Rock, Paper, Scissors...

Rock, Paper, Scissors..

Or whatever happened to absolutes and what is relativism anyway?

“Whenever you find a man who says he doesn’t believe in a real right and wrong, you will find the same man going back on this a moment later. He will break his promise to you, but if you try breaking one to him he’ll be complaining ‘it’s not fair’ before you can say Jack Robinson.” C.S. Lewis.

In our newly minted post-modern society, every nuclear family has one. Every extended family has at least a few. And in our public policies, morals and ethics we find that, in reality, we are greatly outnumbered. They are more than relatives; they are relativists. While our relatives may be relativists, there is a big difference in defining the two terms. The former, of couse, needs no introduction and is used here only for the purposes of word play and jest. The later may now be the predominant philosophy of our culture and, as such, merits its time under the microscope.

Relativism is also known as relative morality. Relative, in this context, is defined as "dependent on relation to something else, not absolute"; morality here means "the practice of right conduct or duties; virtue; ethics; discriminating between right and wrong; verified by reason." Relativism is the idea that there is no absolute standard of right and wrong - all morality is relative to one's circumstances, culture, education, personal opinions, etc. Moral relativists believe that there is no law or commandment that is universally applied to all men. They teach that we create our own truth and that what is right for us might not be right for the next guy. So, we each end up with our own personalized but equal version of the truth.

It is, however, a non-sustainable philosophy which is eventually crushed under the weight of its own inconsistencies. As someone wiser than me once quipped, every man is a relativist until someone steals his watch. Or, perhaps, his wife or child, freedom or dignity. At that point, we all become absolutists. Values indeed may be relative to the individual; but that does not mean, in truth, that all relative values are equally correct, valuable, honest, or truthful. There has to be a standard by which true value is determined. If there is not, we have the collapse of all, including morality, law and truth itself. Some things must be fixed, uniform, immovable and concrete. Even as our self-appointed, new age prophets state that values are relative and that we must not "judge" or "impose," they have broken from relativism and stated what they believe, but will not conceed, to be an absolute. The relativism game cannot be played consistently without constantly changing the rules.

Because I believe the Genesis account of creation, sin and consequence, I do not believe that man, as man, is basically "good." I question, in a relative philosophy, how that term can even be defined. If you and I allow for various subjective interpretations, we cannot both be right and still maintain any consistent standard or definition by which others can declare goodness or badness. Jesus Christ himself says, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone." (Mark 10:18 and Luke 18:19). In some sense, even those who do not subscribe to a Judeo-Christian philosophy, and who worship another god, would concur. "Goodness" increases the more one looks like the god whom they have declared good. This is true even if the god being worshiped is self. (See my last post regarding man on the throne of his own heart). The problem of relativism again rears its head, however, when we begin to talk about multiple gods who are ascribed equal authority.

One of the additional fallacies within the larger philosophy of relativism is the inherent problem of mutually exclusive truths. This is often and consistently the case with the philosophy. If there is not a larger, objective, absolute standard of truth, if every individual is his or her own "god" and can subjectively determine what is true, how do we reconcile the inevitable and multiple inconsistent truths which we will necessarily reach. How can the mutually exclusive honestly co-exist as truth? They can't. If two "truths" on the same subject do not agree, then one or both are false. Nature teaches us there are absolutes: mathematical truths, scientific truths, biological truths, medical truths, chemical truths - all absolutes. Why, then, would there not be an ethical, moral, spiritual truth? Why would our ethics be the exception to the rule we see active in every other area of our world?

A philosophy of relativism verses a philosophy of absolutism will lead to different conclusions. As a point of clarification, while I am convinced "true truth" (a term coined by Francis Schaeffer) is absolute, I am well aware that we have wills that are free to disregard the absolute. While we may not be free to ignore the consequences of our disregard of truth, we are all certainly at liberty to reject the absolute. Based on this conviction, then, while it is my responsibility to shine a spot light on the truth, it is not my duty to ensure that another receives that truth. This, I think, is one of the differences between those who would proclaim the gospel (and honestly and decently attempt to live it) and those who would attempt to co-opt it for a lesser agenda. Spiritual truths transcend man's agenda. Those who would attempt to use the absolute as a club to beat others into submission have a fundamental misunderstanding of the truth itself as well as the application to his or her life. Jesus Christ refused most of the "political" debate of His time. Many in His society would have crowned Him a political revolutionary (in the nature of Barabbas) or a national king (to overthrow Rome). He was neither; the purpose was much larger than the politics and thought of the day. The purpose was eternal, not temporary; restoration not revolution. Additionally, the gospels show very clearly that Jesus expected some to reject His teachings; that they would walk away. At times, He seemed to even encourage it. Never did He attempt to compel another to believe. There is invitation and challenge but not compulsion. Today, we see many who would attempt to bastardize eternal truths for personal and temporal gains. I do, however, take some solace in knowing that no matter how poorly an ambassador may represent his emmisary, the ambassador is not the emmisary. We must look to the king and not necessarily his representative if we are to understand his true nature. I would suggest that I have no absolute understanding of truth, but Christ does. As such, my understanding should continually comport with His as the standard.

Absolutism, however, for the sake of absolutism is pointless. Even this philosophy is not above corruption or decay. The value and truth of absolutism depends solely upon to what the absolute is anchored. Who or what is the fixed standard; the concrete and immovable? For this reason it is necessary that there be an ultimate authority. If there is not, and we are left with the inconsistent and various individual truths at which we arrive, then there is really no reason to feed the poor, help the helpless or search for truth. If, ultimately, there is no authority and we ourselves determine the right and wrong subjectively, then the greedy wall street bastard is as right as Mother Theresa and the rapist is as righteous as the saint. What would then be the point of attempting to convince any other of the merits of an argument if we first approached the argument from the “conviction” of tolerance, no ultimate authority and only relative truth? Under such a system, no idea, thought or value is any better or worse than another so why even enter the fray of the debate? By what authority, under a relativist ideology, does one appeal to the other? Such an attempt would be intolerant in and of itself unless there existed a higher and more ultimate authority to which we have recourse. There is simply no way to reconcile relativism to itself as a consistent worldview and action plan. By its definition it negates the value of action and is incapable of long term reconciliation of viewpoints. Unfortunately, as a whole, our world does not understand the limitations of a relativist philosophy any more than it understands the philosophy itself.

That said, I am an absolutist only because I believe (a) there is an ultimate authority and (b) the ultimate authority is the trinitarian God who, through the second person of the Godhead, Jesus Christ, reconciled man to Himself. In John 14:6, Jesus famously stated, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but through me.” That is an absolute statement. He is the way: He is the way to the truth and He is Himself the truth. For such a statement and others, I am left with an absolutist conclusion. Here's the problem that Christ presents for every one of us: He does not leave the door open for acceptance only as a good man, fine teacher or intellectual prophet. He claimed to be God. (John 10:30-39; John 17:5, Mark 14:61-62 and many others). He acted as though He were God, said He was, did not rebuke others for accepting that He was, and was apparently convincing enough that most of His first century disciples were violently killed for advancing the proposition that He was, in fact, God. This, then, leaves us with only one of two choices: we take Him at His word, believe that He is God and the only way to the Father; or we dismiss Him as the most insane and delusional of the mentally ill lunatics who have also claimed to be God. But acceptance as a good man is not possible if He was a liar. Acceptance as a good teacher is not possible if He was basing all of His “truth” upon a lie He was perpetrating. And acceptance as an intellectual prophet won't work if He was a delusional madman.

Based upon what I see in this world around me, based on what I know of my own heart, and based on what my own experience shows me, it is inescapable that the conclusion is the first: He was exactly who He said He was. If that is then true, I must take what He said as revelatory truth and act upon it. The result is that if I am to truly follow Christ, I become the absolutist that He was. When He says “Follow me,” I do not have the option of dictating the terms; I follow based on His. It is certainly not a popular theology or philosophy these days. Truth, however, has never been beholden to the masses. When we believed the earth was flat, it was not. And truth then, just as it is today, will not be held hostage to popular sentiment. Truth is transcendant, not mundane; eternal, not culturally evolutionary. If it were anything less than promulgated by an ultimate authority, then we would be back at relativism and would have no basis for even looking for the truth. In that scenario, we simply determine our own and thus end the story and the search.

But our hearts, our nature and our eyes tell us that there is something more.

And so we keep looking.

It helps to look in the right places.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Burnett Ln,Vincennes,United States

You're Not as Valuable as You Think

You're Not as Valuable as You Think

And neither am I.

"You go girl!" "You've got this one, man!" "This is the way God made me..." "Don't let anyone tell you different." "Just look inside yourself and you'll find the strength you need." "I'm affirming my own self worth."

Or as Stuart Smalley from Saturday Night Live said years ago, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me." (http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-DIETlxquzY)

Ugh!

Our world is overflowing with bumper sticker slogans and feel good platitudes designed to make us feel fantastic about ourselves. Spend ten minutes on your Facebook newsfeed and try to tell me differently. If we don't count the cat pictures and game advertisements, a sizable portion of the pictures, posters and status updates focus on issues of esteem, identity and self. Truth be told, we already feel pretty darn good about ourselves; the incessant reminders to feel great are really only our clever marketing plan to sell an even better feeling about who we are. And we are a voluntarily captive market! Even the self-loathing among us are narcisists. At the end of the day, those who think too highly of themselves and those who think too little of themselves have both thought too much and too often of themselves. We live in a society that worships self. A society that has decided to worship the creature instead of the creator. Rom. 1:25. Sociologists who understand truth call this worldview "anthropocentric," man at the center. Man on the throne of his own heart. Man as king.

This is a problem.

"For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." Rom. 12:3

Instead, scripture says that we should be "theopocentric," God at the center. Man is to be overthrown by the real King. The throne belongs to Him.

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Cor. 10:31

"For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Cor. 6:20

and

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Col. 3:17

Quite simply, worship is a foregone conclusion. We were made to worship. We WILL worship. There will be a king on the throne of our lives. The question is what or whom will we worship. The creature or the creator. Us or Him. God or man. A quick reality check is provided by reviewing your resources. On what do you spend your time, money, emotions, thoughts, and energy? An honest assessment will result in a clear picture of your God; whom you worship. Have we each remade God in our own image? What does your polaroid tell you?

There's a choice. There is always a choice. Intuitively, we know this. We may choose to ignore the truth, but it is still the truth. In many of his writings, John Piper articulates the decision to be made as follows:

“The question is, Do you feel more loved by God when he makes much of you, or do you feel more loved by God when He frees you and enables you, at great cost to His Son’s life, to enjoy making much of Him forever?
Let me shorten it down so you can hear the essence of it. Do you feel more loved by God because he makes much of you or because he enables you to make much of him?” Excerpt From John Piper's contribution to Giglio, Louie, "PASSION."

Do we want to spend our lives making much of ourselves, feeling loved only when others, including God, make much of us? Or will we spend our lives making much of God Himself? Who will we declare as the sovereign of our heart, mind, body and soul? Will we insist that God, like self and others, worship us? Or will we choose to worship Him.

He is the creator; we are the creation. "But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?'" Rom. 9:20. He is intrinsically valuable; He is value Himself. Ours comes only from Him and His good declaration. "Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’?" Isaiah 45:9. Nonetheless, we are chosen (John 15:16, Eph 1:4) and we are loved (John 3:16) by the Potter.

We, then, are not valuable but rather valued.

“But does God’s love make me valuable? Answer: No. That message is not in the Bible. There is nothing in us that makes us valuable. The fact that God values us says something about God. It says nothing about us. God did not set His love upon you because you have something going on that your next-door neighbor doesn’t. We are not valuable in ourselves..." James Macdonald, "Gripped by the Greatness of God."

Can you image Family Christian Stores selling a t-shirt that reads, "I think too much of myself and so do you?" How about a viral post that says, "I must decrease so that Jesus can increase?" (John 3:30). Perhaps the new Chris Tomlin single will include the lines, "I'm not enough/It's not about me/I'm not valuable/Like momma said I'd be."

And yet, that is the truth of the matter. Our worth is determined by WHOSE we are; it is not created by WHO we are. This value is given to us, not generated within us, by the one who is supremely valuable and makes the only real declaration of goodness. Gen. 1:31. He values us. We are valuable only because we are valued. Apart from Him we are nothing.

So, let's spend our time making much of Him, not making much of ourselves. Let's not think of ourselves more highly than we ought but rather always retain our God, the truly valuable, in our thoughts. Let's rejoice in the knowledge that we do not need to strive to create our own worth. Instead, let us praise the one who has given us value because we are valued by Him. Amen.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Burnett Ln,Vincennes,United States

In the World But Not of It

In the World But Not of It

My recent thoughts and prayers continue to return to this idea:  we are in the world but do not belong to it.  Nowhere in scripture is the "in-not-of" principle articulated quite so directly or simply.  It's not a bumper sticker slogan that you can find in a single verse.  If it were, we'd probably find a way to take it out of context as we silk-screened it on our t-shirts.  Nevertheless, the idea is contained within God's word and is most closely matched in or deduced from the following verses:

"If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."  John 15:19

"I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world."  John 17:14-16

And

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."  1 John 2:15

Certainly, we should also consider a companion verse, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor during the rise and power of the Nazi party.  In his influential besteller, Eric Metaxas describes Bonhoeffer as a pastor, prophet, spy and martyr.  During his brief life, he stood against both Nazi atrocities and the malaise of the German church.  After Bonhoeffer's imprisonment for his work with the fledgling and brash "confessing church," Adolph Hitler personally provided the order for his execution.  The Fuhrer's hatred for Bonhoeffer no doubt also resulted from his nemesis' involvement in a failed assassination plot on his life.

While in prison, Dietrich wrote often to his young fiancé, Maria.  In his correspondence, Bonhoeffer indirectly provides something of a commentary on the precious verses and our discussion:

“And I do not mean the faith which flees the world, but the one that endures the world and which loves and remains true to the world in spite of all the suffering which it contains for us. Our marriage shall be a yes to God's earth...  I fear that Christians who stand with only one leg upon earth also stand with only one leg in heaven (12 August 1943).”  Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. “Letters Papers from Prison."

Within this scriptural reduction to common axiom an important truth is concealed.  We are to live in this world standing on both legs while looking forward to the day we will stand together in His presence.  While the world was initially pronounced "good," sin has entered and with it the curse.  Like man made in God's image, all of creation groans for redemption.  Romans 8:19 & 22.  What then does it mean to stand in this soil on two legs?  There is, after all, a continuing curse and the ever cumulative consequences with which to deal.  Even our natural laws acknowledge increasing disorder.  In plain language, the second law of thermodynamics states that we cannot break even.  That is, we cannot return to a previous energy state because there is always an increase in disorder.  Entropy always increases.

Nonetheless, by way of the Father's common grace, the curse does not hold complete sway over the entirety of creation.  All has not fully succumbed to the shadow.  We see through a glass darkly, but we still see.  1 Cor. 13:12. Though we will not fully see Him while we remain trapped in fallen flesh yet to be glorified, we see enough of Him now to stand in awe and to be amazed!  The common grace of God keeps us from becoming too blind to see.  Theologians describe common grace like this:  it is the grace God gives to creation as a whole. In this universal non-saving form of grace, God allows the sun to shine upon both the righteous and the unrighteous. God shows his goodness to all people when He feeds them, allows them to work, experience beauty, learn and have joy. It is also common grace that restrains the wrath of God until a later time.  Louie Giglio recently wrote that, "We may dwell in the lowlands, but we have been high enough, often enough to carry something special in our lives as we walk the streets of earth."

It is in this residual goodness that we can fully stand today while awaiting our hope of tomorrow.  Make no mistake, Biblical hope is not wishful thinking.  True hope is a present knowledge of a future certainty.  It is not pie in the sky, rope-a-dope thinking.  Hope provides a life fully lived now and a life fully lived later.  It is not an either/or conundrum; it is a both/and proposition.  "Follow Me."  It is coming to terms with the truth that eternal life begins the moment Christ arrives on your individual scene.  As Jon Foreman belts out, "I'm ready now, I'm not waiting for the afterlife."  Perhaps C.S. Lewis was a bit more articulate when he said, "Earth, I think, will not be found by anyone to be in the end a very distinct place. I think earth, if chosen instead of Heaven, will turn out to have been, all along, only a region in Hell: and earth, if put second to Heaven, to have been from the beginning a part of Heaven itself.”

Within this realization we find answers to many of the questions, causes, concerns, policies and politics of the day.   This knowledge provides us with real perspective on what it means to be fully human today and fully spirit always.

A Renewed Mind

A Renewed Mind

Actions follow belief.

Absolutely. I can tell what you believe by how you behave. You can do the same of me. Remember when your grandparents told you that "actions speak louder than words?" They were right. Actions tell us whether we believe our own words.

Perhaps 1 John 2:4 states this principle most sucinctly, "Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him..."

James also addresses the issue. "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:17

We act on what we believe.

Over the past few weeks, our discussion among these pages has covered the penultimate, the ultimate, and dependency. That is, we know that our obedience is to tend to the things before the last while our good God has the final matters within His strong hands. "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth." 1 Cor. 3:6. Additionally, we know that in all matters penultimate, we are completely dependent upon the Lord to equip, strengthen and keep our obedience. In short, He fully performs the duties of covenant from both sides.

This discussion, then, in light of the admonitions of James, John and scripture begs the question: what do we do with this truth? How do we act upon it? Where is there evidence of this knowledge in my actions so that I might have proof of my belief?

Important questions to be sure. And questions that are necessary to ask if we are to conclude our recent discussions with conviction.

The answer is a renewed mind. A renewed mind is the engine that drives the vehicle of action. It is the product and result of belief and it produces evidence of conviction through obedient works.

Romans 12:2 says, “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.

And let's look at a few verses that have been reoccurring in our discussion over the last month, the now familiar Philippians 4:6-9:

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Did you catch that? Meditate on these things...think on these things, mull them over, let them simmer in your brain pan. THINK on these things. MEDITATE on these things. On what things? On what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy. These are the thoughts of a renewed mind. Whatever happens in our heads will bear fruit through our hands. If we think on these things we will begin to act on these things.

We simply must begin to think about what we are thinking about. The process of renewing our minds does not happen accidentally or coincidentally. The renewal we are seeking is a result of God very purposefully providing us the mind of Christ as we obediently begin to think in the right way. Phil. 2:5. Knowing what you are thinking about and why is a sign of the renewed mind. It is almost impossible for us to engage this renewal if we will not or cannot think about what we are thinking.

But there is more. We are created in the image of God and empowered by His Spirit to understand what we see and hear around us. 1 Cor. 2:14-16. Our ultimate understanding is not left to us to define. It has been defined for us. As such, when we begin to renew our minds, it will not be enough to think about our own thoughts. Through the Spirit of the living God we are enabled to think about God's thoughts. And that, in the end, is the real hallmark of the renewed mind. It is indeed the mind of Christ and, as such, it is the mind that meditates on God's thoughts, on those matters which are true and noble, just and pure, lovely, virtuous, of good report and praiseworthy.

The renewed mind does not come about randomly. It is deliberate, it is a purposeful undertaking and, often, it is a battle. Look at the language Paul uses: "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:3-5.

Taking every thought into submission brings us back to the second half of Romans 12:2, "Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." This Spirit led change of thinking will result in action. Testing and approving are action verbs; they imply engagement. Our right thoughts lead to our right actions. Belief and action. We act on what we believe. We see here the answers to the question initially posed: how do we begin to act on truth? We have our minds renewed and our righteous actions are the sure result.

Beth Moore recently wrote: "I have heard people say these words over and over again: 'I cannot change the way I feel.' Oh, that may be true, but you can indeed change the way you think, and that will change the way you feel. We can know the thoughts we think. We can change our minds, and that will change our hearts.” Excerpt From: Giglio, Louie. “PASSION.” Thomas Nelson.

Changed thoughts change hearts. Changed hearts change actions. And the actions of a changed mind and heart can change the world.

I'm ready for the renewal...



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Burnett Ln,Vincennes,United States

Dependence

Dependence.

(For context, please first read the earlier posts, "Ultimately, It Is Not Up To Me," and "Penultimately, It Is A Matter of Prayer.")

This is really part three of the same dialogue...

If part one of the earlier discussion was that God cares for the ultimate and part two was that we care for the penultimate, the necessary next conversation must be our dependence, in the things before the last, on the God who holds the ultimate within His hands.

In 1953 a youthful Queen Elizabeth II was crowned the sovereign of England. At the time of her coronation, she was but twenty five years of age. She was a youth, a mere child given the enormity of her responsibility. Speaking of the important event, C.S. Lewis wrote, "The pressing of that huge, heavy crown on that small, young head becomes a sort of symbol of the situation of *humanity* itself: humanity called by God to be His vice-gerent and high priest on earth, yet feeling so inadequate. As if He said, 'In all my inexorable love I shall lay upon the dust that you are glories and dangers and responsibilities beyond your understanding.' Do you see what I mean? One has missed the whole point unless one feels that we have all been crowned and that coronation is somehow, if splendid, a tragic splendour..." (Letters to an American Lady, July 10, 1953)

He continues his theme in a November 6, 1953 letter to the same correspondent, "But then when the need comes, *He* carries out in us His otherwise impossible instructions. In fact, He always has to do all the things -- all the prayers, all the virtues. No new doctrine, but newly come home to me."

Indeed. We have neither the skills nor the natural self-generated resources to undertake the job appointed to us, let alone the ability to complete the task. Parenting, friendship, fidelity, love, faithfulness, courage, patience, and peace -- they are all consistently outside our grasp unless we grasp the truth that they are given to us and not generated within us. Contrary to popular opinion and modern psychology, we do not look "within" ourselves to find the strength and resources to steward what has been given to us. Rather, we look "outside" ourselves to Jesus Christ, the glory of God the Father, to complete what is lacking and to provide what we are incapable of manufacturing.

The truth of the matter is this: it is not about us.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

And the corollary:

"But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

It is pretty clear, we cannot, in and of ouselves, accomplish anything of worth or significance. We are truly unable to meet the challenge that has been issued. Unless we meet it in Christ. And then it is He who meets the challenge through us. It is not of our own works and there is nothing of which we should boast. Rather, the ability to steward the responsibilities provided to us is found alone in Jesus Christ. See Ephesians 2:9.

The reality of the situation, on any given day, is for us much like it was for Joshua. The opportunity and challenge, the responsibility and cause was to take the city of Jericho. By all appearances and strategies, Joshua and the Israelites were ill-equipped to the task. Jericho was entreched, fortified, mighty and stalwart. Joshua and his nation were refugees from Egypt, nomads and tent dwelling wanderers. Nonetheless, there was a divine command, a kairos moment, and an opportunity for the glory of the Lord to shine (much like in the later story of Gideon). Scripture recounts that it was the Lord, not Joshua or his army, that was to prevail.

"And the LORD said to Joshua, 'See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.'" Joshua 6:2. After obediently following the specific commands of Yahweh, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the LORD has given you the city." Joshua 16:16. And it was so. Joshua 6:20 recounts, "So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city."

He was dependent. The victory was not his. The strategy was not his. The resources were not his. All belonged to the Lord of hosts. Joshua recognized this and in his dependence he prevailed.

May we also prevail in His stength. Ours alone is insufficient at best. It is only though Jesus Christ, and in Him alone, that we are made strong.

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

Amen.

Location:Burnett Ln,Vincennes,United States