a legacy of justice and grace

Posted on June 21, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

062114

Genesis 49:13-28

13 “Zebulun will stay at the shore of the sea; he wil become a safe place for ships, and his border shall be with Sidon.

14 “Issachar is a strong donkey, crouching among the sheepfolds.

15 He saw that an undeveloped place was good, and that the land was nice, so he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant there, doing forced labor.

16 “Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.

17 Dan will be a serpent in the way, a viper by the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that his rider falls off backward.

18 I wait for your deliverance, O LORD.

19 “Raiders will raid Gad, but he will also raid at their heels.

20 “Asher’s food will be rich, and he will produce royal delicacies.

21 “Naphtali is a doe let loose that bears beautiful fawns.

22 “Joseph is a fruitful limb, a fruitful limb by a spring; his branches run over the wall.

23 The archers bitterly attacked him, shot at him, and hassled him severely,

24 but his bow remained unmoved; his arms were made nimble by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (the Shepherd is from there, the Stone of Israel),

25 by the God of your father who will help you, by the Almighty who will bless you with blessings from the sky above, blessings from the deep that crouches below, blessings from the breasts and from the womb.

26 The blessings of your father are more mighty than the blessings of my parents, up to the bounties of the everlasting hills. May they be on the head of Joseph, and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.

27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil.”

28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. _______________________

a legacy of justice and grace

The blessing of his sons speaks to the strong spiritual tie that Jacob has to them, but its root goes deeper than that. He speaks of the God who is able to bless even greater than the blessing experienced by his parents. He knows that behind his life and that of his sons is the unmoved mover, who has a plan for the world, and has brought him and his descendants into that plan. For his sons, the things that they do of their own will are written into that plan, but nothing changes it. He sees a destiny produced by God’s grace. But that destiny does not sidestep God’s justice. What his children have done matters, but ultimately it is what God has done that will make the difference. That is why this old man proclaims that he will wait for the LORD’s deliverance.

LORD, we respect your justice, and so seek to only do what you want. But we also marvel at your undying grace, which has promised ultimate deliverance through Christ. We celebrate that grace.

Posted in grace, Jacob, judgment, sovereignty of God | Tagged | 1 Comment

Jesus and the garbage hoarder

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

062014

Matthew 19:16-22.

16 And see, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good thing must I accomplish to have eternal life?”

17 But he replied to him, “Why do you ask me about a good thing? There is only one who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness,

19 Honor your father and mother, and, love your neighbor as yourself.”

20 The young man said to him, ” I have obeyed all these. What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in the sky; and come, follow me.”

22 But when the young man heard this he went away unhappy, because he had many possessions.

_________________________________________

Jesus and the garbage hoarder

This man who approached Jesus looked like he had everything, so I could imagine that Jesus’ disciples were inwardly saying “I hope Jesus picks him – he could really help out. He was young, wealthy, and outwardly obedient. Who wouldn’t want someone like that in their church? But Jesus saw the inner flaw. The man’s lack was found in his surplus. He did not have room for the total commitment required of the sky kingdom.

This hits where it hurts, because all of us have things or even ideas that we hold dear. For Jesus to come along and say “you have to give that up first” is a hard pill for us to swallow. For this man, it was his wealth. He could not see serving Christ as a poor man as gain. His whole life had been about gain. That is why he asked the discipleship question in that way: “What do I still lack?” Discipleship was – for him – just one more possession. But even he realized that there was a flaw in his worldview. In spite of all the wealth he had gained, he still knew that he lacked something.

Jesus’ challenge is to us all – rich or poor. He challenges us to surrender our current worldview. He wants us to stop trying to gain the kingdom by what we possess – or even confess. He wants us to give up everything for the one thing that we can carry with us into that kingdom when it comes. That one thing is a relationship with him. Without that, all the wealth in the world is just garbage collecting.

This man went away unhappy because of all the garbage he had hoarded.

Oh, please, LORD, give us the wisdom to surrender the garbage we have hoarded for the only real treasure we can gain in this life – a relationship with you.

Posted in discipleship, kingdom of God, loyalty, money | Tagged | Leave a comment

building up a spiritual legacy

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

061914

Genesis 49:1-12

1 At that time Jacob called his sons and told them, “Collect yourselves together, that I may tell you what will happen to you in days to come.

2 “Come together and listen, O sons of Jacob, listen to Israel your father.

3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, greatest in dignity and greatest in power.

4 Unstable as water, you shall not have supremacy, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it- he went up to my couch!

5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers; vessels of violence are their swords.

6 My soul, do not come into their council; O my glory, do not be joined to their company. For in their anger they killed men, and for their amusement they hamstrung oxen.

7 Cursed be their anger, for it is violent, and their wrath, for it is brutal! I will divide them up among Jacob and scatter them throughout Israel.

8 “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down before you.

9 Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares provoke him?

10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the compliance of the peoples.

11 While binding his foal to the vine and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine and his robes in the blood of grapes.

12 His eyes are dark from wine, and his teeth white from milk.

_______________________

building up a spiritual legacy

Jacob’s blessing to the four oldest sons reads somewhat like a curse. He reveals that the character traits that were so common among these men would be passed on to their tribes. The destiny of their children would be wrapped up in their own. As a consequence, Reuben not only loses his birthright, his family will lose its greatness as well. The reason: sexual sin. It matters to God, and it matters to Jacob.

Simeon and Levi were guilty of brutal violence. Jacob does not slap them on the back and say, “those are my boys, you can’t mess with them.” No, their violent actions show that they cannot be trusted to congregate together. As a result, the tribes will be separated and dispersed in Canaan.

Judah comes out as the leader among the elder brothers. He inherits the blessing and his tribe will have the supremacy. His tribe will have both power and wealth. Why? Judah had his own problems, he was not sinless. But he interceded for his brother. His taking responsibility was the character trait that would be remembered and passed on as a legacy to his descendants. One of those descendants would intercede for all humanity.

LORD, thank you for reminding us of the spiritual legacy we are passing on to our descendants. Build in us lives that our children will not be ashamed of, and that will be a blessing long after we are gone.

Posted in faithfulness, family, Jacob, Judah, responsibility | Tagged | 1 Comment

unqualified for his presence

Posted on June 18, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

061814

Matthew 19:13-15

13 Then children were presented to him so that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples criticized the people,

14 but Jesus responded, “Allow the little children to come to me and do not get in the way, because to people like that belongs the kingdom from the sky.”

15 And he laid his hands on them and went away

_________________________________________

unqualified for his presence

Jesus had already told his disciples “unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom from the sky” (18:3). He was reminding them of that reality when he gently scolded them for criticizing those who brought children to him to bless. In both chapter 18 and 19, the issue is arrogance, which is defined as “an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions.”[1] Jesus was not so much recommending that believers act like children (by being immature, selfish and uncontrollable) as he was reminding the disciples that no one comes to faith by virtue of qualification. Who deserves to be blessed by Jesus? No one does – and that’s the point.

Coming to Jesus as a child means admitting my lack of qualification, and submitting humbly to his grace. You see, it is possible to preach this very text in a way that leads to the presumption of qualification because of one’s childlike submission. It is possible to take pride in one’s humility. The children that were presented to Jesus that day were totally dependent upon their parents or grandparents. They did not choose to see Jesus. They were brought to him, and they simply passively accepted that being in his presence was a good thing. Most of us are introduced to Jesus that way.

But the disciples were probably thinking that this dedication prayer of Jesus was a waste of time. There was important discipling for Jesus to do: teaching and preaching about the coming kingdom and healing those who were sick. The fact is that this little prayer meeting was important discipling. This event served as an illustration for the disciples regarding what Jesus had been teaching about discipleship and grace.

LORD, thank you for your grace. May we always come to you on that basis, and never presume that we are qualified to be in your presence.

[1] Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary.

Posted in discipleship, faith, grace, kingdom of God | Tagged | Leave a comment

passing on a spiritual legacy

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

061714

Genesis 48:8-22

8 Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and he said, “Who are these?”

9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.”

10 The eyes of Israel had grown dim with age, so that he could not see well. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them.

11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face; and see, God has let me see your offspring also.”

12 Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the ground.

13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and stood them near him.

14 And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (because Manasseh was the firstborn).

15 And he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,

16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless these boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a huge number in the midst of the earth.”

17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it upset him, and he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.

18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not like this, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.”

19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be numerous. But his younger brother will become more numerous than he, and his family will become a number of nations.”

20 So he blessed them that day, saying, “Because of you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and as Manasseh.'”In this way he put Ephraim before Manasseh.

21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “See, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers.

22 Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope that I personally took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.” _______________________

passing on a spiritual legacy

Jacob blessed Joseph’s two sons, giving the greater blessing to Ephraim, and he also

bequeaths a mountain slope in the promised land to Joseph’s tribes. Jacob was able to

see beyond his own death to the lasting spiritual legacy he would leave.

There is something wonderful and surreal about looking into the eyes of your grandchildren. They are so full of hope and joy and potential. Jacob saw that in these two boys. He also saw beyond their present situation, living in and depending on Egypt. Jacob passed on the spiritual title deed to a piece of land that only the descendants of these boys would see. But he was able to see beyond his own limitations, and perceive the legacy that he could impart.

That legacy was more than simply a parcel of land. He told them about the God of his fathers who was his God as well, shepherding him all his life, and redeeming him from evil. It was his relationship with the LORD that he sought to pass on to his grandchildren. That is an inheritance of great value.

LORD, grant it for us to leave a spiritual legacy among our children and others we influence.

Posted in evangelism, family, Jacob, relationship with God, witness | Tagged | 1 Comment

accepting the marriage gift

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

061614

Matthew 19:7-12

7 They asked him, “Why then did Moses command the giving of a certificate of apostasy that makes the release final?”

8 He answered them, ” Moses responded to your hard-heartedness by allowing you to divorce your wives, but that was not what was intended from the beginning.

9 Instead I am telling you that whoever releases his wife – and marries again—commits adultery. The only exception is when she is found to have committed sexual sin.”

10 The disciples said to him, “If this is how committed a man should be to his wife, it is better not to marry at all.”

11 But he said to them, “Not everyone can accept what I just said, but only those to whom the gift has been given.

12 Because there are eunuchs who have been like that from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by other people, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom from the sky. Let the one who is able to accept that statement accept it.”

_________________________________________

accepting the marriage gift

The Pharisees had found what thy thought was a loophole in the Mosaic Law that allowed any man the right to get out of a marriage that did not please him. If one is inclined to think that the marriage relationship was designed to give happiness to the couple, that make sense. Many a marriage has been dissolved by one or both parties insisting that they deserve to be happy, and that the other party never – or no longer – makes them happy.

But Jesus told the Pharisees that marriage was God’s idea, and that it was a gift from him. Those gifted with this gift would have the opportunity to demonstrate the glory of the divine unity with their relationship. But not everyone could handle that responsibility. Accepting the marriage gift meant agreeing to the responsibility that comes with it. Or else, refusing to enter the relationship is the only wise and righteous choice.

LORD, either give us courage to accept the marriage gift, or wisdom to never enter the relationship. Make us faithful to you, and your purpose for marriage.

Posted in commitment, discernment, faithfulness, marriage | Tagged | Leave a comment

a lasting spiritual legacy

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

061514

Genesis 47:27 – 48:7

27 So Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land called Goshen. And they gained property in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly.

28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years he lived, were 147 years.

29 And when the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt,

30 but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial plot.” He answered, “I will do as you have said.”

31 And he said, “Swear to me”; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed.

48:1 After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

2 And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel strengthened himself and sat up in bed.

3 And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me,

4 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’

5 And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are.

6 And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance.

7 As for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”

_______________________

a lasting spiritual legacy

In his parting days, Jacob seeks a promise from Joseph that he would not be buried in Egypt. He knows that their stay in Egypt was God’s will, but only his temporary will. Later he blessed Joseph’s two sons, giving the greater blessing to Ephraim, and he also bequeaths a mountain slope in the promised land to Joseph’s tribes. Jacob was able to see beyond his own death to the lasting spiritual legacy he would leave.

LORD, grant it for us to leave a spiritual legacy among our children and others we influence.

Posted in discipleship, family, Jacob, witness | Tagged , | 1 Comment

the marriage gift

Posted on June 14, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

061414

Matthew 19:1-6.

1 When Jesus had finished these sayings, he left Galilee and entered the region of Judea on the other side of the Jordan.

2 And large crowds followed him, and he healed them at that place.

3 And Pharisees approached him for the purpose of testing, so asked, “Is it proper for a man to release his wife for any reason?”

4 But responding, he said, “Did you not learn that the creator from the beginning designed them to be male and female together ?,

5 So, he said, ‘For this reason a man is going to leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they will be one flesh’

6 So they are no longer two individuals, but one flesh. Since God has brought this new thing together, a man should not take away its unity.”

_________________________________________

the marriage gift

It is hard to stay married, because we are selfish. Marriage takes hard work, and a commitment beyond that which simply seeks to meet personal needs. The Pharisees came to Jesus with a question about the divorce. Jesus turned the question around and gave these biblical scholars some biblical insight on the purpose of marriage itself.

Marriage between a man and a woman is a direct creation of God himself. It is not man-made, so it should not be man unmade. The unity expressed by a couple seeking to live life together as one is a divine activity. A broken marriage is a heresy, a human intervention in that divine process, a travesty against the divine will. Divorce finalizes the heresy, and slaps God in the face. It says, “this unity which you made is not good enough for me.” It smashes the stones of God’s covenant.

God gave me a woman 31 years ago, and she has been a blessing to me. We argue, we disagree, we get angry with each other, and then we reconcile. But she has never ceased to be a blessing to me. But even if I were to perceive her existence as a curse, it would not matter. Our marriage is God’s work, and I will not end it. In eternity, I will look back and see how that marriage was a blessing in my life, and how it was used by God to bless others. Until then, I will trust him. I will not second guess his gift.

LORD, keep us committed to each other, and faithful to the marriage gift.

Posted in commitment, faithfulness, marriage | Tagged | Leave a comment

saving Egypt for Pharaoh

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

061314

Genesis 47:13-26

13 There was no food in all the land, for the famine was very brutal, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan wasted away because of the famine.

14 And Joseph collected all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought. And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house.

15 And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? Because our money is gone.”

16 And Joseph answered, “Give your animals, and I will give you food in exchange for your animals, if your money is gone.”

17 So they brought their animals to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. He supplied them with food in exchange for all their animals that year.

18 And when that year was ended, they came to him the following year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is all spent. The herds of animals are my lord’s. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our land.

19 Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh. And give us seed that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be barren.”

20 So Joseph purchased all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for all the Egyptians sold their fields, because the famine was brutal on them. The land became Pharaoh’s.

21 As for the people, he made servants of them from one end of Egypt to the other.

22 Only the land of the priests he did not purchase, because the priests had a fixed allowance from Pharaoh and lived on the allowance that Pharaoh gave them; so they did not sell their land.

23 Then Joseph said to the people, “See, I have this day purchased you and your land for Pharaoh. Now here is seed for you, and you shall replant the land.

24 And at the harvests you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and as food for yourselves and your families, and as food for your little ones.”

25 And they said, “You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh.”

26 That was when Joseph made it a decree concerning the land of Egypt, and it stands to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth; the land of the priests alone did not become Pharaoh’s.

_______________________

saving Egypt for Pharaoh

Joseph had saved his family from famine, and now saw them safely migrated to Egypt. But his job as savior is not yet complete. He now is asked to help out the very nation where he was mistreated, wrongfully imprisoned, and forgotten for years. This, too, was a test of Joseph’s integrity. Will he do the right thing to help the helpless, even when there is no direct benefit for him? He would be saving Egypt for Pharaoh. But it was still the right thing to do. It earned the appreciation and respect of the nation, but that is not why he did it. He did it because of who he was, and because of who his God is.

LORD, make us people of integrity who rescue others because it is the right thing to do.

Posted in commitment, compassion, integrity, Joseph, responsibility | Tagged | 1 Comment

extravagant love is the standard

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

061214

Matthew 18:15-20.

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I keep forgiving him? As many as seven times?”

22 Jesus said to him, “I am not telling you seven times, but seventy times seven.

23 “Because of this, the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.[1]

25 And since he could not repay it, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26 Then the servant fell on his knees, pleading with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you everything.’

27 And out of compassion for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii[2], and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Repay what you owe.’

29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you.’

30 He refused and went and confined him in prison until he should pay the debt.

31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly disturbed, and they went and told to their master all that had taken place.

32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.

33 And should not you have been merciful to your fellow servant, as I had been merciful to you?’

34 And in anger his master handed him over to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.

35 So also my Father I the sky will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your hearts.”

_________________________________________

extravagant love is the standard

Jesus had outlined a procedure for his disciples to follow, designed to lead to reconciliation and rescue if any of their number would betray them by falling back into a life of sin. Obedience to Christ means investing in those who have wronged us and others. It involves more than simply forgiving and forgetting the sin. It requires leading the sinner in the path of reconciliation and renewal. Jesus knew, however, that we would have serious problems with those who chose to leave the faith. He knew that we would devise all kinds of excuses for forbidding them to return to fellowship. Peter’s question was helpful, because he was thinking that there must be limits to our tolerance of such unfaithfulness.

The story Jesus used in response to Peter’s question showed how ridiculous it is for redeemed believers to withhold forgiveness and restoration to others. In the story, the servant refused to forgive his fellow servant a debt that would take only 100 days to repay. But he had been forgiven a debt that (as an ordinary laborer) it would take 200,000 years to repay! The extravagant love that Jesus showed us on the cross is the standard he set for our investment in others.

LORD, keep your extravagant love demonstrated on the cross ever before us as we learn to keep forgiving those who betray us.

[1] It would take an ordinary laborer 20 years to earn one talent.

[2] It would take an ordinary laborer 1 day to earn one denarius.

Posted in discipleship, faithfulness, forgiveness, reconciliation | Tagged | Leave a comment