Wideplace

Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? - Job 1:8

In the introductory scene of the book of Job God tells Satan to consider Job: blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. This is an incredible statement to make about an individual, all the more so when you realise that it is God Himself who makes it!

The question is: could God say this of you?

If not, consider carefully what in your life is the barrier to this description applying to you; God knows all that you do, think and are. Once you have established what that barrier is, then ask God to give you grace to remove it from your life.

Wouldn’t it be great if knew that God could apply His description of Job to you?

And they watched Jesus … so that they might accuse him

The lines were drawn from the outset. The Pharisees were watching Jesus to see if He would ‘break’ the law. Jesus in turn was watching the Pharisees, looking for a glimmer of love, or willingness to help rather than hinder, to use their religion to heal rather than to harm.

This story illustrates all that is wrong with religion that is devoid of God’s love. Following the rules was more important than actually loving and helping one another.

When Jesus questions them it is not on a point of  law, but a challenge to their hearts. Jesus calls the man to Him and brings a single specific act of healing to the floor. How Jesus frames the question is vital. This is not a theological question but a philanthropic one: is it lawful to help, to heal, to do good?

It is their silence that angers Jesus. They know what is right, but their religion is more important to them than their fellow man, than loving their neighbour. The would rather leave a man maimed than revise their religion.

Jesus’ act of healing is a stern rebuke to the Pharisees and to all who allow religion to take precedence over love. Too often we’d rather allow someone else to be hurt than to back down or rethink our motives.

My aim for 2009 is to my fellowship of believers built up and blessed in every way, to refuse to use religion as a weapon against the body of Christ, and not to remain silent when Jesus challenges me or others about healing rather than hindering.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God

I can picture the scene in heaven. God has assembled the heavenly host. His Son is about to be born into His own creation. God asks the question: “Who wants to make the announcement?” In an instant every angel arm is raised aloft, determined to be the one who gets to tell the world about Jesus.

“I only need one of you” God tells the assembled multitude.

Later as the chosen angel appears in the sky over the Bethlehem fields the rest of the heavenly host watch with bated breath while the announcement is made. Barely able to contain their excitement they listen intently as the message is given. And then, they can contain themselves no longer and in an instant the poor shepherds see the entire heavenly host, revealed in their glory, worship and adoration saying as one:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased”

This story was too big for them not to be a part of! They couldn’t stay away from it. This story is too big for us not to be a part of it. We need to play our part with the whole host of heaven in worshipping our great God and Saviour this Christmas, and every day as we enjoy the fruits of His incarnation in our lives.

Enoch walked with God and was not

In the Garden of Eden, we are told, God was to be found walking in the cool of the day. The implication is that this was a time of fellowship between God and His created creatures: Adam and Eve. After they had sinned Adam and Eve’s instinctive reaction was to hide from God and from this time of fellowship. Men and women have been doing the same ever since!

1 John 1:6 tells us that if we claim to be having fellowship with God while we walk in darkness we are lying. Walking with God involves walking in the light, because He is light. Walking with God involves allowing His light to shine on every thought, word and deed because He is by our side, in our thoughts and on our lips, because He is the focus of our lives.

In our modern busy lives of constant attention to trivia walking with God is more difficult than ever to cultivate. But, cultivate it we must. We were made for fellowship; we were made to walk with God. Right through Scripture God promises that He will be our God and we will be His people - a special relationship! But we keep walking away.

The story of Enoch is a one line mystery, and yet a fascinating account of one man’s walk with God. I generally don’t tend to speculate on what Scripture omits, but can’t help but envisage this scenario:

Enoch was a man who was devout; he cultivated his relationship with his God in a generation that were far from God and about to be judged. In his walk with God he grew closer and closer to God. One day Enoch was walking and sharing in fellowship and worship with his God. As they walked Enoch forgot the time and the place, so engrossed was he with his Maker. On and on they walked, getting further and further from Enoch’s home and world both physically and spiritually. When they eventually looked up God said to Enoch: “You’re nearer to my place than yours, you might as well come all the way.”

Brother Lawrence, on his death bed, when asked what he was doing stated that he was doing what he would be doing for all eternity: blessing God, praising Him, adoring Him and loving Him with all his heart. For Brother Lawrence, as for Enoch it was a small step from this world to the next.

This is how I want to be. In the distraction of this world I want to live where I belong, in the world to come. Colossians 3:3 states that our life is already hidden with Christ in God. Lets seek to walk as Enoch walked: in God.

Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple! - Psalm 65:4

There is one simple satisfaction for the believer. It is the fact that Almighty God has chosen to bring me near to Him! To be brought into His courts, where He reigns is true blessedness!

I will be satisfied with the goodness of His house, the holiness of His temple. This is enough, this is everything. Nothing else compares.

“We shall be satisfied…”