this list the men of Issacher (one of the 12 tribes of Israel) were singled out for their ability to understand the times and know what should be done. They came as a cohesive unit with a number of leaders and their families.

"Understanding the times" is about more than knowledge. Facts always have to be interpreted and this leads to opinions. There are plenty of opinions out there. They range from "armchair individual opinions" to "semi-researched opinions", "individual expert opinions", "opinions from seasoned experts", "opinions from professional respected bodies" all the way to "opinions accepted and adopted by a diverse group of respected individuals and bodies." Sadly, on social media all these opinions can carry equal weight and armchair opinions are often expressed with less caution and less restraint, making them more evocative and interesting than opinions expressed by organizations and institutions who make statements in measured and precise tones without exaggerations and avoiding generalizations. I'm not saying that individuals are always wrong and institutions always right. I'm just saying that we need to understand the playing field. In times like this, weigh opinions carefully.

"Knowing what to do" is about wisdom. Loosely we could define wisdom as "making the decision that causes the least harm and brings about the greatest good." For believers, this is further qualified by the "fear (respect/awe) of the Lord" (Prov9:10) and the desire to do the "good pleasing and perfect will of God." (Rom12:2). Wisdom seated in the "fear of" the Lord means we do things in a way that pleases the Lord. Now the Bible doesn't say anything about Covid19. It does talk about infectious diseases to a limited extent and I'll tackle that tomorrow. But there are broader principles that apply. Jesus painted a bullseye target when He put love of God at the center and love of neighbour as the "second ring" of that target. Many churches have decided to cancel services for a period of time saying "out of love for our neighbour we will sacrifice our big gatherings." They have come to a difficult decision out of a deep and fundamental principle of love for neighbour.

The men of Issachar operated as a community and as a family. They were 200 chiefs and relatives moving as one. This is very important. Our strength and our effectiveness comes from being very deliberate in doing everything we can to maintain community, mutual respect (you'd need that with 200 chiefs!) and love.

[Practical Challenges]
Please consider the following questions today:

1. Are you measuring the opinions you're coming across and thinking twice before you forward something?
2. Are you doing things in a way that "fears/respects/honours the Lord"? Is your trust in Him larger than your fear of our times? Is His still small voice urging you to comfort/calm/equip/help someone else?" Our society desperately needs resolute people who listen to God and do what He asks.
3. Are you building strong community around you so that there is cohesion and support? Social distancing doesn't have to reduce community.
   

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2) ... men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do --200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command...      (1Chronicles12:32)

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EmmDev 2020-03-17 [Perspective: God, Faith and Covid19] The reality of trouble

The reality of trouble

I don't think anyone doubts that the last two weeks have changed our world. Covid19 has been recognised as a pandemic and governments are banning public gatherings, closing schools and encouraging stringent social distancing.

The effects of this will be far-reaching. Although mortality rates are relatively low, every single death is a significant loss to the family and community of the one who dies and they are more than a mere statistic. The strain on our infrastucture and health systems will be significant. And then the paralysis of community and commercial activity is serious too. There is the danger of fear and paranoia that threatens to overwhelm us. Down the line is the work of undoing the psychological and sociological impact of social distancing and the mindset that makes us see fellow human beings as virus carriers.

So I'm interrupting my lent series to tackle some of these deep issues that are raised and will tackle issues like:

• What should our posture as Christians be?
• Where is God in all of this?
• How do we deal with our fear?
• Some say this is this God's judgement. Is that true?
  
• Is there really a "silver-lining" in all of this?
• Some say we can we claim God's protection against pestilence. Is that true?
• How can we be a community while social-distancing?
• Parenting challenges in Corona Season.
• How do we make a difference?

As I tackle these issues, I'll relentlessly focus on practical application - How can we act differently? How can we be salt and light?

These devotions will be published on a blog http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
Please share this with others as a source for responsible, Biblical and encouraging responses to these challenging times.
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Psalm 46 doesn't guarantee a trouble free life.
It speaks of earth-shaking trouble and war.
It's about the shaking of our foundations.
And this happens. Even to Believers.

The psalmist offers us a couple of beautiful foundation stones:

1. God is our refuge and strength. A refuge is for hiding, recovery and retreat. Strength is for standing up and facing trouble. We need both. We need His ever-present help.
   
   
2. There is a river and a city that makes us glad. This is pointing to more than the physical Jerusalem which fell to the Babylonians. Some commentators see this as pointing to the New Jerusalem (the promise of heaven) others see it as the Church and in particular our local faith community. The bottom line is that God is "within her" through the river of His Spirit (See Ezekiel 47) and she will not fall . The Church will endure. Connect to your God family in this time. Even though church services may be closed for a period, we have our phones and our one to one connections. Look after each other and reach out to the world.
   
   
3. God makes wars to cease. He is still ultimately sovereign. While our abuse of our God-given freedom led to brokenness, God has it on a leash. This is the basic premise of the book of Revelation which is relevant every time there is a "contraction" in the "labour pains" of history. God is ultimately in control and while He allows evil and brokenness, He is not the author and He will cause it to cease in His time.
   
   
4. We need to be still and know He is God. In these troubled times, more than ever, we need to take our direction from him and not the paranoia and news-deluge of social media.

[Practical Challenge] Make time today (and every day) to come to this stunning conclusion: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear."

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah {We think this means "pause and reflect"} 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 8 Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. 10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah      (Psalm 46:1-11)

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EmmDev 2020-03-13 [Coming to our Senses in Lent] Lent and Relationships #3: Speak Kindly

Lent and Relationships #3: Speak Kindly

There is a quirky story in the Old Testament about a war between the Gileadites and the Ephraimites where the one tribe could be identified from the other by their pronunciation of the word "Shibboleth." One tribe said "Sibboleth" while the other said "Shibboleth." If you said "Sibboleth" at the border-post it got you killed!

In relationships our language and accents also have great power to heal or to harm. While the OT book of Ruth is about an unlikely romance between an Israelite man and a Moabite woman, it is important to emphasize that before there is romance there is kindness.

Ruth had taken huge risks to stay with her mother-in-law:
- She'd left her home country
- She was living as a poor refugee
- She was living among people known for their nationalistic pride

When Boaz spots her, there is immediate interest from his side, and he shares his lunch with her and has a very caring conversation with her. He speaks affirming and gentle words to her, connecting with her sacrifices, commending her for her faithfulness and pronouncing blessing on her life. His one-to-one appreciation and sensitivity does a great deal for her.

There are times where a good face to face connection with important people in our lives is very valuable. Ruth's response says it all. Boaz has filled her tank!

Maybe you need to take time with a spouse, child, colleague or team-member and have a care-full conversation.

It can mean a great deal.

So Boaz said to Ruth, "My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls. 9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled." 10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me--a foreigner?" 11 Boaz replied, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband--how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." 13 "May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord," she said. "You have given me comfort and have spoken kindly to your servant--though I do not have the standing of one of your servant girls."      (Ruth2:8-13)

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EmmDev 2020-03-12 [Coming to our Senses in Lent] Lent and Relationships #2: Prayer

Lent and Relationships #2: Prayer

One of the most significant things we can do for others is to pray for them. In our text for today, Paul has been describing the adversity he faced in his work for the gospel. He firmly believed in the power of trust and prayer.

When our loved ones face trouble, heartache and hardship there is an "arrow in our quiver" that many of us forget to use and that is the power of prayer.
The Biblical Truth is that God inspires us to pray for others and that our prayers become a vehicle taking God's grace, peace and strength to those we pray for.

One of the most graphic examples of this is in Exodus 17 when Moses watched the Israelites go into battle against the Amelikites. In v.11 we read: "As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning."

Throughout the Old and New Testament the lifting of hands signifies prayer:
"Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin;
pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord.
Lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children," (Lamentations 2:19)

"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer..." (1Timothy 2:8)

When we pray for others, it helps them.
When we are in trouble, the prayers of others help us.

Paul was not shy to ask for prayer, but many of us suffer in secret and in silence. Paul was helped because of the prayers of many. We should not be too shy or too proud to ask for prayer and we should be quick to "lift our hands" in prayer for others.

He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favour granted us in answer to the prayers of many.      (2Corinthians1:10-11)

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EmmDev 2020-03-11 [Coming to our Senses in Lent] Lent and Relationships #1: Appreciation

Lent and Relationships #1: Appreciation

Our theme for Lent is about "coming to our senses" and one of the secondary foci is our relationships.

The hustle and bustle of life easily leads us to focus on all the problems (from traffic, to load-shedding, corona virus, job (in)security and so much more) and the danger is that we miss one of the blessings that is right in front of us and, if we nurture and protect this blessing, it will outlast so many of the things flashing across our headlines.

What is this blessing? It is our relationships which are a great source of strength, stability, love, encouragement and purpose. Our marriages, parents, children and friends are one of the greatest blessings we can have. (Sadly, if we allow these relationships to become dysfunctional, they can become our greatest stress...)

When Adam is alone in the garden, God makes Eve. When Adam meets her for the first time, he bursts into enthusiastic (if not slightly corny) poetry.

English manages to reflect the same wordplay as Hebrew does (a man is "ish" and a woman is "ishah"). He recognises her as one like himself, as a partner and a soulmate. In this poem there is appreciation, relief at not being alone and absolute delight.

Sadly, after eating the fruit (their fall into sin) there is blame and dominance. "The woman you gave me brought me the fruit..."

Brokenness seeks to de-value our relationships. Unless we work at maintaining them, they will land up becoming unhealthy and even toxic.

What if we took time to "come to our senses" and appreciate our relationships and affirm their importance? Your challenge for today is to express delight, affirmation and appreciation to those in your life who support and inspire you. (Even if your expression of delight is a bit corny!)

The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man."      (Genesis2:23 )

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EmmDev 2020-03-10 [Coming to our Senses in Lent] Use your Words!

Use your Words!

It's one of the things you often hear parents say to their toddlers. When a little one is upset, angry or hurting they come running to their parents, often with tears streaming, and the inarticulate wails that indicate the imminent ending of the world. And even though the parent often knows exactly what is going on, you still hear that familiar phrase "Now use your words..."

Jesus' parable of the Lost Son has been applauded even by non-religious literary scholars for its impact and effectiveness as a short story.

But it struck me that it could have been even shorter if Jesus didn't include the repetition of the son's words: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

But the repetition of his confession makes a powerful point:
He thought about what he was going to say and then he said it.
The confession wasn't a spur of the moment, nor was it something that was planned but never executed. The repetition of his words underlines the seriousness and importance of this moment.

The son "used his words."

And so must we - Whether we need to apologise to God or to someone we have hurt, our confession needs to sincere: it should be thought-through beforehand and then courageously delivered.

The prophet Hosea wrote "Take words with you and return to the LORD.
Say to him: "Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously,
that we may offer the fruit of our lips." (Hos 14:2)

Is there S[s]omeone who you need to make right with?

Use your words...

I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. '      (Luke15:18-21)

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EmmDev 2020-03-06 [Coming to our Senses in Lent] Weeds

Weeds

This week we've been "coming to our senses" about our brokenness and sin.
The simple truth is that we are broken. John says that we are deceiving ourselves if we think or pretend that we're without sin.

The good news, as we saw in Psalm 32, Isaiah 1 and Romans 8 is that God forgives and renews us. Today John will remind us that God is faithful and just. He forgives our sin (this was done justly because Jesus took our place on the cross - we are legally forgiven and not just on a whim.)

But God is also faithful because as we confess our sins (get real and honest with Him) He will purify us.

I like to use the analogy of getting rid of weeds. Forgiveness is cutting the weed off at ground level.  You can't see it anymore, but it could grow back.
 
Purifying digs at the roots. Slowly but surely we can overcome and eradicate those patterns of brokenness in our lives.
If we expose ourselves regularly and often to the love and forgiveness of our Father who is the Gardener who prunes and purifies (see John 15), He will help us dig out the roots of our weeds.

So, use this Lent season to be real and honest about some of your most stubborn weeds. Bring them to God. Receive forgiveness and watch how your desires/addictions/weaknesses are purified as He deals with the roots.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.      (1John1:8-9)

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EmmDev 2020-03-05 [Coming to our Senses in Lent] Awesome Reality Check

Awesome Reality Check

Did you look at today's heading and shake your head?
In everyday use the word "awesome" implies something that is beyond belief and beyond comprehension. This doesn't really fit in with "reality check" does it?

But our reading for today is a picture of a reality that Jesus accomplished for us and it is an incredible, amazing, wonderful and true reality. (And then maybe the word "awesome" in its original sense of "producing a sense of awe" is applicable.)

In Romans 7 Paul wrestles with the truth that no matter how hard he tries, he can't be fully obedient to God's law. This vexes him to the point that he exclaims "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"
The incredible truth and reality we celebrate today is this:

• We are not condemned because, although we are broken and guilty, we are in Jesus. Our guilt has been "wrapped up" in His innocence.
• The Law couldn't save us because we couldn't keep it. So Jesus came, and, having lived sinlessly, could be the sin-offering that satisfied the Law's requirements.
• This opens another option for us. We don't have to be slaves to our brokenness - God's Holy Spirit can guide us into a new way of life where we can overcome sin and brokenness.

When we feel bruised and broken by our failures and the failures of the world, here's a reality check:
God has done what we couldn't!
    He has forgiven us!
      And He will work in us so that we can overcome our brokenness.

It's real and it's awesome. Check it out below!

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.      (Romans8:1-4)

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EmmDev 2020-03-04 [Coming to our Senses in Lent] The Value of Confession

The Value of Confession

Guilt is a heavy burden.
It eats away at us and erodes our joy.
David describes physical symptoms: pain in the bones, groaning all day long, and day-night weariness.

Is this physical illness or psychological?
In the context of this psalm it has probably reached the point of physical illness - either because David has let the sin fester and fester to the point that it has manifested physically, or that God has used physical illness to draw David's attention to a spiritual problem.

We don't know what David did, but it seems pretty clear from the Psalm that he'd been in denial about it and had been trying to hide it. When he finally acknowledged it and UNcovered it, he was able to receive forgiveness from God.

Penitence is about coming to the realisation that there is guilt and evil that we hold onto and hide. It's better for us to "come clean" or, more accurately, "come and be cleaned" than to hold it in and hide it.

There is blessed relief for those who stop trying to deal with sin and the guilt it brings by themselves. Holding on to guilt and sin is very bad for us. It can cause us great psychological and even physical pain. Sometimes God will even allow illness or other setbacks to come our way to wake us up to acknowledging the problem.
When last have you come to be cleaned by God?




Forgiveness is FREELY available because of Jesus' death on the cross. We just have to ask.

David says it's worth it...

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. 3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD" -- and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah      (Psalms32:1-5)

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EmmDev 2020-03-03 [Coming to our Senses in Lent] Realising Forgiveness

Realising Forgiveness

My first real experience of snow was in Hogsback in the Eastern Cape. We'd been hiking and slept in an overnight hut. In the morning we discovered that the drab brown winter countryside had been transformed by snow that had fallen in the night.

Lent starts with Ash Wednesday - the realisation of my mortality and brokenness along with the reminder that I am forgiven.

Isaiah writes to a broken Israel - they are hard-hearted, corrupt and unfaithful. They're on a path toward destruction - they're going to implode morally, politically and spiritually. The first 17 verses of this opening chapter lament the hardness of their hearts to the extent that even their religious observances have become a sham.

Then, in an unexpected shift, God offers hope.
There is forgiveness available.
"Let's sit down and talk about it:
- You're in a bad way, but I can forgive you."

The language Isaiah uses is the language of a closing argument in a court case. When it comes to court cases we're used to pronouncements of guilt or innocence. We're not used to pronouncements of pardon.

And that is what this is.

This beautiful image of pardon is illustrated with an image of washing. (I always think of the adverts for laundry detergents!)
"You'll be washed sparkling clean."
"You'll be transformed like snow transforms the country-side."

Imagine yourself sitting in the dock.
You're guilty - you know it.
But in His closing pronouncement the Judge offers you a pardon!
You're forgiven!
But what will you do with this forgiveness?
You have two choices:
The English translation obscures Isaiah's clever pun:
You can "eat" or "be eaten"(devoured).
If, in response to our pardon, we are willing and obedient, we will eat of the best of the land.
Or we can resist and rebel and then we will be "eaten" by the violence our rebellion brings.

The message of the cross is pardon - full and unconditional.
We really can be washed clean.
But this pardon cannot be taken for granted.
We need to willing and obedient.

 It's not a condition, but it is a fitting response.

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; 20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.      (Isaiah1:18-20)

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