The Source of True Godliness (1 Timothy 3:14-16)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Exploring Church Ministry Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Jesus Christ and the Apostles, by Nicolás Martínez Ortiz (1907-1990)

Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:

He appeared in the flesh,
    was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
    was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
    was taken up in glory. (New International Version)

Godliness is an important thing for those who seek to follow God.

So, the Apostle Paul wrote to his young protégé, Timothy, who was leading the church in Ephesus. Paul gave Timothy some sound practical instructions regarding how things ought to be conducted between pastor and people. Paul did this because he wasn’t quite sure how long it would be before he could show up in person, and he wanted to ensure that the ministry would go forward in a way that honored Christ.

Christian ministry is important because it doesn’t simply have to do with one’s private abilities and affairs. Rather, Christian leaders and pastors are entrusted with the household of God, the church. Believers are a holy sanctuary of the soul, the place where God dwells by means of the Spirit.

The Church is not a brick and mortar building, but the place of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. Pastor and parishioners alike are to support the truth of the gospel, that is, the good news about the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Both believers and bishops who make up the Church support gospel truth by doing the following:

  1. Hear and heed the truth. “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear… This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” (Luke 8:8, 11-15, NIV)
  2. Handle the truth rightly. Make an effort to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker, who doesn’t need to be ashamed but is one who interprets the message of truth correctly. (2 Timothy 2:15, CEB)
  3. Hide the truth in your heart. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11, NIV)
  4. Hold the truth as the Word of Life. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. (Philippians 2:16, NLT)
  5. Ingest and digest the truth. Study, meditate, and devote yourself to God’s Word. Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart. (Jeremiah 15:16, NKJV) You must not depend on bread alone to sustain you, but on everything that the Lord says. (Deuteronomy 8:3, GNT)
  6. Interest yourself in the truth, and defend it. “I have been put here for the defense of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:16, NRSV) I must write and ask you to defend the faith that God has once for all given to his people. (Jude 1:3, CEV)
  7. Impart the truth and disseminate it to others. The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. (Psalm 119:130, NRSV) Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. (Matthew 28:20, NLT)
  8. Indicate and demonstrate the power of the truth in the way you live your life. Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him. (Colossians 3:16-17, CEV)

The Church is a big deal because the head of the Church, Jesus Christ, is a big deal.

In many quarters of the world, the Church no longer has much influence or impact. For some, the Church is nothing more than an outdated antiquarian club that’s irrelevant to us today. For others, the Church is an abusive institution that looks to extend selfish power over others. And for many, the Church is simply not something they want to be a part of, having neither strong opinions one way nor the other.

Yet, the Apostle Paul, in his letters to all the churches, presents the Church as united to Christ and an extension of his person and work on this earth. Now, that’s a big deal!

Therefore, the Church is meant to confess Christ in its daily witness in all it says and does. In other words, the Church is to embody the words and ways of Jesus, and even Christ himself, by means of God’s Holy Spirit.

Everything about the Christian is to exude the very life of Christ.

How we can possess such a vital union and connection with Jesus is a mystery. Rather than trying to understand it, we embrace it and live it with all the energy the Spirit of God grants us.

We do, however, seek to know Jesus Christ ever more, every day. The more we know Christ, the better we will be able to know the height and depth of love, and to extend that love in all the places of this fallen planet that lack it. This is where true godliness and goodness spring from.

The Church everywhere and for all time confesses and proclaims that Jesus Christ descended to this earth, was visibly seen in a human body by both people and angels, proved right by the invisible Spirit, proclaimed among all kinds of peoples, believed in all over the world, and ascended into heavenly glory.

After two thousand years of church history, Christians are still unpacking the incredible richness and mystery of what all that means for us and for our salvation. And it is a spiritual journey worth taking for the rest of our lives.

May I walk this day, O Christ, in the realm of grace, walking with you, my feet firmly on your earth-path, my heart loving all as kindred, my words and deeds alive with justice. Amen.

The Mediator and Leader (Psalm 110:1-4)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment

The Lord said to my lord,
    “Sit here at my right side
    until I put your enemies under your feet.”
From Zion the Lord will extend your royal power.
    “Rule over your enemies,” he says.
On the day you fight your enemies,
    your people will volunteer.
Like the dew of early morning
    your young men will come to you on the sacred hills.

The Lord made a solemn promise and will not take it back:
    “You will be a priest forever
    in the priestly order of Melchizedek.” (Good News Translation)

This is the most quoted psalm in the New Testament (twenty-four times) with the reason being that the apostles discerned Jesus as the messianic ruler of Psalm 110. The author of Hebrews purposed to highlight the superiority of Jesus Christ over everyone and everything. So, he went to this psalm, and used it early in his letter for the beginning of his argument:

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So, he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs….

But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
    by anointing you with the oil of joy.”

He also says,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
You will roll them up like a robe;
    like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
    and your years will never end.”

To which of the angels did God ever say,

“Sit at my right hand
    until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet”? (Hebrews 1:1-13, NIV)

In Christianity, Jesus is the ultimate Mediator between God and humanity. Neither angel nor any other human can fill such a role. The author of Hebrews wanted to make it clear that Jesus is the rightful Ruler of all creation.

Christ’s authority is far and above all others. So, Christians are never defenseless in this world. Believers have a caring mediator, and a powerful sovereign, knowing that Jesus has the authority to back up his words of love and assurance toward us.

Jesus has the unique combination of being both a king and a priest; he intercedes for us and provides us with compassionate leadership. Again, in the middle of his argument, the author of Hebrews used Psalm 110 to emphasize this:

Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. Therefore, he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.

In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father.”

And he says in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
    in the order of Melchizedek.”

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:1-10, NIV)

Christ demonstrated and proved that he is qualified to be the rightful priest and king because of his obedient suffering. Therefore, Jesus is perfectly suited and able to help us. He is neither a detached nor an aloof priestly king.

The Lord Jesus knows exactly what it’s like to be a human in this broken and fallen world. Such divine empathy translates into solid emotional and spiritual support because, as the Christian tradition holds, Jesus has taken care of the sin issue once for all through the Cross.

The Messiah’s enemies – whose eventual and final defeat is certain – are not Gentile kingdoms or human institutions. Christ’s ultimate foes are the hostile and evil principalities and powers of this dark world, including death itself. The universal reign of Jesus, the exalted Son of David, brings deliverance from guilt, shame, and injustice as the unique God-Man.

In this unabashed Christian view of Psalm 110, Jesus is our perfected high priest who is able for all time to save those who approach God, since he always lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). The appropriate response to such a great king and priest is submissive loyalty and eternal praise.

O Lord our God: Reign in power over us, through your Son, Jesus Christ – for he is exalted over all governments and authorities, all ideologies and creeds, and all human hearts and souls. King Jesus: Be enthroned in our lives, in all people everywhere, as our mediator and atoning sacrifice. Spirit of God: Reign in power over us through Jesus Christ and give us the victory over all the enemies of our souls, within and without, for the glory of your Name. Amen.

The Transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9:2-9)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
The Transfiguration of Jesus, by Armando Alemdar Ara, 2004

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. (New International Version)

It may be that reading this account of Christ’s transfiguration (metamorphosis) seems a bit strange, even confusing. Perhaps you have no categories of thought to explain such an encounter.

In a Peanuts cartoon, Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Linus were lying on their backs looking at the sky. Lucy says, “If you use your imagination you can see lots of things in the cloud formations. What do you think you see, Linus?” 

Linus replied, “Well, those clouds up there look to me like the map of the British Honduras on the Caribbean… That cloud up there looks a little like the profile of Thomas Eakins, the famous painter and sculptor… And that group of clouds over there gives me the impression of the stoning of Stephen… I can see the Apostle Paul standing there to one side…” 

Lucy responds, “Uh huh… that’s very good… what do you see in the clouds, Charlie Brown?”

To which Charlie Brown replied, “Well, I was going to say a ducky and a horsy, but I changed my mind.”

Maybe your spiritual life seems more like Charlie Brown than Linus. Compared to the experiences of others, you have not had any defining moments of ecstasy; no shining Jesus in front of you; or no spectacular vision of Christ.

Perhaps your life seems rather mundane and ordinary in light of the many stories we have in the Gospels of Jesus doing the miraculous. 

Most of life is lived in the daily grind. In the monotony of life, we need some hope, an occasional mountain top experience that helps us glimpse into the future of what it will be like someday when the kingdom of God comes in its fullness.

Christ’s transfiguration came after a hard frank discussion Jesus had with the disciples about his impending death. Jesus was up front with them, saying that he must suffer, be rejected, and killed. But in three days he will rise again. The disciples did not want to hear that; Peter even rebuked Jesus for saying it. In response, Jesus said:

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”

Jesus (Mark 8:34-35, NIV)

Jesus identified himself as the Suffering Servant, the One who must suffer and die. Yet, he is also the One to be glorified. For Jesus, there has to be suffering before glory. And it is the same for us.

The Christian life includes walking through the valley of the shadow of death. But it is also punctuated with mountain top experiences that give us hope. The nature of the Christian journey is up and down, with both the mountain and the valley as spiritual realities of great importance.

We may have a lot of questions about Christ’s transfiguration. Jesus had a metamorphosis smack in front of the disciples’ eyes. Why? What’s the significance of this? Was it just a demonstration to get their attention? Why are Moses and Elijah there? What’s really going on?

Transfiguration, by Sadao Watanabe, 1971

Jesus intentionally took Peter, James, and John up the mountain to have this experience. Up to that point, a lot of rumors were circulating about Jesus – that maybe he was Elijah come back, or some other prophet, perhaps even Moses himself. But Moses and Elijah showing up next to Jesus, meant that Jesus is not them. 

In the Old Testament, Moses was used by God to deliver the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and to bring them to the Promised Land. Centuries later, Elijah was used by God to bring about a great repentance of the people from the false god Baal, and a mighty revival to the exclusive worship of the Lord.

As good as Moses and Elijah were, having them with Jesus on the mountain meant that it gets even better with Christ. Jesus is the Messiah, the True Deliverer, who saves people from their sins. What’s more, Jesus is the ultimate revivalist, bringing truth, grace, and the love of God to people, calling them from legalistic religion back to the true worship of God.

Deliverance and revival were integral to Christ’s earthly ministry. And Jesus expects his followers to do the same. In Christian ministry, there will be suffering, because we must take up our cross. There will also be glory, experiencing and seeing deliverance from sin that comes with revival. 

When I was in college, a group of us Christians met each week for encouragement and prayer. For a two year period, at least one person a week was added to our group, having had a dramatic conversion to Christ. That was an incredible time of being on the mountain with Jesus, seeing him manifested in all his glory through changing people’s lives.

Yet, inevitably, we descend to the valley. What goes up must come down. And how we handle the valley is crucial. On the mountain, things seemed effortless; but in the valley, it’s all different.

Coming off the mountain may lead to various temptations, like wishing you were back on the mountain – looking back to some Golden Age where everything seemed so great, and people were enthused and excited about God and the group you were in. Yet, there are times when the revival fires wane, and the glory departs. Then what?…

God’s Word to us today, given by God the Father, is: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

A 12th century Mosaic of Christ’s Transfiguration

Here is what Jesus has said to us, as recorded by the Evangelist Mark:

“The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15)

“Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17)

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17)

“Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

“Everything is possible for him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)

“If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)

“I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:15)

“…the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him….” (Mark 10:33-34)

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

“I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:24-25)

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)

“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)

If you have had a mountain top experience with Jesus, let that encounter give you the drive and the hope to keep carrying the bucket through the valley, without living in the past.

If you have never been on the mountain, then today, listen to Jesus and follow what he says.

If you are vexed in your spirit, go to Jesus. Listen to him. Do what he says.

Know the word of the Lord, and bank on it. For our light and momentary sufferings will result in praise, honor, and glory when Jesus Christ is revealed. Amen.

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility (1 Kings 16:1-7)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year ALeave a comment

This message from the Lord was delivered to King Baasha by the prophet Jehu son of Hanani: “I lifted you out of the dust to make you ruler of my people Israel, but you have followed the evil example of Jeroboam. You have provoked my anger by causing my people Israel to sin. So now I will destroy you and your family, just as I destroyed the descendants of Jeroboam son of Nebat. The members of Baasha’s family who die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and those who die in the field will be eaten by vultures.”

The rest of the events in Baasha’s reign and the extent of his power are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel. When Baasha died, he was buried in Tirzah. Then his son Elah became the next king.

The message from the Lord against Baasha and his family came through the prophet Jehu son of Hanani. It was delivered because Baasha had done what was evil in the Lord’s sight (just as the family of Jeroboam had done), and also because Baasha had destroyed the family of Jeroboam. The Lord’s anger was provoked by Baasha’s sins. (New Living Translation)

“With great power there must also come great responsibility.” Uncle Ben to Peter Parker, Spiderman

That’s one of those popular modern proverbs that resonate with us because we readily acknowledge the truth of it. No matter the culture, ethnicity, or place, we all have an inherent sense of justice and what is right.

And that makes sense to me, since we are created in the image of the Lord who is a God of justice and cares about what is right and good. So, whenever a person or a people buck their conscience, and practice injustice, it will raise the ire of both other people, as well as God.

Anger, at its core, is a response to injustice. Whenever we are treated unfairly in some way and are denied what we need to survive and thrive in this life, it makes us mad! Not only that, but it also makes God mad, too.

The use and abuse of power is a vital issue. Power must not be accumulated simply for someone (or a particular group of people) to enjoy its privileges. Power is given by God to individuals and groups so that they will use their position and authority for the common good of everyone.

To possess power is to possess a great moral responsibility for making good and just decisions. If the people in power fail to do this, then they shall be held accountable by a sovereign God who has ultimate authority over everyone and everything.

King Baasha of Israel was given a solemn responsibility by God to ensure the proper worship of God and to provide for the needs of everyone in the kingdom. In a theocratic society such as ancient Israel, the king served as the person who was responsible for knowing the commands of God and making sure that they were fulfilled. And that meant that justice for all should be ensconced throughout the land, and injustice should be eradicated wherever it is found.

By discarding the proper worship of God, and instead following other gods who engaged in injustice, Baasha was shirking his responsibility and setting up the nation for the misuse and abuse of power. So, God was determined to uproot the evil so that it didn’t destroy the whole nation.

“Whoever has been given much will be responsible for much. Much more will be expected from the one who has been given more.”

Jesus (Luke 12:48, ERV)

We all possess some level of power – whether it be small or great. Everyone is held responsible for what they have. If we have been blessed with talent, wealth, knowledge, time, position – or whatever it is – it’s expected that we benefit others. With whatever we have received, we are, in turn, to give for the sake of another.

Each of you has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well. (1 Peter 4:10, CEV)

It’s not a matter of how much or how little power you have been given, but how faithful you are with the power you actually possess. Those who are trusted with something valuable must show they are worthy of that trust by stewarding their resources and their decision-making well. (1 Corinthians 4:2)

God’s anger serves the purpose of fueling God’s great purposes in justice for all people everywhere. And if we channel our own anger into love for all humanity, then we are rightly ordering our own power in good, redemptive, and responsible ways.

Almighty and eternal God, empower us all by your Spirit to be good, just, and faithful stewards of the power and authority you have given to us. Help us to live conscientiously, to bless others graciously and generously with the grace and generosity given to us by your goodness. May the very life of Christ be manifested in us and through us to your glory and honor. Amen.