The Highway

1 Corinthians 11:14-15
Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

The truth is, there is a difference between men and women. Both are equal before God.1 Corinthians 11:12, "For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God." Both, however, have different functions in serving the Lord and operating within His economy and order. I'm not meditating on some obscure, esoteric, eschatological minor prophet, but from the main source of Christian exposition: the Apostle Paul. The truth is, if you're serious about following the Christian Way, you'll need to stop allowing worldly philosophy to subvert God's established order. There are differences between men and women, our functions are different.

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Job 23:8-12
Behold, I go forward, but he is not there;
and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him:
he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
10 But he knoweth the way that I take:
when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips;
I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

1 Peter 4:12-14
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Sometimes we go through fiery trials and wonder at them. We wonder what good could possibly come of them. To this day, I have no answer of any benefit as to when I broke my back. I was doped up, so I couldn't concentrate on the Word or prayer and probably just flittered away my time in more foolishness than anything. Sometimes we go through harsh times and wonder if God hasn't somehow forgotten us and if He had found us burdensome and had dropped us. Sometimes the cry of our heart seems to reverberate in the Heavens and shake the cosmos, but sometimes it doesn't even seem to reach the ceiling. What Job understood that God was working where we were unable to perceive Him and had faith that though he go through fiery trials, he would come forth as gold.

Peter also admonished his followers to not think it unusual to experience suffering. In fact, Paul prayed for further suffering so that He might know the fellowship of Christ!

What then is my response as suffering comes to me? What is our response? What are we to do when a close friend is in the hospital or is going through the dark valley? "Be glad also with exceeding joy." Why should we be glad? Because God knows the path we are walking! We are walking that path directly into the field of glory where we shall come forth as radiant gold and as a precious thing! Be glad! Your value and usefulness to The Almighty is increasing! Be glad! Your likeness is becoming like as unto The Master! Be glad! You are going from strength to strength! Be glad! Be glad! Be glad!

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Job 22:2
Can a man be profitable unto God,
as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

Luke 17:10
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Whenever we read the words of Eliphaz, we must keep in mind that the context of the book of Job is that Eliphaz is a heretic and a tormentor. Eliphaz' question is rhetorical. His whole thesis is that good men are always blessed, bad men are always cursed and God really has little care for man's heart.

We read from the words of Jesus that it is clear that we CAN be profitable servants, but not by only doing that which is required of us. We need to put forth more effort of love to be profitable than just the minimal stuff.

2 Timothy 4:11
Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

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Monday night: We moved family devotions from 0dark:00 to the evening just before bedtime. The kids really seemed to enjoy evening over morning. Also, since Heidi is more available at that time, she played the piano for singing. We are also plugging the family into part of my own Bible reading schedule. Today we read Exodus 5 and Luke 8.

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A principle I had learned from a saved, old ex-hippie, is that we are all an apostle of our own addiction. You only find the word “addicted” once in the Bible  and that is in 1Corinthians 16.15 when God holds up some people for being addicted to the ministry. Whatever has you in addiction, has you for its missionary. Your friends who don’t love the Lord are on a mission, whether consciously or unconsciously, to scatter people away from the Lord. Your so-called friends may do it for various reasons. If your friends aren’t willing to follow you into the fields of the Lord, they don’t deserve your friendship. They don’t deserve your company and if you aren’t willing to abandon the companionship of Christ’s enemies, you don’t deserve His companionship.

In Job 21.3, Job tells Zophar to "mock on." Zophar told Job (Job 20) that all of his problems were due to his wickedness and described to Job all of the misfortunes that befall the wicked. In great detail Zophar describes the "bad luck," so to speak, of the wicked. Job's response is to basically call his companion an idiot who doesn't know what he's saying. Job describes the opposite condition of the wicked. He describes how their houses are safe and how their cattle never casts its young. He describes how the wicked, through wickedness, prospers on the earth. He also describes in great detail how their children whore around and live a party life. Job shows us also their great blasphemies and mocking of the Most High. Job then describes how God brings judgement on their house over a period of time, how that there is no swift destruction from the face of the earth. Job's true hope for justice lies in the world to come.
Job 21:30
That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
There are many who say that the concepts of an afterlife and eternal judgment are not main themes of the Bible and should not be at the forefront of Christian thought. A surface level reading of the poetry books (Job-Song of Solomon) gives us the impression that the ancient Hebrews were very aware of an afterlife. Job was looking forward to a judgement day when all of wrongs done him would be judged and the righteous would stand vindicated against the wicked. Christians are preaching the same message today, yet we are maligned as judgmental fools (for so mocked they Our Lord).
Luke 7:35
But wisdom is justified of all her children.
The world loves it's sin and wickedness. The whole populace of the world rejoices in darkness and evil. Men love darkness (the true nature of man) rather than light (the true nature of God) because their deeds are evil (John 3.19). Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would would come into the world to reprove the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16.8). Mankind hates reproof of their deeds. Jesus said that same Spirit the world hates will be placed inside of us. Praise the Lord some of us received enlightenment and received the Truth, but the world mocks on. Take comfort brethren, let the world mock on for we will be vindicated in the end.

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Luke 6:34-36
And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

There are those that lend and hope to receive their own again with interest. I'm not speaking in respect to banks or financial institutions, but in regards to people to lend money or goods to their neighbor. I speak of the man who loans his neighbor money to buy food for his family or keep the lights on. I've seen Christians bind their neighbors with financial chains that were just as strong as if they had shackled them to a wall. I've seen people so petty in the sharing of their resources with those in need that they were no better or worse than the heathen. I speak, and I believe that context demands the clarification, of people lending in order to meet the basic needs of others; as opposed to vain luxuries. if you loan somebody money to buy a Ferrari, please, charge interest through the nose and enjoy your profit! We live in crisis days in our country where people are going into debt to buy basic staples because of the job situation and this ought not to be so amongst believers.

I would like to draw your attention to several words in the above passage which is just a snippet of a larger message by the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Hope.
   We are not to even hope to receive our lending again. Not just are we forbidden to charge usury, but we are forbidden to even hope for the principle again. So much of our love is wrapped up in the things of the world. We are commanded to "love not the world, NEITHER the things that are in the world" so that God's love may dwell in us (1John 2.15). That is exactly Jesus' conclusion in vs 36 above, "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." Christ's goal in us is to conform us to God's likeness and so Christ shows us an area that God is like and tells us to emulate it not only in action, but in the heart. Often we give lip-service to not wanting back what we lend, but in our hearts we hope or it. Christ expects our obedience in giving to be with such love that we do not even reserve within ourselves the hope of having it returned. This is a kind of obedience in giving that is foreign to the world, but is expected of us.
   
2. Reward
   We are informed of Christ that there is a special reward for those who give out of a right heart; a heavenly reward. So often, we are blinded by money and possessions in the world and we forget that what we have here isn't even to be compared with the riches offered us in Christ in the Kingdom to come. The Bible says that those who lend to the poor lens unto the Lord (Proverbs 19.17). Christ declares in the above passage that God is debtor to no man and will reward every man according to his work. In regards to an offering for the poor, Paul reveals a great truth to us in 2Corinthians 9. We are taught by Paul that when giving to the poor is with the right attitude, the reward is abundant and that God will be sure to provide for our own necessity. Also, Jesus reveals to us that what we lend to the Lord is laid up in a savings account for us in Heaven (Matthew 6.20). My point in bringing this all out is to point out that lending to the poor should be exciting and happy for us, not a drudgery. It should not be, as the father in the musical "My Fair Lady," something to miss because you're not home when your neighbor comes knocking. Let us give, knowing that the Lord is debtor to no man and rewards with joy obedience from the heart.
   
3. Merciful
   Those who are redeemed have been forgiven a great debt unto God. Jesus, when He taught us to pray, taught us I say "forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors" (Matthew 6.12). Man's religion changes the word from debts to trespasses. Jesus intended for us to not only forgive grievances done unto us, but release our right to hold a lien against others. Why? Because it shows God's mercy in forgiving our debt to Him. If we do not forgive others, we are telling the world that we are not forgiven and deny that we have been saved from our former sins.

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1. An Evil heart of unbelief. Hebrews 3.12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
   1. Does not believe God’s messengers (children of Israel)
   2. Does not believe the Scriptures (Pharisees)
   3. Is  damned to Hell. Hebrews 3.10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
2. A  true heart of faith. Hebrews 10.22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
   1. Believes God’s messengers (Galatians)
   2. Believes the Scriptures (Bereans)
   3. Bears the truth of God within. Romans 6.17

Exodus 1:17-21
But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. 18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? 19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. 20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. 21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.

This passage has always caused me to wonder. The midwives told Pharaoh a blatant lie, yet god blessed them abundantly for it. Are there situations where God would have His children lie?

Psalms 51:6
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

God's hatred of lies and deceit is obvious in the Scriptures. There are few things He hates more than lies, yet here we have two women lying rather than just doing right and trusting God with the outcome, as we teach our children to do. I have come to the following conclusions:

1. Some sins are worse than others.
   Participating in the murder of infants is worse than lying about the hardiness of slave women in labor. In Bible colleges, we are taught that all sin is equal and the proof text for that is James 2:10, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." The context of James 2 is our inability to be justified in God's eyes by the works of the Law of Moses. All sin is equal in that any sin will send one's soul to Hell, but not all sins are as bad as others.
   Another prime example of that is King David. According to God's Law, kings were forbidden to practice polygamy, yet God told David that He would have provide David with more wives rather than taking Uriah's wife and killing Uriah (2Samuel 12:8). Murder and adultery are worse crimes, in God's eyes, than polygamy. These verses stand in stark contradiction to the idea that all sin is equally sinful in God's dealings with man.


2. The women had a strong sense of obligation. Between the option of lying and killing, there was the third option I quitting. They could've just refuse to be midwives any longer. Had they done this, other Egyptian midwives would have undoubtably taken their place and killed the Hebrew babies. The midwives felt a strong obligation to not quit their jobs because of morally questionable circumstances, but to take a stand and save lives. These women did not feel that it was acceptable to abandon their posts because of unfavorable winds, but stood firm and decided that, whatever the cost, they were going to save the babies.


3. These women did understand the risk they were taking. They stood before Pharaoh and deceived him. Surely they knew how easily their lie could have been discovered, yet they decided that they would rather suffer the consequences rather than allow evil to be done before their eyes; they would give up their own lives to save the lives of others. I can't believe that the midwives didn't understand that they were in danger of death.

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I never cease to be amazed at the humility of Our Lord. However, He was not only humble, but shows great favoritism to those who humble themselves. Take in Mark 14 the account of Mary with the alabaster box. She, like the widow with two mites, gave her entire living into The Lord's service. The box was very precious. She showed two things unto Jesus:

1. She showed her great humility. Jesus plainly said that she was anointing His body for death. She was not puffed-up as the other disciples. She didn't claim to be some theological bigwig who had all of their Messianic Eschatology figured out. She, in humility to God, acknowledging the frailty of her own human understanding, accepted Christ's prophecy that He would be put to death. She did not argue with Him or defy Him, but simply accepted it by faith.



2. Her great love. Oh what superficial live we show The Lord at times! We drop a check in the offering and sing our merry tune how we have done the work of an über-Christian by aiding God by funding His work (as though The Almighty needs such help!) while all the time giving out of our abundance. We forget that The Lord's economy and accounting is different than our own and that to Him, two mites given with a right heart is more useful than great riches given in a religious circus. Mary gave all of what she had to Christ so that the Lord Himself testifies that she had done what she could. In other words, there wasn't anything more she could do or give; she'd lived that moment to its fullest. She had done what she could.
   

I wonder how often we puff ourselves up with pride and defy God's commandments as though we knew better or were some great exception to the rule. How often our service or giving to God is with a condescending attitude as if to say we were doing God some huge favor and that He is lucky to have us. What fools we are in light of His holiness! How blessed are we to have Him! What great benefits He has bestowed upon us! What great condescension on His part to deal with such great fools as we! Go grant us humility, wisdom, and a gracious attitude this day we pray! Amen.

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