Noah's Sons

I've been thinking about Noah's sons and the licenses people write for themselves.

"And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness. And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him." - Genesis 9:20-24 KJV

It's funny how when we are uncomfortable (like when it is very hot) we can also become rude or irritable. We no longer hold the same standards of behaviour because our behaviour can be self-regulated and mankind after the fall can live in self-regulation.

Two of Noah's son's lived in pre-planned honour. No one had ever gotten drunk before. What Noah did had no precedent. There were no rules for what you do and don't do in that situation because it had never happened before but two of Noah's sons lived a life of gratefulness. Noah had saved the world by being obedient to God. These two men found the right thing to do. They didn't have rules with exceptions. They had grace.

"But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." - Genesis 6:8 KJV

Yes. So did these two men.

We can't always have a preplanned response but we can live in preplanned honour, love and forgiveness because that is what God has given us. That is how the Trinity lives towards one another and towards us.

In that attitude, we will 'find' a response and it will be one of covering and respect in an attitude of thankfulness.

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Love That Is Manifested As Honor

I happen to love this chunk of scripture but I always remind myself that there are eleven chapters in Romans before Paul lays this out...

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." - Romans 12:9-21 ESV

There is so much in there but this morning I am seeing 'love that is manifested as honor.' This honor that flows from genuine love sees something special in everyone. Each person is made in God's image and we can honor them in that. We can honor service through recognition. We can even show honor to those who have aligned themselves against us by not 'repaying evil for evil.'

Jesus really honors this next group and models honor in front of them...

"While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him... But He answered and said to the one who told Him, 'Who is My mother and who are My brothers?' And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, 'Here are My mother and My brothers! 'For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.' " - Matthew 12:46, 48-50 NKJV

God is revealed when we operate in premeditated honor.

Young men need to see honor manifested in older men. Men learn how to be leaders in an atmosphere of honor. A man who feels powerless has forgotten about honor.

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Sons Of The Father

This phrase caught me this morning...

Only a Son of the Father could do this.

"...God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons..." - Galatians 4:4b-5 KJV

Now the larger concept in a more modern translation.

"I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?" - Galatians 4:1-9 ESV

If we don't operate as children of the Father we will return to operating as subjects to rules. We had to be freed by 'the Son' and become children.

"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." - Colossians 1:9-14 ESV

We are no longer under 'a power'. We are in God's organized government as heirs to a throne with a King sitting on it that will never die.

Our 'Abba' is the King.

I marvel at that. It is the sweet spot of true freedom yet at the same time a son represents his father and is a reflection of Him to others. What an honor.

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Reclining At The Table

I woke up thinking about this passage...

"Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 'Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?' He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, 'Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.' " - John 12:1-8 ESV

We are always going to have needs. The thief says, 'What a waste. That should have been spent another way.' but it is not true.

Jesus could have said, 'Don't have this dinner to honor me. Let's just hand out the food on the street.' but He didn't. He reclined and enjoyed what was put before Him. Far from stopping Mary, He quieted Judas.

We also need to tell that saccharine goody two shoe voice that wants to stop us from enjoying God and each other to pipe down. Special times are special. More will always need to be done. The poor are always around but the visitation of God fills the room with a fragrance.

I for one like the birthday and anniversary party. I like the send off dinner and celebrating some ones return. These are rare times and we should savor them. The fire is always going to demand another log. Fires are like that. Our life with God is a life of recognition.

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Another Scoop

There is a market near where I work and a place in that market makes some wonderful rotisserie chicken wings. I went there last week and ordered six wings. The kind woman behind the counter smiled as she handed me the bag and said, 'I put in a few extra.'

It blessed me. The wings were delicious... especially the free ones.

As I read my booklet this morning this passage was quoted.

"Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching." - 1 Timothy 5:17 ESV

I decided to look into the Greek of the passage and see what 'double honor' meant and it basically translated into 'extra chicken wings with a smile'. The concept did at least. The Greek words would really actually be more like 'an extra scoop of value'. Wow.

I hesitate to speak of this passage because in a way a leader speaking about double honor is like a husband talking about how 'wives should honor their husband.' The motives can seem suspect. 'Why is this person saying this?' and 'What do they expect?' come to mind.

I love the concept of honor. It is a noble idea to place a high value on people. I have seen this applied in strange idolatrous ways and also in beautiful ones. Every human being is worthy of honor. To make a person know that their value is high is so vital and needed.

I like how the passage in 1 Timothy is worded. It doesn't say 'give double' it says, 'considered worthy of double' which is a mindset of adding value then adding more value.

Can we have honor between us? Can we say, 'You are valuable.' 'You are twice as valuable as you think you are.'?

If my honor is small then doubling it doesn't add very much. Zero multiplied by two is still zero. But, If our honor is great doubling it is a great blessing. Let's have great honor. If we see God as He Is will be in awe of His attributes. Then if we look at what He has done for people in Love our honor will be amplified again and again.

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The Rewards Of Honor

Pondering the 'unique rewards' of honor.

"Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father's nakedness. When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, he said, 'Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.' He also said, 'Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant. May God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant.' After the flood Noah lived 350 years. All the days of Noah were 950 years, and he died." - Genesis 9:20-29 ESV

How Noah's sons dealt with Noah's lapse became a reason for blessing and cursing. It wasn't years of faithful service. It was how they reacted or responded on one day of their life.

Also, The two brothers were blessed differently even though they honored their father in the same way. That is interesting to me. A blessing is a personal thing.

If our hearts are established in grace than we will walk in backwards on people's weakness. Such an opportunity may arise today. Such events 'make' or 'break' relationships and then honor comes in a unique form to those who will function in this manner.

As a very flawed human being I am very thankful for those who have 'walked in backwards' on my life and then continued to stay around.

God, cause us to be this way with people. This kind of honor is so rare in this world.

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Bought With A Price

"For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God." - 1 Corinthians 7:22-24 ESV

Wow. What an interesting passage this is. Looking at the Greek adds dimensions I've never seen before.

The Greek word for 'price' is time (Strong's G5092) it is the set value given to an item or the deference given to an office or position. Sometimes it is translated honor.

God has paid this honor debt for every person already. The ones who don't know Him just don't know or recognize that all important detail.

Some job promotions come with perks like a better office but a calling puts us on assignment right where we are. It changes our sense of privilege and debt.

" 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.' For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends." - 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 ESV

The 'bondservant' role has a price attached to it. Our price has been paid by the Lord. No fallen person owns us. We belong to God as people on assignment in whatever situation we find ourselves in.

We live in the realm of honor. God has a grace honor system. It is the culture of His household. We are free men and women there. We are also constrained by love in ways that didn't matter to us before.

We are ambassadors of God and His grace where ever we go today. We are living representations that a price has been paid and God's kingdom culture is divine and different.

Amazing.

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Rising In The Ranks

"Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king's place. There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind." - Ecclesiastes 4:13-16 ESV

Hidden in the book of Ecclesiastes is a passage where Solomon honors the memory of his father David. David was the wise Shepard boy who rose from humble beginnings to be king. Solomon could see the memory of his Father's reign fading from public consciousness and it troubled him.

Ecclesiastes is written from a backslidden man's perspective. Solomon was wise and he saw his father as wise. But we know David didn't get to be king because of his wisdom. Samuel anointed David to be king.

"Then Samuel said to Jesse, 'Are all your sons here?' And he said, 'There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.' And Samuel said to Jesse, 'Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.' And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the LORD said, 'Arise, anoint him, for this is he.' Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward." - 1 Samuel 16:11-13a ESV

Solomon is a man who has lost something. He is wise but not discerning. He has a redemptive history but he misses the redeemer that is in his history. He is right about the fickle public and their short memory but he is wrong also.

David's time isn't over.

"I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the LORD; I have spoken." - Ezekiel 34:22-24 ESV

Ezekiel is written long after the reigns of David and Solomon. David has a future that is still in humanities future. The word prince there is the Hebrew word Nasiy (Strong's H5387) and it means a leader who is rising in the ranks.

If we look at ministry through tired eyes we see the short memory of people but if God gives us eagle eyes we see the rising in the ranks of grace. Burial always comes before resurrection.

When I think of those who have come before me I honor their memory knowing that not many others will but their ministry isn't over nor was it executed by some natural power or quality that they possessed themselves alone. They did what they did because of God's grace. Let's do what we do by God's grace also.

"The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful - for he cannot deny himself." - 2 Timothy 2:11-13 ESV

I don't want to be wise like Solomon was in the book of Ecclesiastes. I see that book as one that points out the traps of intellect divorced momentarily from divine perspective. I want to have the mind of Christ. He is the Alpha and Omega. He sees every moment based of the beginning and the end of time.

God give us your mind today. Let us not judge by what we see and hear only. Give us righteous gracious judgement that sees redemption as finished on the cross and sees our fellows based on what You have done and not what they have accomplished or where they have failed. Thank You God. Thank You for not leaving us stranded in time. Thank You for saving us from the trap of natural thinking. Thank You God.

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Because He Was Before Me

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.' ") For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." - John 1:14-16 ESV

What a great statement that gives us insight into the incarnation! John chapter 1 is an amazing chapter.

What caught my eye this morning was the phrase, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.' What an honorable way to think. People who came before us 'rank' before us.

John knows that Jesus is eternal but what about the others that came before us? Do we know more? Are we of a higher rank because we stand on their shoulders? John the Babtist would say that they rank before us also because he was a humble man.

We have a Bible in our hands. Most of the 2,000 years of Christianity did not have this privileged and yet I say we rank lower not higher.

I rank lower than my father and his generation. Does this mean we do what they said without question? No, It means we have honor in our hearts for those that came before and sacrificed so that we can have what we have now.

"Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise)," - Ephesians 6:2 ESV

This commandment has a benefit built into it. It is a promise that reaps a dividend if it is observed. A generation that honors will raise up one that will return to those values also.

Jesus came before me. He came before all of us.

"And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you" - 1 Peter 1:17-20 ESV

He is older than the world. He is eternal. His age does not tarnish Him. He has glory. Our honor for Him transcends the honor of time and space.

I don't want to be familiar with Him or with you. I don't want to walk around thinking I know more than Him or you. If I have any authority I want it to be His and not mine. Grace words are backed by a kingdom that has been new for a very long time. It was new from the first sunrise and it is new now.

Lord, Fill our hearts with honor. John the Baptist was a great person because he recognized greatness. Make us people that see greatness in those who have come before us and those who stand by our side now. Thank you God for people who have walked by faith long before we ever recognized You. Thank you God.

Our honor speaks loudly to the credibility of what we say. A sober person will hear what is said in honor and receive it as weighty. It is good to remember that if we want to reach people with the truth that has been given to us.

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A Day To Remember

Today is day of memory. Today is a day to honor.

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." - Exodus 20:8 KJV

One of the ten commandments is a mandate to remember something. God didn't just set aside a day for man to rest. We are to remember rest on the other six days as well.

Today we remember the fallen soldiers that served the military of the United States of America. Soldiers who left their homes to serve and paid the ultimate price.

Memory is funny. The last few years quickly becomes our frame of reference. If they have been hard then life seems hard. If they have been happy then life seems happy. If you have lost someone recently than perhaps the wound is painful. Life is more then what has happened recently. We have more then is visible to the naked eye.

Today is a day to look back and remember those who we have no way of seeing in person and honor them and it stretches us beyond what has happened recently into the courage and grit of what has gone before. We do not honor just one person. We honor many people. The wound turns to admiration. Our loss has a purpose and we remember that.

God, Make us a courageous generation that mirrors the valor of those who have paid the price for our current freedom.

God bless America.

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Hush, The Neighbors Are Sleeping

Have you ever been quiet for the neighbor's sake? Maybe you want to do something but the thing you want to do is loud and it is late at night so you refrain.

"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him." - Psalm 62:5 ESV

"For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.' But you were unwilling, and you said, 'No! We will flee upon horses'; therefore you shall flee away; and, 'We will ride upon swift steeds'; therefore your pursuers shall be swift. A thousand shall flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill. Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him." - Isaiah 30:15-18 ESV

Sometimes we quiet ourselves for our sake but this morning I am thinking about how we can respond to grace and enter into quietness for His sake.

Instead of staying here in quietness our minds can run away. We can run to fantasy and have our own little never never land. We flee away. The television becomes our noise or perhaps it is alcohol or lust of some kind. We chase the different scenarios around the living room of our mind. We make a ruckus with our 'should of's and 'could of's. We bang the drums of right and wrong. Perhaps it is a violin of self pity or maybe the hip hop of anger and self entitlement. We laugh loud to stave off the boredom. Instead of quiet purpose we run.

There is a place where God is waiting to be gracious. In quietness for His sake we find that place. A quietness in response to grace.

We might say, 'I need to turn this down because my neighbor is sleeping.'

On a spiritual level we say, 'I need to quiet down because God is resting in His Love. Is it right for me to panic so loudly? Is it really so good blare the sounds of my land of pretend when God is waiting right here to quietly speak to me?'

If is not a mindfulness born from demand. It is one born of grace, honor and love. He cares so we care. He has given favor because of His Son. We come under that favor and pass through the narrow space to find a wide open rest.

Hush now. Simmer down. What does the Bible say? Are we running or resting? Are we looking or leaving?

God is waiting to be gracious to us. He lifts Himself up to show mercy. He wants to speak to us in objectivity.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever." - Psalm 23:6 ESV

If we run He will follow us and show us mercy when we have exhausted all our efforts but what if we just stay in quietness? If we rest then we will have the strength to rise early and seek Him at the appointed time.

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Love, Honor And Grace

Thinking this morning about love, honor and grace. There is so much to say about these three subjects and how they interact....

Natural love finds value and bestows love on that valuable thing. Kindness is returned for kindness. Beauty is appreciated and desired.

"But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." - Luke 6:32 NKJV

In the world honor is for the successful, talented or wealthy.

"You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor." - Leviticus 19:15 ESV

But God loves everyone equally and calls for honor for those that function in a particular role that he has established.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16 KJV

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you." - Exodus 20:12 NKJV

Love can be confused with honor. We love equally but we do not honor equally. We do not honor someone for a role when they are not functioning in that role.

An employer can say to every employee, 'You are a valued employee.' but they can not say to every employee, 'You are doing a great job.'

Grace assigns roles to people that are not performance oriented ones and then honors people when they step into that role. God bestows honor on us outside of our performance. All we do is show up.

"Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." - 1 Corinthians 12:27 KJV

We can think of membership as paying a fee and getting the same privileges as everyone else who pays the fee but that is not what is meant here. All members have equal access but not all have equal roles.

"Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?" - 1 Corinthians 12:29 ESV

Obviously not.

But all are believers, all have the privileged of prayer and all are ministers of reconciliation. Every 'joint supplies'... meaning that every relationship adds something important and needed.

Can God honor our prayers if we don't pray? Can he give us powerful words if we do not walk in our call? Do we get wisdom if we don't meditate or study? Will we be edified if there is no one around us to build us up? No, no and no.

God made us to be a light on a hill. Today is a day to be who God made us to be. We step into our role, whatever it is, by grace and God will honor us in the role that He has given us. His unending supply of love will give us a capacity for what grace has made us to be.

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Addressing The Elect Lady

I was just thinking as I was reading 2 John again and again how love treats people with such respect and honor. People could say it is a lost art of a civilized culture but it is not lost. It can be picked up at anytime by anyone.

"The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love." - 2 John 1:1-3 ESV

John uses a title. The apostle of love uses a title. I know there are some who don't like titles. Our culture has become progressively casual and some people have been hurt by people who wield titles like knifes to cut other people's self images down to size... but here is the Apostle using one.

He might have used it to obscure his identity so that only this lady and the believers there could know it was him. There were likely many Johns around and he was now an old Apostle so the elder could have been some inside joke that John had with this person and the others who would read his correspondences. Still.

He calls the recipient of the letter 'the elect lady' which also could have been an inside reference bestowing a great honor on a humble but very valued person.

John obscured his identity while revealing himself and magnified her identity all in the very first line of his letter. It is no wonder that this little letter was chosen as canon. It shines of love, honor, respect, grace and mercy. It adds very little that is new to our understanding but there is no doubt that it is God speaking through a man to every elect lady. Every woman who has believed has that title not just this one. Every woman born of God is loved by those who know the truth. No elect lady is ever alone. She is known and exalted in standing.

I call people by their titles and if they insist I call them by their first name then I call them by their title or rank and then add their first name. You may see this as the exaltation of a man or even disrespecting their wishes but I see it as the obscuring of a man and a kind declaration that says, 'You and I are going to have a doctrinal rapport. We have something good and valuable between us. God Is here and I am not now nor ever going to be familiar with you. This is no personality-fest.' I may not give my title to them. I may just let them find out from someone else. Like everything else I want to be led. Even though I am 'formal' with people I don't want to insist they be formal with me. This is my conviction based on edification in these United States of America. I might do something else somewhere else but this is how I combat the air here and now.

Do you think this elect lady was eager to hear what else the Apostle said after this loving generous introduction? I do. If John had started the correspondence with the pressing issues and forgone the greeting would it have been the same?

Grace takes dusty people and downright dirty people and exalts them in brightness as mercy erases the evidence of grime. Declaring to some one that that they are more than just the name their parents gave them reflects a deep truth. God has made us to be more than what we were born with. Our end will be better than our beginning just because we got to know Him.

"To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you." - 1 Peter 1:1b-2 ESV

Can we start and end with love and respect? I want to. It is my desire that everyone I speak to today would have more after our conversation than they did before we spoke. Or if not more than they would realize what they already do have. People who know the King may be dispersed in the world but they are still the chosen of God.

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Far Down The Road

Investment works in cycles and those cycles run a course.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." - Isaiah 55:8-11 ESV

"And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.' " - Matthew 13:57 ESV

Return comes later and from farther away than we think. Many times it is not our family or people close to us that respond... it is people far away. The rain has a cycle and passes over much territory in a seemingly one way investment but it brings forth fruit 'a ways down the path' in time and space.

God's thoughts are not our thoughts. He is very patient and long suffering.

We want results quickly and in close proximity and sometimes despair if we don't get them.

This is one of them beautiful things about missions. We go far away to invest and it is there outside our culture and comfort zone where we see a greater measure of results. Of course we invest the same at home as we would far away and the fruit will come eventually in God's time but there is something special about going. God seems to move in a special way in people's hearts.

We may not pay much mind to the person close by that we are familiar with but are greatly impacted by the person who can from far away to visit us even though the message is essentially the same.

That is why it is good to see people as coming from Heaven... grace people are Heaven sent Ones... We can't be familiar with people from that far away. {smile}

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Fruit with Seed

'And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar.

He said: 'Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fields of offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions. You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women. How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!' " 2 Samuel 1:17-27 ESV

I've been reading several different portions today and they all minister to me in some way but this one just struck me and reverberated.

One of the concept we spoke about last night at coffee was reproduction. Something that has life reproduces that life. God made living things to be reproductive. This is true of a Church, of a person and of a message. The Gospel of Grace is a reproductive message. It is good seed.

"The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:12 ESV

David's epitaph for Saul and Jonathan is a beautiful one. It is full of grace, honor and finished work perspective. He honors friend and enemy equally. It is God's anointing on Saul that mattered not Saul's actions toward David.

It is this little phrase that especially interests me in verse eighteen '... he said it should be taught to the people of Judah ...' because David's seed was making more seed. He had it in his mind to teach honor, grace and finished work perspective.

God's life is a life that multiplies.

Any number multiplied by zero returns a zero. This is called the 'zero element' or the 'zero property of multiplication'. If we magnify ourselves life what will we get?

David was not magnifying himself. He lived a life that magnified God. David's thought life was fertile soil for God's multiplication. God anointed David and David, unlike Saul, responded to grace and David had life that multiplied.

We are going to make decision after decision as we move through life. Those decisions can function as spiritual birth control. They may purposely hinder reproduction to preserve our self life.

We all want to grow but growth and fruitfulness are linked. Why would God continue to grow something that is not fruitful?

God help us. Show us the difference between what is reproductive and what is not. Help us to make decisions that give room for multiplication. Today will be an extremely productive day if we walk it with you.

The Decent Order of Grace - Part 8 - Honor

"For 'God has put all things in subjection under his feet.' But when it says, 'all things are put in subjection,' it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all." 1 Cor 15:27-28 ESV

Honor is a beautiful thing. It is divine and dignified. Idolatry exalts a person or thing in place of God. Honor is a reflection of the internal relationship of the Trinity one to another. Honor does not seek to make those who gave them authority come under their authority. Those relationships remain fixed but also grow in depth.

"I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation." Ps 119:99 ESV

Ah, but to learn and grow. I always want to do that. Anyone who teaches wants students that excel them. If the ego is put aside that is.

"For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north" Is 14:13

To desire to ascend 'above' in authority is demonic thinking. But to desire mastery of what has been given by God and in turn by men is Godly thinking.

"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it" Gen 1:28

Christ did function in honor, His is presently functioning in honor and He always will. The mind of Christ is a mind filled with honor.

When I honor an elderly veteran I see see in the grocery store and recognize him and treat him respect, it is not only right, it may be a opening to present the Gospel. I may yet be strong and others have grown weak with age but our honor does not dwindle as strength does. It only deepens in time.

Let us remain little in our own eyes as we grow in grace and knowledge. Let us fix others who have gone before us in places of respect in our minds. Not high pedestals where it is lonely and there is a long drop but horizontally in honor where familiarity is foreign and envy is disarmed.