Toffee-Nosed Tekoites

Nehemiah chapter 3 is one of those Old Testament lists, this one recounting the rebuilding and repair of the wall of Jerusalem. Verses 3 & 4 are a pretty good example of how most of the chapter reads:

The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired.

Then comes this gem in verse 5:

And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord. Nehemiah 3:5 ESV

And there it is, in the annals of history. Men serving shoulder-to-shoulder with their servants, old men serving alongside their sons, noblemen serving elbow-to-elbow with their common brothers to restore the once-majestic City of David. But then there’s this one group?  They considered manual labor beneath their dignity; considered leadership a matter of setting oneself above rather than setting the example. 

 

All this against the backdrop of our King, Jesus:

A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.” Luke 22:24-27

 

It's been a few thousand years, but the ancient record stands.  Almost everybody--including Nehemiah himself--literally got their hands dirty (and no doubt blistered) to rebuild those ruined walls.  Except one pretentious group of nobles.  And that is how the Tekoites are remembered.

Though The Sky Should Fall

[Enter Henny Penny, stage right, audience left] 

An unprecedented global panic; the inexplicable hording of…toilet paper.  

Certain unassailable truths remain—at least, if you are a devoted Christ-follower.  So to those of you who are and to those of you who might yet gravitate toward such devotion and followership at such a time as this, allow me to remind you of some impregnables that are…still in the Bible. 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

                                                – Matthew 6:34

Just checked.  Still in the Bible. 

 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

                                         -Philippians 4:4-7

Also?  Still in the Bible. 

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”     

                                                   -John 14:1-4

Yup.  Still there. 

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

                                              -Philippians 1:21

This bold statement of faith?  Still in there, too. 

As you open and read you will find that every word of comfort and promise, every example of faith, every directive that calls for obedience—for those who devotedly follow Jesus—are all still there, still intact, still bidding us to trust and obey; to hope only in God. 

Because no amount of stockpiled toilet paper, cleaning supplies, or over-the-counter flu remedy is worthy of your faith and trust.  But God is.  Because God is. 

Presumption

For I am waiting for you, O lord . You must answer for me, O Lord my God. I prayed, “Don’t let my enemies gloat over me or rejoice at my downfall.  Psalm 38:15-16

OK, so apparently I have never read Psalm 38. Even though I have. The verses above are the high point. The composer has done something truly horrible and the truth has come to light. He is a public figure who is publicly exposed,  frightfully vulnerable, isolated.

And he isn't defending himself.

He knows he's guilty; brought this all on himself; is his own worst enemy.

And he still fully expects Divine intervention--for God to speak for him. 

You must answer for me, O Lord my God.

Even when everybody would agree you haven't got a prayer,  take heart. Apparently, that's the one thing you do have. Apparently, it's all you need.

Our One Hope

Psalms 33:18-22 NLT

But the lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. We put our hope in the lord . He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, lord , for our hope is in you alone.

Do you know people who make a habit, or even a hobby,  of being ready for anything?   You don't have to be a survivalist to once in a while fret just a little that you don't have much stashed away--a few weeks' worth of canned goods; a flat of bottled water at bare minimum. And don't forget those MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) in each of your vehicles...a blanket...a few flares....

Preparation makes sense. As long as we don't forget that no amount of preparation can prepare us for what may come;  and come what may,  the Lord alone is our hope.

You, oh Lord, who is capable of feeding in times of famine those who put their trust in you. May we be at peace in you alone. In Jesus. Amen.

Wondering What Happened

Kristen is beside me prepping to teaching tomorrow; Adele on the floor studying; Bradley in the rocking chair playing chess on his ipod.  While I am just trying to get my head around this day. 

It’s been a doozy. 

Not the part that is peculiar to most people—the part where the graveyard sergeant put a screeching halt to my REM cycle at 3:45 AM and I was out the door ten minutes later to be the softer side of law enforcement in the midst of tragic loss or traumatic stress. 

The part, rather, before I left, when the coffee machine—-equipped the night before with water and fresh-ground bean—-lit up, but didn’t heat up when I hit the button and hoped for a quick brew to drink en route.  Had I seen this as an omen, I would have been less surprised hours later, when the old ’99 Lumina was lighting up and heating up as I was pulling in to the station to write the follow up report. 

The doctor’s appointment went well later in the morning, and at my lunch appointment I took the first two pills from the Z-Pack prescribed to put this left-over wheezing and rattling in my chest out of my misery.  After which I replaced the split hose under the Lumina’s hood and headed home at the early end of a nine-hour day.  But…that didn’t fix the car.  It’s still overheating.  And…the rest of the Z-Pack is nowhere to be found.  I’ve looked everywhere, inquired at every business served by every parking lot I pulled into all day.  I’ve checked every pocket of every piece of clothing, returned to the office—twice.  Twice, because I inadvertently took some keys home the first time (that are not meant to leave the office) and had to return them.  Oh.  And I broke a plate my wife bought in Holland.  And the pharmacy gave me the wrong asthma prescription and I had to drive back there.    

If you’re expecting anything profound or insightful, I’ve got nothing.  My one remaining hope is to make it to bed without breaking, losing, or having to return anything.  

One Good Way To Memorize Scripture

This Video illustrates one very effective way of committing Scripture to memory.  As you watch it, recite the verse out loud, over and over again, as the words disappear one by one.  

Why Your Pastor Wants You To Memorize Scripture

I hope if you have been around me for any length of time you know a few things about me:  I am not perfect.  I don’t claim to be perfect.  I am, however, closer to the Image of Christ than I used to be--growing (by fits and starts) more like Him all the time. 

One of the key factors in my growth in Christ over the past 34 years (yes, since I was 17!) is the discipline of memorizing Scripture.  Loving you as I do, I want you to have this discipline as a “growth factor” in your life as well.  Having God’s Word “in there” has made a profound difference in my life.  Because knowing God’s Word by memory has the potential to…

1. Strengthen your Relationship with God.   2 Timothy 3:16-17 says,

¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.  (NLT)

2. Make You More Effective in Sharing Your Faith.

¹⁵ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…. 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

If God’s Word is in your heart (because you’ve taken time to memorize it) it will be more readily available to you when someone wants to know why you believe what you believe. 

3. Help You Make It Through Tough Times. Jeremiah the Prophet had it rough.  It is as if his entire existence was one continual challenging circumstance.  This is what He had to say about God’s Word in Jeremiah 15:16 (NLT): 

When I discovered your words, I devoured them.
    They are my joy and my heart’s delight,
for I bear your name,
    O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.

Please do not literally eat your Bible.  I am reasonably sure this is not what Jeremiah is saying.  The lesson here is that Scripture “injested” in our memory has the power to lighten our heavy load, calm us down, even make us joyful in the midst of life’s storms. 

4. Put You More In Tune with God’s Will.

It often surprises me to hear people ask “What is God’s Will for my life?” when they are not obeying the simplest Biblical instruction.  So here’s a rule to live by:  

Knowing and obeying the observable Will of God

offered in the Bible for everyone

is a crucial first step

to discerning the obscure Call of God

for your personal life.

And knowing His “observable will” by heart is a useful step in that direction! 

Psalm 119:105 says,

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
    and a light for my path.

5. Help you overcome temptation.  Psalm 119 is helpful here also, this time, verse 11: 

I have hidden your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you.

So there you go.  Incredibly helpful and foundationally shaping for me, I offer it to you in your walk with Christ.