Nothing But the Blood: Part II

As I was thinking through the writing of this post and the significance of the mercy seat, two times the word wineskin came to mind.  The first time I shrugged it off as a random thought, but the second instance was harder to shake: I had woken up one morning and my very first thought was wineskin.  I knew then it was time to give this topic some serious attention as this was not a random thought, but rather, an important tie-in for this post. I have to admit, my knowledge of wineskins was pretty limited (ok, practically non-existent).  However, the more I studied, the more I uncovered the goodness of God as He lead me to this sweet connection.  

As the name somewhat implies, wineskins were made from the skin of a goat or sheep, (or an ox or camel if necessary).  Here is what I didn’t quite understand: New wine continues to ferment and build up pressure.  If placed in an old wineskin, this process would burst the old skin.  Even with my limited knowledge, I certainly know that wine on the ground is bad news for everyone!  Thus the reason new wine needs to be placed in new wineskins. 

This makes Jesus’ response to the Pharisees’ question about the disciples make much more sense.   In Matthew chapter 9, the religious leaders were very concerned about the fact that the disciples did not fast.  In the Old Testament, fasting showed contrition and penitence and was associated with piety.  These leaders were bent on keeping the old ways of the law, and looked down on anyone who didn’t do likewise.  They wanted to know what the deal was with these Jesus followers and why they weren’t adhering to the rules.  

Jesus first explained his answer by using an analogy of a wedding party, making the point that the guests do not mourn (or fast) while the bridegroom is still in their presence.  Then in verse 17 Jesus makes this statement: “Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins.  If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.  No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”  

So what does this mean?  What is the significance of the new wineskin He speaks of?  Amazingly, Jesus was telling us about Himself- telling us that He is the bridegroom and the New we all need.  For soon, there would be no need for sin offerings or burnt offerings.  Even the mercy seat of old would become obsolete; for Jesus would become the meeting place of God and His people.  

Simply put, in order to receive Him as Savior and King, the old system was to be abandoned.  It was no longer needed, and had no place mixing with the new.  

And what was this new? It was something so radical. So unbelievable.  So incredibly beautiful.  It was Jesus, the Son of God, dying in our place as the ultimate and final sacrifice.  The most costly sacrifice of all, given completely, for sinners.  Who could have imagined this?  Holy, perfect, blameless, righteous blood poured out as the propitiation for our sin.  Not the blood of an animal, but the priceless blood of Jesus Christ.  In our place, He received all of God’s holy wrath.  It was there, on the hill of Calvary, that God’s perfect justice and incomprehensible love abounded.  

And like the goat running in the wilderness, the blood of Jesus took away our sin.  But unlike the goat, this was for all of time.  On the cross Jesus said, “It is finished,” (John 19:30).  Final.  Once and for all.  Jesus, with outspread arms on that rugged and bloody cross was the final sacrifice- the only sacrifice- needed for the removal of sin.  Hebrews 9:26-28 says, “But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.  Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people.”  Glorious expiation. 

This blood ushered in the New Covenant, making it possible for all who believe in the name of Jesus to come to the Father.  Even more amazing, this new covenant has the power to purify one’s conscience.  Because the blood of Jesus completely dismantles the power of sin and its effects, we are left clean.  No animal’s blood could ever accomplish this.  As stated in Hebrews 9:14, “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”  We are cleaned, forgiven, and freed from guilt.  Our Accuser has lost all power.   

Within the New Covenant we have been remade and given a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17).  No longer do we have hearts of stone, but hearts of flesh.  We are no longer enemies of God, but His friend and His beloved.  Only the blood of Jesus can do this.  Only His blood can change the inner nature of man.  

This New Covenant, which was ratified by the blood of Christ, was sealed by His resurrection.  Jesus not only gave His life, but He conquered death as well!  Complete victory was His.  And as we are in Christ, that victory is ours now too.  Oh to have witnessed the most spectacular scene in all of history: The empty tomb hosting two angels, one at each end of the stone bench- reminiscent of the two cherubim at each end of the Ark of the Covenant.  The New had come.     

Indeed, Jesus and the cross is our new mercy seat.  For it is through this sacrifice that God can now meet with His people- with us.  Covered by the blood of Jesus, we can stand in perfect righteousness before a holy God, forgiven and uncondemned.  No more curtains.  No more rams, bulls, or goats.  Nothing but the blood of Jesus, the new wineskin.  

Our God truly is the Father of all mercies.  Of the mercies bestowed on us daily, reminding us of His goodness, presence, and love.  And of the mercy He gave to us through the Lamb of God, who is Heaven’s mercy seat and our Savior, Jesus Christ.  

May our hearts bow down and worship the One to whom we owe everything.  And may our love for Him deepen with each day He graciously gives us.   

*The Way by Pat Barrett (from Part I)

Resources used for the writing of Part I and II:

ESV Reformation Study Bible 

Ligonier.org 

Tabletalk Magazine (April 2019) 

Gotquestions.org

Jcblog.net 

Bibleref.com 

Nothing But the Blood: Part I

Several months ago, the topic of the mercy seat came to my mind for a potential blog post.  As you’ll see, a recent event lead to a connection with this, which I thought was pretty cool.  Then God placed another word in my mind; a word I knew I was to pair with the mercy seat.  I had no idea exactly how these two ideas connected to one another, but I knew somehow they did.  As I researched these topics, God ushered me deeper into the truth of His perfect provision for our greatest need.  I pray this post will lead you, as it did me, to more knowledge and more love for our God and our Savior. 

It was one of those grumpy quarantine days fueled by gloomy weather.  My son and I were both feeling it.  He had been a little on the mopey side but couldn’t quite articulate what was wrong.  I could relate.  Around 7:30pm I found him upstairs laying on his bed and listening to the radio.  That looked like a great idea to me.  I curled up beside him and for several minutes focused on the lyrics filling his bedroom.  Those moments were just what my soul needed.  Peace. Stillness. Truth.  

One song in particular was a wave of refreshment: 

It’s a new horizon, I’m set on you.  And you meet me here today with mercies that are new.  All my fears and doubts, they can all come too…because they can’t stay long when I’m here with you.*

A few hours later I settled into my own bed.  I read a short devotional, and as I turned off the light, the above lyrics floated back into my mind. With mercies that are new.  That truth was a breath of fresh air mixed with peace and love.  With my head on my pillow, I thought of Lamentations 3:22-23, which speaks of God’s mercies being new every morning.  I had to smile because it was now after 10:30 at night.  While the morning indeed brings fresh mercies, in that moment I felt grateful that God’s mercies show up at any time of the day.

Mercies.  Those acts of kindness, compassion, and favor given to us by God.  Acts we are so undeserving of.  Even after a day of irritability, selfishness, and ingratitude, He still lovingly reminds us of His goodness and unfailing love.  He does this through His Spirit and His Word, through our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and even, through songs.  His mercies are displayed in a million different ways.  

Over the next few days I reflected on the above mentioned night and the deep meaning of mercy.  And then it hit me: for months the words mercy seat had been patiently waiting their turn at the top of my “blog idea list.”  What perfect timing. For not only is mercy comprised of acts of kindness, but it is also defined as “compassion or forgiveness toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.”  In short,  it is not receiving what is justly deserved.  Every soul is in need of mercy because all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23); and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Our only hope is in the kindness of a Savior.  

Amazingly, we see a glimpse of this hope in the months following the exodus- that glorious deliverance of the Israelites from 400 years of Egyptian slavery.  Yet, this was only the beginning of their story.  Imagine, even after centuries of slavery, what the Israelites really needed was a better deliverance; for they, like us, needed forgiveness of sin, and reconciliation with their Creator.  To this end, God instructed them in the ways of sacrifice and offerings.  This was an elaborate- yet necessary- system which required the blood of animals.  Necessary, because as we learned in the Garden of Eden, sin separates us from God and results in spiritual death.  And without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22).  

If you would like to learn more about the sacrifices of the law, the book of Leviticus is an excellent read.  But for now, I want to focus on two pivotal offerings: the sin offering, and the burnt offering. 

The burnt offering was made by killing an animal from a herd or flock, such as a bull.  In this act, the worshiper would place his hands on the victim’s head, symbolizing his identification with the animal.  This gave full acknowledgment that the animal represented himself, and that he, the worshiper, was deserving of death.  The animal’s substitute death (known as propitiation) satisfied God’s wrath.  If you’re wondering about the necessity of God’s wrath, I think the following is a wonderful explanation: 

“For God to maintain His justice, He must punish sin.  To forgive at the expense of His just wrath would be inconsistent with His character; according to His holiness, those who have sinned must die.” (ligonier.org)

The animal became the substitute which covered the sinner from God’s holy wrath (this is known as atonement). This bloody ordeal was a beautiful gift of God’s mercy- for now fellowship was possible between God and His people.  

Although the burnt offering satisfied the wrath of God, it did not purify the worshiper.  Enter the sin offering.  The sin offering is best thought of as a purification offering and was made by killing a young bull, ram, or goat.  The blood from this sacrifice was used to purify the sanctuary so that the worshiper could stand in the presence of God.  The sin offering was a sacrifice of expiation- the removal of sin’s pollution. 

I briefly bring up these two sacrifices as a way to offer insight to what I really want to talk about- The Day of Atonement.  This was a special day that happened once a year when atonement was made for all the sins of Israel.  The day in which communion with God was renewed.  This was done through both the sin and burnt offerings.  On this day, a burnt offering would be made in which a ram would be sacrificed.  Of note, this was a costly sacrifice because meat was a valuable commodity.  Every part of the ram (except the skin) was consumed by the flames in the burnt offering.  The ram represented Israel and was the propitiation for their sins.  

The second part of the Day of Atonement was the sin offering.  On this day, two male goats were utilized- one for sacrifice, whose blood would be spread on the mercy seat.  

Ahhhh the mercy seat.  This was the lid of the Ark of the Covenant and the place where God came to be seated among His people.  Located in the Most Holy Place behind the curtain of the tabernacle, it was from here God’s mercy was dispensed to man through the blood of the atoning sacrifice.  In Exodus 25:22 the mercy seat is described: “There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.”  The mercy seat- where God met with His people, and where mercy flowed abundantly from the sacrificial blood. 

In case you were wondering about the purpose of the second goat of the sin offering, don’t worry…I’m not about to leave you high and dry.  It was perhaps twelve years ago when I first learned about these two goats, and I can still remember sitting in the pew and thinking, “How have I never known this? This is amazing!” The second goat made atonement through being a scapegoat.  As the first goat, this goat also represented Israel and symbolically carried all of Israel’s sins.  But this goat was not to be sacrificed- this goat was to be sent into the wilderness to signify that Israel’s sins had been removed.  This goat brings tears to my eyes.  

Can you see it all unfolding?  Can you hear the bleets of the goats and the ram? Can you see the slaughter of these animals of propitiation and the bloody hands of the priest? Do you envision the blood dripping down from the mercy seat?   Can you see the goat of expiation, running free in the wilderness symbolically carrying away the sin of God’s people?  All of it was necessary.  All of it was needed for atonement and restoration of a right relationship with God.  

And just like the Israelites, we are in need of the same.  But unlike the Israelites, we have something better; something that can purify our conscience.  As amazing as the Old Covenant system of sacrifice was, the Day of Atonement and the significance of the mercy seat was only a shadow- a mere copy- of what was to come…  

The Battle to Decrease

“There is no win in comparison.”  A few years ago our church went through a sermon series entitled “The Comparison Trap.”  Since then, the above opening statement has echoed in my mind any time I start to compare myself (or my life) with others.  Still.  Some days it’s a challenge not to be swept away with covetousness, jealousy, and envy.  

Those are some pretty ugly words, and I hate to even put them in print.  But unfortunately, that is the reality of my sinful heart at times…and the reason I’m writing this post right now.  I don’t usually struggle with jealousy of material items but the other night as my husband and I walked past some big beautiful old houses (my weakness) I couldn’t help but feel a painful twinge of dissatisfaction with our own home.  Looking at the nicer neighborhoods, paved driveways, and larger yards suddenly made our current residence seem quite inadequate.  

But comparison doesn’t just stop at the material.  Oh no, it shows up big time for me when I see someone else with personal qualities I admire.  Qualities I wish I possessed.  It even rears its ugly head when it comes to my relationships with other people.  Unsurprisingly, moments spent in comparison leave me feeling weak, insecure, and to use the word from above, inadequate.  Definitely not a win.  

Where does this ugliness come from?  What is at the root of it all? I reflected and prayed about these questions during my walk this morning.  Along quiet familiar streets under a freshly risen sun, one word came to mind: pride.  

Of course.  The love of self glorification.  A sinful tale as old as the garden of Eden.  Why else would I feel discontent with a home that has literally everything I need and more…a  home the vast majority of the world’s population would love to inhabit.  Would something bigger with more beauty add to the love and laughter of our existing home?   I know the answer is a resounding “No.”   

When it comes to envying the personal attributes of others, pride is without a doubt the underlying factor.  I want to be recognized as smart, engaging, funny, wise, beautiful, and talented.  I want to be sought after by my friends, a favorite of all.  Whew.  I’m putting it all out there with this one.  But this has been my struggle over the last few weeks.

All of these thoughts roamed through my mind as I continued to walk.  When I rounded the corner to my street, lyrics from a Jeremy Camp song played in my head: 

Holy Father, burn away my desire for anything that is not of you, and is of me; I want more of you and less of me.  Empty me, empty me.  Fill me with you, with you.     

Isn’t that the answer to all of our pride?  More of Jesus and less of us.  To love his glory more than our own.  

John the Baptist did this really well.  Before Jesus began his ministry, John was the voice in the wilderness crying out, preparing the way of the Lord; the one proclaiming the good news of the coming Messiah.  Some viewed this wild, camel hair wearing, locust eating man as crazy- but he sure could draw a crowd.  People came to him to be baptized.  He was kind of a big deal.  But at the end of John chapter 3 we see how he responded to his followers’ concern about the attention Jesus was drawing.  (They saw Jesus as a threat, as someone who was taking followers away from John.)  But John said to them in verse 30, “He must increase, I must decrease.”      

John knew his role.  And he knew his role because he understood who he was and who God was.   So often we get this backwards.  We forget which one of us needs to decrease.  In our pride we falsely believe that our greatest happiness will be achieved when we are made much of.  But what did John say about this?  In verse 29 he gave an example of the joy experienced when a friend is about to be married.  On the day of the wedding, great joy is found in admiring and delighting in the bride and groom, rather than in oneself.  Likewise, John (speaking of Jesus) said,  “That joy is mine, and it it now complete.”  Truly, our greatest joy comes from the glorification and exaltation of our Savior. 

Over this past week I have listened to the above mentioned song several times, often in the morning while getting ready for work.  I’ve also spent time in prayer asking God to empty me of my pride.  And in moments of wrestling with doubt and insecurity, He has lovingly reminded me through His Spirit and His Word, to turn my eyes on Jesus.  What joy and relief this has brought- for when my eyes are on him, they are not on myself or the things of this world.    

I heard a pastor once say, “Your destination is as glorious as your god.”  How true that is.  When I let my pride go unchecked, comparison and envy are quick to take hold.  Undoubtedly, the destination of the “god of self” is despair.  But the destination of a holy, righteous, and perfect God is eternity with Him forever and sanctification on earth now. 

Galatians 5:1 tells us that it is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Yes, freedom from the guilt of sin so that we can stand uncondemned before the Creator of the universe.  But through Christ we also have freedom from the bondage of sin here on earth- freedom from comparison, envy, and pride.  When our eyes are fixed on Jesus, we are filled with overwhelming joy, gratitude, and contentment, with a desire to see him glorified rather than ourselves.  As John Piper so famously said, “He is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”  Let us then, like John the Baptist, know our role as we strive daily to make him known by finding our deepest satisfaction in him. May He ever increase as we decrease.

Grace in the Good Work of Parenting

There’s nothing like parenting to stretch the bounds of one’s patience, love, and in general, emotional control. My husband and I were blessed with two children, one boy and one girl.  And while we love them equally beyond words, one of them has definitely tested these bounds more than the other.  In fact, when I was asked to speak at a parenting seminar for a local church in the spring of 2019 it was my experience with said child that inspired my topic.  

I was excited for the opportunity to speak, but in order to prepare my presentation I first needed to write about it for myself.  I’ve always known I learn well by reading, but over the last year  and a half I’ve come to  realize that writing has been a powerful way for me to learn and grow both spiritually and personally.  Plus, there’s something about writing words that creates a sense of accountability to carry them out.  

So what did I write and speak about?  Parenting with truth and grace.  Essentially, how to respond to your child in those really difficult moments.  You know the moments.  The moments that leave you (and your child) feeling defeated, frustrated, and angry.  I talked about the need in such moments for discipline to be done out of love and with a teaching spirit- to not shy away from communicating truth.  And of equal importance, how grace brings restoration to these broken moments.  This has been an ongoing lesson in our home for the last 9 years.  I am by no means a perfect parent and I have failed over and over again in my responses to tantrums, defiance, and poor attitudes- but by the grace of God He enables me in some moments to extend grace to the ones who call me “Mom.”  In particular, to the youngest child.     

I had such a moment about a week ago.  I won’t go into all the details out of respect for my son’s privacy, but it was an instance in which his temper and subsequent behavior left me feeling extremely frustrated, and honestly, disappointed.  Additionally, my emotions were intensified due to the fact that this had been a replay of a scenario which had occurred 4 months prior.  Exact same situation.  And let me tell you, that had been a big deal. 

With the first incident I was very direct and spoke some hard truths my son needed to hear (after first taking time to ensure I was calm and thinking through what I was going to say).  This had lead to an evening of tears and repentance on my son’s part in a way that was unprecedented.  My husband and I were shocked by how he had responded because this was seriously unlike anything we had ever seen from him!  And while there was definitely grace extended that night as well, truth had been the main teacher. 

So here we were again.  I sat on the couch mindlessly scrolling through facebook as I collected my thoughts about the best approach to take this time.  I wanted to lecture.  But I knew he knew what there was to be said.  The talk we had four months ago was impactful enough that there would be no point of saying it all again. He knew he had been in the wrong.  I also knew he was mad at himself and that he was likely feeling ashamed.  As I walked up the stairs to his room the word grace came to mind.  With each step I silently repeated this word- and felt myself inwardly soften.          

I gently knocked on the door and walked into his room.  I was greeted with a familiar scowl as he laid on the floor half propped up by the large Cubs pillow he had gotten for Christmas this year.  I had brought his bedtime things from downstairs- his favorite Cubs blanket, a stuffed shark, and a cup of water.  Without saying a word I lovingly made his bed and placed the water on his nightstand.  I pulled a blanket over him and laid down beside him on the floor.  I could feel his frustrated and angry tension as I laid there with my arm overlapping his.  After a few moments of silence I got up and turned on his radio to play his favorite Christian music station.  I then turned off the lights, leaving on his star-lamp nightlight.  Although no verbal words were spoken, I walked out of his room hoping the message of grace was communicated loud and clear.     

I thank God that He uses my imperfect grace as I parent my children.  But even more so, I thank Him for His matchless grace.  The grace I give fluctuates and is limited.  His is infinite and perfect.  As I laid beside my son in the middle of his anger, shame, and frustration, I wondered if it was a small picture of how God lovingly and patiently sits with us in our wreckage; of how He is moved with compassion at the sight of His children’s pain; of how he is near and full of love even when our hearts are angry and hardened.   

Later that night I sat again with my son, this time on his bed.  His head was on his pillow and his brown eyes were filled with tears.  As we talked he expressed words of sorrow and regret and I words of (what I hope were) grace and truth.  I kissed his forehead when I told him goodnight and could feel his sadness.  Although I felt a great deal of compassion for what he was experiencing, I also knew that it was a necessary part of repentance and growth.  Romans 2:4 tells us that the kindness of God leads to repentance.  I would like to think the same is true when we parent with grace.       

The next day as we sat on his bedroom floor working on a puzzle I asked him how he was feeling about the previous night.  He said he felt better.  At that time I had just finished writing last week’s blog post, The Remedy for Discouragement, and was able to share with him what I had written about God’s grace.  Those were definitely some of my favorite moments of the week.  While it’s important that my son experiences grace from myself and his dad, it’s everything to me that he knows and experiences the grace of the God who created him.      

Without a doubt, raising children is a hard business.  In times of parental frustration and distress may we ever stay mindful of God’s grace to us in our salvation, in the everyday blessings of life, and in our failures.  As we recognize the outpouring of His grace to us, grace will overflow from our hearts into the lives of our children and those around us.  We won’t always get it right, but in those broken moments we can take heart: For if we, imperfect parents know how to give grace to our children, how much more does our perfect Heavenly Father give grace to us?*  As our Father, He is heaping grace upon us even when we feel we have blown it.  Let us then relentlessly draw near to the God of all grace who has given us all things at all times, so that having all that we need, we will abound in every good work.**

* from Matthew 7:11

**from 2 Corinthians 9:8 

***For more on my presentation about parenting with truth and grace, check out my interview (Part I, II, & III) on Julie Rupp’s podcast, Parenting Tomorrow’s Leaders.  You can find the link under the media section of this website or at parentingtomorrowsleaders.com  

The Remedy for Discouragement

Although we’re only one week removed from Easter, today’s post comes from a seed of inspiration planted this past Christmas.  Strange timing? Maybe. Or, perhaps there’s no time like the present to connect these two seasons.  

It’s a Wonderful Life is a classic Christmas movie loved by many for the last 7 decades.  I hadn’t seen it for quite some time and was thrilled to watch it with my family this past holiday season. It was the first viewing for both my kids (then 11 and 8) and I was so happy they enjoyed it.  For those who may not be familiar (or if it’s been awhile) the story begins with the introduction of Clarence, the angel who is to intervene in the life of George Bailey. Clarence, eager to earn his wings, is told by God of a man on earth in need of help.  He responds by asking God if the man is sick. God answers, “No, worse.  He’s discouraged.”   

That answer resonated with me that night.  Although nobody enjoys experiencing a sickness of any kind, to be downtrodden in spirit is indeed a worse woe.

Discouragement is defined as the loss of confidence or enthusiasm.  In short, dispiritedness. How does this happen? What is it that leads us to this barren state of being?  Often the culprit comes in the form of unmet expectations or not making progress with goals despite great effort. Certainly, discouragement can creep it’s way into every aspect of our lives- financial, relational, occupational, spiritual, emotional, and  physical. And while there are varying degrees to which one feels discouraged, there is one central theme: A loss of hope. 

For instance, we lose hope that a relationship can be mended, that our bank account will be sufficient, that our ailments will be healed, or that we will obtain a sense of purpose and fulfillment in life.  We even lose hope in the goodness and faithfulness of God. When there is no perceivable light at the end of the tunnel and all seems lost, discouragement resides within us. Such was the case with George Bailey.  He could see no hope for the future and came to believe it would have been better if he had never been born. This certainly demonstrates the ultimate depth of disheartedness.  

Additionally, the voice of discouragement yields destruction by breeding doubt, uncertainty, and fear.   If you have experienced these effects, know you are in good company- for so did John the Baptist, Peter, and Thomas.

John the Baptist.  This was the man who announced to the world, “Behold, the Lamb who takes away the sins of the the world,” (John 1:29).  The man who proclaimed he was unworthy to untie the sandal straps of Jesus.  The man who held the Son of Man in his arms as he simultaneously heard the voice of God and saw the Holy Spirit.  This man, steeped in prison discouragement, doubted. So much so that he asked the disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matthew 11:3). Those words could only have been spoken out of deep uncertainty and despair. 

In the wake of Jesus’ arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, Peter, the disciple who had boldly declared he would always stay by Jesus’ side, denied him three times.  Peter, although he had a strong love and devotion for his lord, failed to grasp the true reason for Jesus coming to the world. It was Peter’s great hope that Jesus would overturn the power of the Romans and thereby grant freedom to the Jews.  He did not comprehend that Jesus came to offer a better freedom- freedom from sin. When Jesus did not resist arrest by the Roman guards, Peter’s discouragement- his unmet expectations- lead him to fear for his life and deny his Savior.  

In between the crucifixion and the resurrection laid the second day.  Jesus was dead and buried and those who had been following him for three years were left in the wake of discouragement and angst.  Despite the prophetic words Jesus had spoken about his return, nobody expected an empty grave. Upon hearing of his resurrection from the dead, Thomas stated he would only believe if he were to touch the hands and side of Jesus.  Bitter discouragement prevented belief.   

Have you felt the same? Can you relate to George Bailey, John the Baptist, Peter, and Thomas? I think at some point and time we all can.  Ecclesiastes 1:9 tells us there is nothing new under the sun and what has been will be again. Nobody is immune to discouragement and its ugly effects.  And while discouragement may at times be inevitable, there is a remedy: Hope and Grace. 

Grace.  Unmerited favor bestowed upon sinners by a holy and loving God.  Freely given and completely unearned. Instead of a harsh condemning lecture, Jesus responded to John the Baptist by saying to his disciples, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.  And blessed is the one who is not offended by me,” (Matthew 11:4-6).  He could have rolled his eyes and scoffed at John the Baptist for losing faith.  Instead, Jesus extended grace with a hope saturated reply. 

Then there was Peter.  I can’t imagine the anguish he felt the day Jesus was crucified.  The guilt that must have consumed him after leaving the one he loved must have been unbearable.  How the tears must have fallen when he heard the rooster crow. Instant shame and sorrow. At the announcement of Jesus’ resurrection what ran through his mind?  What must he have felt? Joy? Hope? Most likely. But I’m sure there was also a great sense of anxiety about facing the one he denied. Perhaps he was expecting Jesus to say, “Peter, how could you?” Or, “Didn’t I tell you that you would deny me?!”  Or, maybe worse, “Peter I want no part of you.”  Instead, Jesus simply asked him if he loved him– three times.  For each denial, Jesus gave Peter glorious and gracious redemption.  

What was the response to “Doubting Thomas?”  Jesus could have ignored him or chided him for his lack of faith.  But when he appeared to Thomas a week after his resurrection, he said to him, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe,” (John 20:27).  He honored Thomas’ request.  We aren’t told what Thomas does next, only that he said, “My Lord and my God!”  Undoubtedly, Jesus’ grace to Thomas strengthened his faith for the rest of his life.    

And with us.  In the midst of our discouragement, Jesus invites us to lean hard into his infinite grace.  When we’re swimming in the waters of fear, doubt, and uncertainty we can be sure he will extend the same grace to us as he did to our brothers in Christ discussed above.  Grace that increases our faith and restores us from the valley of guilt and shame. Grace that bids us to love him and trust his promises. Grace that is forever sufficient.    

Finally, true and lasting hope extinguishes the flames of discouragement.  Far too often we place our hope in the things of this world: money, jobs, status, relationships, and health.  We are blessed to be stewards of these things but they are not to be our greatest treasure; for when we make them so, we create a misplaced hope- and misplaced hope always leads to despair.  It seems David, the Old Testament poet and king, reminded himself of this truth when he wrote: “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God,” (Psalm 42:5).  Because God never fails us, our hope in Him will never be in vain.  

And yet, there’s good news still; for the intersection of Christmas and Easter is our ultimate hope.  The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus made a way for sinners like us to become sons and daughters of God, complete with an inheritance that is imperishable and undefiled.  This beautiful and unchanging truth is the source of our hope even in the depths of discouragement.  

To be sure, there will be days when all feels lost.  In those times, we can rest soundly in the grace of God and in the hope of our Savior.  And when needed, we can read these words and take heart: “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.”  These are the words written by a man who would know- a man forever changed by the grace and hope of Jesus.  You can find them in 1 Peter 5:10.    

Crucibles

Today marks fifty-two days since Wednesday February 19th, the beginning of Lent.  Although it has not been our practice to partake in lenten traditions, this year my daughter and I decided to participate by giving something up.  That something, we decided, would be complaining. The timing of this was uncanny because never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined what this time period would hold for myself, our family, and the world.  It truly is amazing how much can happen in 52 days.  

Without going into all the details, that day, February 19th, marked the start of an influenza sickness in our home that would last for over 2 weeks.  The culmination of this was a terrifying incident in which my daughter suffered extremely low potassium levels resulting in a trip to the emergency room and no school for several days.  Shortly after she recovered, life returned to normal- though not for long. By mid March the Covid-19 pandemic took effect changing life for everyone. Within this time my grandpa also became ill with pneumonia, and on March 31st he went home to be with Jesus.  Due to restrictions surrounding the Corona virus, myself and fellow family members were unable to be with him physically during his last few days on earth. That’s a lot in 52 days.

I forget exactly when, why, or how it happened but at some point in the last few weeks I stumbled upon the word “crucible.”  For whatever reason that word stuck with me and I jotted it down on my “idea list”- a running tab I keep for potential blog topics.  When I searched the definition I found the description of a container in which metals can be melted at very high temperatures. I also discovered this alternate definition: “A situation of severe trial, or in which different elements interact, leading to the creation of something new.” Given the previous paragraph’s account, that definition seemed extremely fitting for the time at hand.        

I’m sure if I asked each person reading this to speak of their own crucible it wouldn’t take long for something to come to mind.  But what if the next question was to identify the new creation created within the crucible? That answer might take a little more digging, but the effort is certainly worth it.  For me, the new creation has been a strengthened reliance on the goodness and faithfulness of God through learning to thank him for every situation. I would like to think I’m not one who typically has a habit of complaining, but I truly believe God brought that to my mind all those days ago when I was contemplating how to participate in lent.  He knew. He knew the trials that lay ahead as well as how I needed to be stretched in my faith.  

As I shared in one of my podcasts (Raise a Hallelujah), when my daughter was lying on the bathroom floor unable to move her hands and feet, we prayed and sang praises to God while waiting for the ambulance.  I can honestly say I wouldn’t trade those moments for anything. Although my grandpa’s viewing/funeral was exceptionally small due to recent restrictions, it was a beautifully intimate time to rejoice in the life he lived for 89 years and to celebrate his residence in his new home in heaven.  God’s love and grace literally shone down on our family through the brilliant sunshine that day. And though the current virus has created horrendous turmoil and grief, I hold firm that this is God’s providence for our ultimate good and His glory.  

As I write this on Good Friday, I can also see how the definition of crucible fits perfectly with today- for what better model of a crucible is there than the suffering and death of Jesus.  Earlier today I read the Matthew 27 account of Jesus being mocked, crucified, and buried. It’s a story I’ve heard countless times, but as I read in the stillness of the morning I tried to envision what he experienced on my behalf.  In doing so I could only think of the two questions asked in the song “Living Hope” (by Phil Whickham): Who could imagine so great a mercy? What heart could fathom such boundless grace?  The answer is nobody.  Only God could have planned this most beautiful salvation from before the creation of time.  The crucible of the cross- in all of its shame, scorn, horror, and wrath- lead to the creation of something new: us.  

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” The cross was the way for us to be delcared just before a holy God as the penalty of our sin was paid in full.  Our sins, and our old selves, were nailed to the cross over 2,000 years ago. Indeed, the cross paved the way for us to become new; for through the resurrection we are raised with Christ and made alive in him.  We are given newness of life that will never fade.  

This post was able to unfold due to the events of the last 52 days.  Although incredibly difficult, and at times unbearably painful, I thank God for crucibles- those trials and sufferings that lead us to deeper communion with our Savior.  But above all, I am forever thankful for the crucible of the cross, where I, a sinner, am made new through Christ.

Unfailing Rest

There is rest in the goodness of the Lord my God…

Those are lyrics from one of my favorite songs, Abundantly More, by North Point Worship.  Without question we are all in need of rest for one reason or another.   For most of us, the global pandemic has made life feel uneasy, chaotic, and weird right now.  Fear, uncertainty, and anxiety, abounds. In the middle of this turbulent time I wanted to write about a rest like no other- and in doing so I have been blessed by the truth that triumphs.  I pray it will be a blessing to you as well. 

If you’ve ever trained for a race of any kind, you know part of training includes days of zero physical activity, or “rest days.”  When training for a marathon I typically welcome these days, especially after a long run. However, resting becomes very difficult during the week leading up to the race.  This special time of training is known as “tapering.” Many runners have a love/hate relationship with the taper, and I am no exception. It truly is a bittersweet experience: On the one hand, it’s nice to have extra rest and lighter running days; on the other hand, it’s a major mental game not to freak out as your mind tries to convince you that you’re getting out of shape.  I’ve resorted to telling myself taper week is like a magic trick- that this unusual time of rest results in running a strong (and hopefully fast) race. For the most part, this mind hack keeps me sane. Still, there exists a sense of tension in the rest.  

Rest can feel like that sometimes.  Tense. Uneasy. It’s puzzling that rest can be so uncomfortable, but this is often the case.  This leads me to wonder if we really understand what it means to rest. For instance, most people think of rest as watching a favorite television show, engaging in a hobby, or napping.  But as I’m writing this I’m struck with the thought that perhaps we have the wrong idea about the nature of rest. Perhaps we mistakenly equate resting with relaxing. As I think of it, I can’t recall a single Bible verse that mentions the word “relax.”  However, many verses come to mind when I think of the word “rest.”   

In the first chapter of Genesis we learn that God ordained rest as part of the seven day rhythm of life.  This pattern was set by God when He rested from His work of creating all that exists in the universe. This rest was taken not because God was tired or weary, but so that we would have an example to follow.  This day of rest, the Sabbath, was God’s gift to us- an invitation to delight ourselves in His rest. Jesus speaks of this in Mark 2:27 when he said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” So important was this to God that in Exodus 20:8 He commanded His people to honor the Sabbath day and keep it holy.  

The Sabbath was not only a time to abstain from physical labor, but it was a time for God’s people to remember His faithfulness in both creation and in their liberation from Egpyptian slavery.*  During the times of the Old Testament, slaves were not permitted a day off from work. By resting on the Sabbath, God’s people were reminded of their freedom from slavery. Within this remembrance was a focus on God as sovereign creator, provider, protector, and deliverer.  While rest from physical labor was needed and observed, the Sabbath provided spiritual rest through reflection of the love, faithfulness, and goodness of God.  

The same is still true today.  We find spiritual rest anytime we pause to reflect on the attributes of God.  Whether through quiet prayer, reading the Word, or singing songs of praise, time spent in His presence allows for the restoration we desperately need.  I have found this to be true over and over again in my own life- whether in the midst of a pandemic, waiting in the school pick up line, or on the bathroom floor with a sick daughter- every time I shift my focus to the the holy God who loves me I find rest.  Every. Single. Time. Remarkably, this rest is available to us any time of the week, any minute of the day. The God who created us graciously calls us to rest in Him.    

When I first began writing this post I came across Exodus 33:14: “The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’”  Initially I took this verse to mean the rest provided by God was that of refreshment and peace.  However, upon closer look I discovered that when God spoke these words to Moses the “rest” He was speaking of was the Promised Land.** After the exodus from Egypt God promised His people a land that would be their own, a land flowing of milk and honey.  Amazingly, the rest promised by God in the above verse was a home.    

Perhaps one of the most loved words in every language is the word “home”- a place of warmth, comfort, and ease.  A place of belonging. God did indeed lead the Israelites to a new geographical home, but ultimately the triune God is our rest, our home.  For those in Christ, God the Holy Spirit resides within us and is our comforter and guide.  No matter where we live physically in this world, the Spirit is ever present in us producing the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  This is beautiful rest within us. And it is through God the Father we have belonging as a son or daughter. To know we are loved by the God of the universe and in turn to love Him is where we find rest for our heart; for our heart’s home is in Him. 

The fullness of our rest is given to us by God the Son, Jesus.  The words he spoke in Matthew 11:28-29 are some of the most beautiful words in all of Scripture: “Come to me, all who labor and are haven laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  As great as it feels to collapse into bed at the end of a physically exhausting day, I would argue that nothing beats finding rest for your soul.  

In the above passage the labor Jesus was speaking of was the labor of being under the burden of the law- the tireless work of keeping the requirements of the Old Covenant.**  Jesus knew the hearts of the Israelites were filled with endless feelings of uncertainty and guilt because of this labor. After all, he was the only person in all of history who was able to keep the law perfectly.   Jesus was saying to the people that he could offer rest for their souls through the assurance of their salvation! Because Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly, freedom was granted from it. This was great news for them and for us all!

Although you or I may not have been trying to keep the law of Moses, at some point we will wrestle with how to be made right with God; for often we wrestle with the burden of “working our way to salvation.”  However, despite good deeds done, we know we come up short. As A.W. Tozer stated, “The burden is not a local one, peculiar to those first hearers, but one which is borne by the whole human race.” This is a universal struggle from which nobody is immune.  Until our hearts find rest in a Savior we will continue to feel burdened and restless. 

The rest given by Jesus is indeed the assurance of our salvation- a salvation which is evidenced by his nail pierced hands and resurrected body.  A salvation which is received by grace through faith. A salvation of the fulfilled law credited to us from Jesus himself. This is the gospel that saves, for our salvation has been paid in full and is found in no one else.  In his book, The Naked Gospel, Andrew Farley writes: “Just as God declared His creation ‘good’ and then rested, Jesus announced from Calvary, ‘It is finished!’ and then sat down at God’s right hand.”  Hallelujah! The cross and the tomb have sealed our everlasting rest…for the promised land of our eternal home is heaven.           

I find myself thinking of heaven quite often, but it has been on my mind more than usual this past week due to the passing of my grandfather.  As I close my eyes I envision the pure shining brilliance of the City of God. I try to imagine what it must be like to be encompassed by light, warmth, and pure love, to be rid of every physical and emotional burden.  But mostly, I imagine seeing Jesus face to face. Every day I praise God for the hope of heaven. For although we are still on this earth, I find rest in the promise of an eternal life.  But one day I won’t have to imagine, for that promise will be fulfilled. One day I’ll stand on those streets of gold with my Savior by my side.    

To have this hope is our true rest.  Indeed, the truth of the triune God regenerates our weary souls in a way that nothing else can. It is unmatched by even the most luxurious vacation ever conceived by man. For the rest that comes from worshiping the God who is our creator, father, comforter, and redeemer will never fail us.  And best of all, there is no tension to be found in His rest. He is now and forevermore our perfect resting place.

*www.jewfaq.org

**www.biblestudytools.com  

The Pursuit of God, Tozer, 1948

The Naked Gospel, Farley, 2009 

5 Tips for Co-Working With Your Spouse

Over the last few weeks families across the country have experienced a tremendous amount of change in their daily routines.  With schools closed and parents now working from home this has created quite a bit of, uh, together time. And while this is a tremendous opportunity for families to experience a renewed sense of connection, it also presents the likelihood of increased conflict, especially in marriage.  To that end, here are 5 helpful tips for making the most of working alongside your unexpected new co-worker.  

  1.  Give each other grace.  This is a new scenario for both of you- you’re both adjusting to working in a completely different way and are likely experiencing a heightened degree of anxiety.  Giving grace to one another means assuming the best of each other’s intentions. In short, giving one another the benefit of the doubt. It also means doing away with criticism.  By definition grace means “unmerited favor.” Critical words are the opposite of grace and will only add to feelings of tension or uneasiness.  
  2. Give each other space- both physical and emotional.  There is some truth to the old sentiment “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”  Recognize that being home together does not mean you have to work side by side. Create separate work spaces if possible (and desired).  Also, stay mindful of emotional space. One person may need quieter times to think and reflect- both regarding work and the current global crisis.  Communicate about the amount of physical and emotional distance you both need- which leads to the next point…
  3. Keep communication open about feelings and needs.  During this uneasy time emotions are likely to run the gamut throughout the course of any given day.  Don’t expect your spouse to automatically know what you’re feeling- let him/her know. Then, communicate clearly what you need.  Take all the guessing out of it! For example, “I need you to help out around the house,” is very vague. “I’m feeling overwhelmed with the amount of housework that needs done.  I would feel grateful if you would do the dishes tonight,” is specific and identifies the emotion experienced.  
  4. “What can I do to make your day better today?” Asking this question ensures you have a balanced focus.  As we all know, it’s easy to get caught up in our own selves, our own plans, and our own agendas.  Take the time at some point in the day to ask your spouse what you can do for them- and then actually do it!   This is one of the best ways we can show love to our spouses, especially during high stress times. 
  5. Have realistic expectations.  Some days will go pretty smoothly but other days may leave you questioning how long you can carry on in this new work environment.  Rough days will happen. Be quick to forgive and know that tomorrow will bring another opportunity to extend one another grace.

All the Feels

As the facilitator of my agency’s Women’s Recovery Group I begin every session by asking each member to state their name and then share their answer to my question of the day.  For instance, I ask them to share something they’re grateful for, or to name something they’ve done to support their recovery (or depending on my mood, something lighthearted such as naming a favorite movie character).  This serves as a nice ice breaker and ensures that even those who are more reserved in nature participate in the discussion. Sometimes for the “go around question” I ask them to name an emotion they currently feel as well as something they need.  I also explain that taking time to answer these questions at least once a day increases both awareness of emotions and problem solving skills. Whether you are someone in recovery or not, there is much to be gained from making a habit of identifying and expressing your emotions and needs.  

At first glance those two questions named above may seem simplistic, but often they are difficult to answer.  Why is this? I’m sure there are countless reasons, but today I am going to discuss three. I will also offer a few helpful tips regarding communication, as well as a personal note from yours truly.  

The first, and maybe most obvious reason for the difficulty in answering the above questions, is that we become busy managing our daily lives.  Sometimes it seems there are a million and one tasks to accomplish on any given day, and survival becomes the name of the game!  I truly believe that many of the items on our daily to-do-lists are good and necessary things. It’s important to work, do household chores, make dinner, volunteer, exercise, walk the dog, and taxi kids to practices, appointments, and events.  Those in and of themselves are not problematic. But in the midst of the busyness we rarely prioritize checking in with ourselves. During the grind of life we forget to take a moment to pause and ask the questions, “What emotion am I feeling right now?” And, “What is it I need?” 

Perhaps some of you are rolling your eyes or thinking, “Spoken like a therapist.”  If that’s you, just hang with me and know that putting a name to what we feel has great value for both ourselves as individuals and our relationships.  For ourselves, there is a degree of empowerment and clarity that comes from being able to specifically label what we feel. Identifying and labeling the emotion then enables us to effectively communicate this to others- friends, co-workers, spouses, and children.  For instance, “I feel overwhelmed with all of my work requirements,” communicates a specific emotion and sets the stage for a productive conversation. As we will discuss in a moment, articulating what you feel plays a key role in identifying what you need. If you haven’t already, start the habit of checking in with yourself throughout the day- label those emotions!  

The second reason these questions are difficult to answer is because acknowledging our feelings can be painful.  Life is full of many moments: some of love, joy, and happiness; some of tears, anger, hurt, and trauma.  It’s natural to push back painful memories. For some, this is done out of necessity or in order to survive a stressful or traumatic event.  The danger lies in this becoming a habit as it creates a disconnection from our emotions all together. It’s important to remember that although feelings can be uncomfortable, they are not the enemy.  Indeed, our emotions have purpose and value. Purpose because they move us to action in regard to our relationships with others; value because they are a significant part of what it means to be a human being created in the  image of God. How you feel matters. Make a commitment to no longer hide, minimize, or deny your emotions- you’ll be surprised at the relief this can bring.  

This moves us to the third reason for difficulty: What we need at any given time is subject to change.  Identifying emotions is certainly the first step as doing so offers clues to figuring out what we need.  For instance, if you’re feeling lonely the likely need is connection with others. However, sometimes we may have different needs in response to the same emotion.  Consider the following: when feeling anxious the need may be taking a quiet walk or the need may be talking to a close friend. As with labeling emotions, the more we practice reflecting on our needs, the quicker we will become at identifying them. 

As I said above, identifying emotions and needs is not only for our own personal benefit, but for the edification of our relationships as well.  The second part of the process then is the communication of these to the people in our lives. For some, this comes naturally- for others, not so much.  Wherever you fall on that continuum, here are a few helpful thoughts and tips for creating (or improving) healthy communication: 

  1.  Let go of pride.  We like to think we can handle our stuff on our own, but the reality is that we were not meant to do this.  People need people. It does not make us weak to express what we feel or to ask for what we need. Conversely, this becomes a great strength when we are able to do so. 
  2. Remember that vulnerability begets vulnerability.  When we are able to honestly share with those in our lives this leads not only to solutions, but to in an increase of intimacy and connection in the relationship.  As I’ve found personally and in my groups at work, one person’s openness paves the way for others to be open as well.  
  3. If all of this seems weird or unfamiliar, a good place to start is by using a simple “I statement.”  For example, “I feel frustrated because I have been interrupted numerous times while working on my project.”   The key to an “I statement” is the third word- naming an actual emotion. I know it has become common phrasing to say things such as, “I feel like I could pull my hair out.”  While that certainly conveys a strong message, it misses the point of labeling the emotion. You can then follow up the “I statement” with an expression of need. In the above case one could say, “What I need is an hour to myself.”    

In a previous post (Recovery Lessons) I asserted that anything discussed in my recovery groups is equally relevant and applicable to my life.  Certainly this entire post is no exception. So here is my moment of vulnerability. I would say in general I have remained calm and adaptable to all the changes taking place over the past few weeks.  However, yesterday and today I have felt antsy, unsettled, and edgy. To label the emotion I would say I have felt irritable. As I’m sure is true of many of you, I am a lover of routine and structure.  And while I am not an introvert, it has become quite apparent that I value my alone time to engage in the activities I enjoy. 

With everyone being at home together, routine and alone time has looked quite different from “normal life.”  Today my need has been for time alone to write, which thankfully, has happened. In fact, I may have found a new favorite writing space; the quietness of my daughter’s upstairs bedroom has been disturbed only by the trickle of the aquarium filter and the panel of windows in front of her desk has let in a wonderful amount of light.  Writing up here has been like a breath of fresh air…which, speaking of, is something else I need. As I think about it, a run is sounding pretty good right about now. Time to take a break from writing and spend some needed time on the road.       

Banquets and Banners: Part II

One thing is certain, in heaven all will be perfect and we will gather in the great banqueting hall to share in the love and delight of our God and our Savior.  For those who are in Christ, we will all join together with him in eating the choicest meat and drinking the finest wine. Even now on earth we are invited to the table of God through the blood of Jesus.  We are invited to drink deeply of the riches of His mercy and grace knowing that His banner over us is love… 

His banner over me is love.  When I sang these words as a child I imagined, very literally, a big sign above my head proclaiming God’s love for me .  As I said in part I, kudos to the song because I understood the very important main concept. However, I am so happy to now know the true meaning and richness of those words.  

In my (yet to be released) book Remade: Living Free there is a chapter devoted to God as Jehovah Rophe, our Healer.  I won’t spoil the entire backstory (which you can find in chapter 5 of said book), but I came to study the names of God shortly after returning home from our vacation in Mexico in 2018.  I’m tempted to tell you the full story, but for now, just know the urge to study the names of God came out of a beautiful time of worship on the beach with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.   To my surprise, one of the names I later learned about was Jehova Nissi, which means “The Lord is our banner.”

In our culture and in this time in history we typically think of a banner as a flag or a decorated cloth that is displayed on a wall.  However, in the Old Testament a banner was often the term used for a rod or staff and came to symbolize God’s protection and power. It is in the amazing book of Exodus we find the significance of the word banner- and the incredible story of Moses:  

In faith the mother of Moses packaged him in a basket and floated him down the Nile River in an attempt to save him from the King’s edict to kill all baby boys (Exodus 1:22- 2:10).  Providentially, Moses was found by Pharaoh’s daughter who adopted him as her own and raised him as a prince. However, because he knew his true Jewish heritage he angrily killed an Egyptian guard who had savagely beat a Hebrew man.  When Moses realized this murder had been witnessed he fled to the desert where he eventually married and lived as a shepherd. All was life as normal until the day God spoke to Moses through a burning bush with the command to go back to Egypt to free His people from slavery.  Naturally, Moses had objections and excuses but God assured Moses He would be with him. Part of this assurance was the use of a banner. 

It was with this banner Moses approached Pharaoh, for God had told him in Exodus 4:17, “But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it.”  Before going to Pharaoh, God told Moses to throw down his staff- and to Moses’ great surprise it became a snake.  Moses then performed this miracle to demonstrate to the Israelites that he was to be God’s messenger for their freedom; he was to say to Pharaoh, “This is what the Lord the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go,’ (Exodus 5:1).  In chapter 7 we see Moses and Aaron again before Pharaoh speaking to him as God had commanded.  When Moses told Aaron to throw down his staff it again became a snake- which then consumed the snakes Pharaoh’s magicians had made from their own staffs.  There was absolutely no doubt that the staff of Aaron and Moses was a sign of God’s supreme power.  

After the last of the plagues Pharaoh finally relented and let God’s people go.  However, as the people were leaving Egypt, Pharaoh changed his mind and pursued the Israelites.  With the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh’s army behind them, it seemed as though they were trapped.  Then in Exodus 14:16 God said to Moses, “Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.”  In verse 21 Moses did as God said and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind.  I hope someday in heaven to see a a replay of this incredible moment. Can’t you just see it: Moses with his outstretched arms, staff in hand, and a wall of water to the right and left as thousands of people walked through on dry ground?!  It occurs to me now that Moses’ staff was irrelevant to the actual parting of the Red Sea. However, the staff became representative of God’s provision and protection.  

Following the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, the Israelites found themselves thirsty in the wilderness.  Picking up the story in chapter 17 we see again God’s instruction to Moses to strike a rock with his staff. It was from this rock that water then flowed.  Once again, the staff was used as part of God’s provision to meet the needs of His people. The second half of chapter 17 then tells of the battle between the Israelites and the Amalekites.  During this battle, Moses stood on a hill and once again with outstretched arms held the staff in his hands. As long as his arms were raised Israel was victorious; when they were lowered they experienced defeat.  As the battle continued and Moses grew weary, Aaron and Hur held up his arms which ensured the victory for the Israelites.  

Perhaps this is more than you ever wanted to know about Moses, but I have one more important piece to share.  As the Israelites wandered in the dessert they continuously grumbled against God and Moses. After so long of this God sent venomous snakes among them and many died (Numbers 21:6).  As expected, the Israelites came to Moses in acknowledgement of their sin and asked him to pray for the Lord to take the snakes away. (Sidebar, outside of something happening to my kids this is my worst nightmare.  I absolutely would have been on my knees begging Moses to pray!) This was God’s answer to Moses: “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.”  So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived,” (Numbers 21:8-9). 

Of significant note, the word used for pole in the above verse is the same word used in Exodus 17 for staff- both of which are translations of the Hebrew word for ‘banner’ (ESV Reformation Study Bible).  The staff which had been utilized in freeing the Israelites from the beginning of the story was now being used to save their lives. When I was younger I always thought this was such an odd story. Why did God have them look up to a bronze serpent? Why not just heal them and take away the snakes?  As it turns out, the answer is pretty incredible.  

All of what I have communicated so far would have been known by any Jewish person, for these were the stories passed down and celebrated for generations upon generations.   Furthermore, it was through the event of the exodus that God was revealed as Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our banner. He was their protector, provider, granter of victory, and mighty in power to save- all of which demonstrated His great love for His people.  As our Father, He is all of this for us still. Yet, there is one more way in which God is our banner…and that is through Jesus himself.   

Imagine the shock of hearing these words from Jesus for the first time: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life,” (John 3:14-15).  These were astonishing words as Jesus identified himself to be the source of life and salvation.  Amazingly, he was declaring himself to be the needed banner for a much bigger problem than the venom of snakes; for he came to be our banner for the poison of sin.      

Notice that Jesus’ statement about being lifted up precedes the most famous words he ever spoke: “For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life,” (John 3:16).  Just as the people in the desert were in need of a remedy from the snake bites, mankind was in need of redemption from the sin that separated us from God.  Lifted high on the cross of Calvary Jesus became the banner we desperately needed. Just as those who looked upon the bronze snake lived, His life and sacrifice for our sins ensured deliverance for those who believe in his name.   As Ken Hemphill in his amazing book, The Names of God, stated, “Jesus is the Banner of Jehovah, who provides forgiveness of sin and grants eternal life.”*

For those who are in Christ we no longer face the sting of death or the defeat of sin.  This is the very reason Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:7, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”  God in His infinite love graciously and mercifully provided everything we need for complete victory and freedom.  As a song I listen to almost daily says, “More than I could ask or seek, more than I could fathom; God, your love for me is better than I imagined.”**  Yes and Amen! He who invites us to His banqueting house and gives us abundantly more in Jesus is the banner of protection and victory over us. May we now and always sing with confidence He brought me to His banquet eating table, His banner over me is love, as we live in full assurance of God’s magnificent love for us.  

*Ken Hemphill, The Names of God, p. 117, 2001

**Abundantly More by North Point Worship