Birches

I'd like to go by climbing a birch tree~

And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk
Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more,
But dipped its top and set me down again.
That would be good both going and coming back.
One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.

Robert Frost --- Birches

Have You Noticed That When Things Go Wrong

 --- for example at school or work --- a person often tries to pass the blame onto someone else. Often those involved in criminal activity make excuses by blaming their behaviour on parents, environment, race or economics. This attitude has been around for thousands of years.

Come with me back to the Garden of Eden. Adam has admitted to God that he and his wife are guilty of disobedience. However, Adam words his confession in such a way so as to blame God for his actions. It is the wife you gave me who caused me to sin (Gen. 3:12). A few moments later when Eve has a chance to speak she accused the serpent of deception (Gen. 3:13).

King David had an experience where he would have been tempted to blame others. Uriah the Hittite was in the army, away from home fighting the king's battles. During that time the king committed adultery with Bathsheba Uriah’s wife and she became pregnant. When David’s plans to cover up his immoral behaviour did not work out he ordered Joab to position Uriah where the battle was fiercest and then abandon him so that he would be killed (2 Sam. 11:15).

After Uriah’s death God sent Nathan to confront King David concerning his sin. The prophet framed his words of condemnation in the form of a question: "Why, then, have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife" (2 Sam. 12:8-9).

Even though David confessed his sin to Nathan his actions still brought divine judgment. God decreed that from then on, his family would live by the sword and that one day his own family would rebel against him because of his sin. In fact his wives would be given to another man (2 Sam. 12:10-11). This turned out to be his own son Absalom (2 Sam. 16:22).

How did David react to his sin and God's words of judgement? In a Psalm written at the time he cries out to God that it is "Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just" (Psa. 51:4).

Although it was not easy David took personal responsibility for his actions, he confessed his sin to God. He also realized that his actions demanded certain consequences from the hand of the Lord.

The Mosaic law clearly indicates that God holds a person responsible for their own behaviour. The Law states that Parents are not be executed for the sins of their children, nor children for the sins of their parents (Deut. 24:16).

It takes courage to admit we are wrong. No one likes to take personal blame. However, when we do wrong we need the courage to admit and confess our sin. Consequences may come but God will be with us even in those times. Although God brought judgment against David it was not as severe as it might have been. According to the law he should have been put to death. At least in this case, in spite of great immorality, God extended a degree of mercy to his disobedient child by allowing him to live.


Copyright. Bruce August 2007

Note: All quotes taken from the New Living Translation Second Edition.

Mending Wall

I let my neighbor know beyond the hill;

And on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us once again...
Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offense...
He says again, "Good fences make good neighbors."

Robert Frost --- Mending Wall

The Bible is The Word of God

and is a source of continuing strength and encouragement. Yet many people who claim to love the Lord seldom if ever open it pages to search out the eternal truths of God. No wonder so many Christians are weak and inconsistent in their faith!

The reading of the Bible should be a priority for all believers. If we want to develop a specific skill we will do whatever is necessary to attain proficiency. A person who longs to know and obey God requires the same type of tenacity. Developing an understanding of Scripture demands a life long consistent effort. There are no short cuts to developing Biblical knowledge. Ultimately understanding the Word of God is more important than any other skill one could develop.

Joshua was a great military leader of Israel. Before he led the people into battle the Lord came to him with this great conditional promise. "Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do" (Josh 1:8). Success for Joshua was contingent upon obeying God’s truth. The Bible as a whole teaches that success and prosperity in God's eyes relates primarily to the spiritual (as opposed to the material) aspects of life.

Studying God's Word requires disciplined commitment. Ezra the priest understood this. He "determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach...the people of Israel" (Ezra 7:10). The second part of this verse indicates the great importance of passing on the Scriptural knowledge we accumulate to others. This responsibility can be carried out either formally or informally.

God is always willing to reveal truth to us. In the days of Nehemiah people were involved in the study of the Old Testament Law. One day "they discovered that the Lord had commanded...(Neh 8:14) a certain action through the prophet Moses. As soon as they discovered the truth they implemented the Mosaic instruction. When we apply biblical truths to our lives the Lord will allow us to discover more truth which in turn draws us into a deeper and closer relationship with the Lord (see Psalm 119: 32, 34).

The predominate theme of Psalm 119 relates to the importance and value in studying and meditating upon the Scriptures. They include, among many others, personal joy (1), actions that reflect God's decrees (5), staying pure (9), and avoiding sin (11). The psalmist also sees the Scriptures as sources of wisdom and encouragement (24, 28).

God has given us his word. He wants it to govern all aspects of life. The Apostle Paul knew the importance of the Bible. In his letter to Timothy he stated "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" (2 Tim 3:16).

The Bible should be the most important book in our lives. It contains insights into the eternal God. It is his personal message to us. It shows us how to live in relationship with him. If we are truly honest how important is God’s book to us?

Copyright. Bruce June 2007


Note: All quotes taken from the New Living Translation Second Edition.

My November Guest

The desolate, deserted trees,

The faded earth, the heavy sky,
The beauties she so ryly sees,
She thinks I have no eye for these,
And vexes me for reason why.

Robert Frost --- My November Guest

Have You Ever Felt That

the world in which you live is totally corrupt and antagonistic towards God? Do you sometimes feel that no one else desires to live a Godly upright life? Noah must have felt that way!

The earth was full of wickedness. Violence was on every hand. How long had it taken the world to get into this condition? Assuming there are no gaps in the genealogies recorded in Genesis it would be 1,656 years from Adam to Noah. Estimates of the world population have been made of between 7 and 9 billion people.

In those years humanity had become incredibly degenerate. All they thought about and imagined was consistently and totally evil (Gen 6:5). Finally, it came to the point that the Lord was sorry he had created humanity in the first place. God determined that he would remove all people from the face of the earth (Gen 6:6-7).

What sort of things had been occurring that brought God to the point of divine indignation? Polygamy (Gen 4:19) a practice which is totally against God's plan for humanity was thriving. There was violence everywhere (Gen 6:13). For example, Lamech was an arrogant murder who displayed a belligerent and callused attitude related to his actions (Gen 4:23-24). There was also some sort of a mysterious but immoral relationship taking place that procreated a group of people described as the "giant Nephilites" (Gen 6:4).

There was however ONE man named Noah who "found favor with the Lord" (Gen 6:8). What a remarkable man he must have been. According to Scripture he was "the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God" (Gen 6:9). One man in 7-9 billion people. What moral and spiritual darkness blanketed the earth in those days!

However, because of this one small light of righteousness, God decided to preserve life through Noah, his three sons Shem, Ham and Japheth and their wives. Scripture does not specifically tell us who helped Noah build the huge boat (450' long, 75' wide and 45' high Gen 6:15). Yet, one would have to surmise it was his immediate family. Who else in those days would want to be associated with the Noah clan!

It is not hard to imagine the vicious words of ridicule, the contemptuous laughter and insinuations of insanity that must have been hurled at the builders as the construction of the boat preceded year after year far from any large body of water.

What was the reward for all the years of ridicule and labour? It was the preservation of Noah’s family through a world wide deluge. It was the opportunity to give humanity another chance to follow in the ways of the Lord. It was an opportunity to experience God's promises first hand and develop a deeper relationship with him.

Noah and his family were certainly counter-culture. They were willing to take a stand for God even though literally everyone was against them. The next time we are confronted with a situation that leaves us feeling totally alone REMEMBER Noah and his resolve to obey God in spite of the incredible opposition. God will not forsake you in the “aloneness’” of your life!

Copyright. Bruce November 2006

Note: All quotes taken from the New Living Translation Second Edition.

Gathering Leaves

I make a great noise

Of rustling all day
Like rabbit and deer
Running away.

But the mountains I raise
Elude my embrace,
Flowing over my arms
And into my face.

Robert Frost --- Gathering Leaves