infants and idiots

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Matthew 11:25-30

25 At that time Jesus responded, “I confess to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and introduced them to infants;

26 yes, Father, for it was your good pleasure to do this.

27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one gets to know the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to introduce him.

28 Come to me, all who work hard and carry a heavy load, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30 Because my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” _________________________________________

infants and idiots

Jesus is still reeling from a mass rejection of him and his message that is taking place in the Galilean region. He thinks about all those souls who had a taste of his coming kingdom through his ministry, and that of his twelve apostles. He thankfully confesses that those who did come to know the Father were drawn by the Father’s love. He is grateful for being the mediator who brought the Father into the lives of those orphaned infants.

As mediator, he then calls on all to come to him, learn from him, taking on his yoke. The world is filled with people doing hard work, and carrying a heavy load – a load too heavy for them to bear. Jesus offers the lighter option, the easier yoke. It is still work to learn from Jesus the ways of his coming kingdom and put those ways into practice in one’s life. But it is far harder to try to get to God on one’s own. That is the way of the idiot – the way of the rejecting cities. That way leads to disaster and destruction. Jesus is the only way to the Father and the eternal life he promises.

JESUS, we accept your yoke. Teach us your way – the only way to your Father. Give us rest from the idiotic path of “I can handle this.”

Posted in dependence upon God, destruction in hell, Jesus Christ, peace, works | Tagged | Leave a comment

trusting within the trial

Posted on March 22, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Genesis 30:22-30

22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her prayers and opened her womb.

23 She conceived and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.”

24 And she called his name Joseph,[1] saying, “May the LORD add to me another son!”

25 As soon as Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own home and country.

26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, that I may go, for you know the service that I have given you.”

27 But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me for your sake.

28 Designate your desired wages, and I will give it.”

29 Jacob said to him, “You yourself know how I have served you, and how your livestock has done well with me here.

30 For you had little before I came, and it has increased abundantly, and the LORD has blessed you wherever I turned. But now when shall I provide for my own household also?”

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trusting within the trial

Jacob’s household must have been an extremely toxic environment. Even the names of his children were reminders of a bitter rivalry between two mothers for his affections and respect . Added to that, Jacob himself felt like a servant. His father-in-law was in control, and Jacob was quite certain that Laban’s prosperity was due to his joining the team. So, Jacob wants to break away. Yet Laban does not want him to go. He is willing to pay more for Jacob to stay among his people.

Life gets complicated, and sometimes family is at the root of that complication. Sometimes families get broken from the outside, and sometimes they break apart from within. Sometimes your family can be a healing force, sometimes it can feel like a disease. Sometimes the pain gets so bad that it controls your life, and all you want to escape. Sometimes escape is the answer.

For Jacob, though, the time was not right for him to break away. He had been sent to Laban to protect him from another family rivalry. His staying with and working for Laban protected him from the vengeance of Esau. God would provide a release for Jacob. Until then, Jacob had to learn to trust within the trial.

LORD, for those caught in a toxic life situation, give them discernment to know when escape is your will, and when they should stay and trust you to protect them from within the trial.

[1] Joseph: he increases.

Posted in conflict, deliverance, family, Jacob, Joseph, trust | Tagged | 1 Comment

turning off the switch

Posted on March 21, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Matthew 11:21-24

21 “Tragedy is coming to you, Chorazin! Tragedy is coming to you, Bethsaida! Because if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

22 But I am telling you, things will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to the sky? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have stayed alive until this day.

24 But I am telling you that things will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

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turning off the switch

Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum had seen more proof of the power of Jesus than any other place. They had seen the Holy Spirit at work in all of the Galilean missions. Yet they were rejecting Jesus and his message. Jesus pronounces judgment upon them – a terrible destructive tragedy that they will experience on the judgment day. Even the three cities famous for being destroyed by God in the Old Testament (Tyre, Sidon & Sodom) will fare better on judgment day than them. It is a terrible thing to reject what the Holy Spirit is doing.

Oh, Christian, have you seen the Lord at work? Have you experienced his blessing on your life and your family? What is your response? The three cities in Galilee were being condemned by Jesus because after having experienced God’s grace, they stopped living in it. They did not have to publically declare their opposition to Jesus. All they had to do was stop being into Jesus, stop passing on the word. The light of the kingdom is not a switch that people have the right to turn off when they no longer feel the need for it.

LORD, help us to pass on the message about the ways that you have touched us, so that our experience of you does not stop with this time, this generation.

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entitlement

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Genesis 30:7-21

7 And Bilhah, Rachel’s servant concieved again and gave birth to a second son for Jacob.

8 Then Rachel said, “With god-like[1] wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have been able to win.” So she called his name Naphtali.[2]

9 When Leah saw that she had stopped giving birth, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife.

10 Then Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son.

11 And Leah said, “Luck has come!” so she called his name Gad.[3]

12 Leah’s servant Zilpah gave birth to a second son for Jacob.

13 And Leah said, “I am happy! Because women have called me happy.” So she called his name Asher.[4]

14 In the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Give me some of your son’s mandrakes now.”

15 But she said to her, “Is it a small thing that you have taken away my husband? Will you take away my son’s mandrakes too?” Rachel said, “Alright, he may lie with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”

16 When Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have certainly hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he lay with her that night.

17 And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob.

18 Leah said, “God has given me my wages because I gave my servant to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar.[5]

19 And Leah conceived again, and she gave birth to a sixth son for Jacob.

20 Then Leah said, “God has honored me with a good honor; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun.[6]

21 Afterward she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah.[7] _________________________________________

entitlement

This passage continues the story of how the children born to Jacob became pawns in a battle for Jacob’s love and respect. While God is still at work, this section focuses less on his sovereignty and more on the competition between the two sisters for their husband’s love. The children are merely objects used to gain the prize. In fact, it becomes less and less about Jacob, and more and more about what Rachel and Leah want. That is how selfishness works. We begin by telling ourselves all kinds of lies to justify our selfish acts, but eventually those lies do not matter anymore. All that matters is what we want — what we think we are entitled to.

LORD, purge from us the feeling of entitlement that we use to justify our selfish acts.

[1] The word is ‘elohim here, the word for God, but it is being used as an adjective. Most render it mighty.

[2] Naphtali: my wrestlings.

[3] Gad: luck

[4] Asher: happy.

[5] Issachur: hired.

[6] Zebulun: a gift of honor.

[7] Dinah: justice (the feminine of Dan).

Posted in conflict, greed, Jacob | Tagged | 1 Comment

calling off the game

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Matthew 11:16-20

16 “But what shall I compare this generation to? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

17 “‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not beat your breast in mourning.’

18 Because John came neither eating nor drinking, and they are saying, ‘He has a demon.’

19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they are saying, ‘See! A gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is proved right by what it does.”

20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his miraculous works had been done, because they did not repent.

_________________________________________

calling off the game

The kid was losing, so he called off the game. It was his ball, so he took it and went home. That is the kind of thing that Jesus is talking about here. The cities who had been first to hear the gospel preached to them, and who saw all the wonderful miracles demonstrating its truth – they had begun to reject him.

These were the cities of Galilee. That marvelous light shone in the land of Zebulun & Naphtali – Galilee of the nations. Now that land who had been privileged to see so much of what the LORD was doing had second thoughts about joining him. Darkness was winning them back. They criticized John the Baptist for his austere ways, and then began criticizing Jesus because he accepted the dregs of society.

Basically, these cities were telling God that if he wanted to save them, it would have to be on their terms. You do not tell God that. It’s his grace, his salvation, his plan. He sets the rules. You can join this generation and take your ball and go home if you want, but you will be missing out on the only thing that truly matters.

LORD, thank you for the many ways you have blessed us with your word and involved us in your plan. Give us the wisdom to accept this grace, and stay true to you.

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thrift shopping

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Genesis 29:28 – 30:6

28 Jacob did what Laban asked, and completed Leah’s week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife also.

29 (Laban had given his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.)

30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.

31 When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.

32 And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she called his name Reuben,[1] for she said, “Because the LORD has looked upon my trouble; for now my husband will love me.”

33 She conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.[2]

34 Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have given birth to three sons for him.” Therefore his name was called Levi.[3]

35 And she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah.[4] Then she stopped bearing.

30:1 When Rachel saw that she had not given birth to children for Jacob, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I will die!”

2 Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”

3 Then she said, “Here is my servant Bilhah; go in to her, so that she may give birth on my behalf, that even I may have children through her.”

4 So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her.

5 And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son.

6 Then Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan.[5] _________________________________________

thrift shopping

Five boys are born into Jacob’s clan – so far; four by Leah, and one by Bilhah, Rachel’s servant. Each of these men will grow up knowing his name, and at some point, will also become aware that he was named in a sort-of contest. Their mothers were in a battle with each other for the love and respect of their father. They each were born into that context, and were part of that legacy, whether they wanted to be or not. Their names reflected a very partial understanding of what God was doing.

Whether our names reflect it or not, we are all born into an environment like that. There is something used and broken in each of our lives – usually several things. The grace of God is seen in his joining in the contest. He actually keeps Rachel from having children at first. He grants Leah children precisely because she is loved less. God is not taking sides as much as he is taking part.

The LORD does not choose perfect people from perfect families to be a part of his future kingdom. He does not shop in the posh specialty stores for souls that are just right. His grace visits the thrift shop and chooses to love the castaways.

LORD, when the enemy accuses us of being too imperfect for your kingdom, we will remember this dysfunctional family that you chose to bless. Thank you for your grace.

[1] Reuben: See, a son!

[2] Simeon: hearing.

[3] Levi: attached.

[4] Judah: praise.

[5] Dan: judge.

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

the measure of a prophet

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Matthew 11:7-15

7 While they were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothing? See, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I guarantee it, and more than a prophet.

10 This is he of whom it is written, “‘ See, I send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Indeed, I say to you, among those born of women there has appeared no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom from the sky is greater than he.

12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom from the sky has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.

13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,

14 and if you are willing to welcome him, he is Elijah, the one whose coming is predicted.

15 The one who has ears, let him hear. _________________________________________

the measure of a prophet

John’s disciples are preparing to return to him with Jesus’ answer. Jesus begins telling the crowd his estimate of John, knowing that as they leave, John’s disciples are listening to him.

He asks the crowd what it was that drew them to John. It was not that he followed the latest fads and techniques of oration. No, was not shaken by the wind. His message was trustworthy because he received from another source, an eternal source.

It was not that John was rich and successful in this life. No, a camel’s hair robe was not the fancy garb in vogue among the mucky-mucks. Locusts and honey was not the latest fad diet among the posh.

John was what he claimed to be. He told his world what God was thinking, and what God was planning. He warned his people to get ready for the kingdom coming down from the sky. John was not perfect – even the least of those perfected by that kingdom when it comes will be a better man than John was. But John did fulfill his role in his age.

LORD, thank you for the prophets who have come before us, and who walk among us. Thank you for using them to challenge us to walk in the ways of your coming kingdom.

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trusting amid consequences

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Genesis 29:15-27

15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my brother, should you therefore serve me as a favor? Tell me, what shall your wages be?”

16 And Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

17 Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in shape and appearance.

18 Jacob loved Rachel. And he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”

19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; remain living with me.”

20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him only a few days because of the love he had for her.

21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my days are completed.”

22 So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast.

23 But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her.

24 (Laban had given his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.)

25 And in the morning, see, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”

26 Laban said, “It is not customary in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.”

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trusting amid consequences

God is at work in the background of Jacob’s life, making sure that he stays with Laban long enough to cool down the anger of Esau, and so preserve Jacob’s life by his grace. But God has not forgotten that Jacob had gained the birthright by deception. So, he allows Jacob to be deceived in a similar manner. Jacob wakes up with his new bride and discovers that it is the wrong sister. No doubt it crossed his mind that not long ago he had pretended to be his brother in order to get what he wanted. God remembered. Although God saves us by grace, there are consequences to sin in our lives. Maturity as a Christian means trusting that the God of all grace will walk with you as you face them.

LORD, we accept your grace and the total forgiveness you offer in Christ. But we will not turn from you if you visit us with consequences of our past actions. We trust you to be with us whatever we face.

Posted in dependence upon God, discernment, Jacob, trust | Tagged | 1 Comment

when life does not fit

Posted on March 15, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Matthew 11:1-6

When Jesus had completed coaching his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities also.

2 But when John heard in prison about what the Christ was doing, he sent word by his disciples

3 and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”

4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see here:

5 the blind are receiving their sight and the lame are walking, the leprous ones are being cleansed and the deaf are hearing, and the dead are being raised up, and the poor are hearing good news.

6 And blessed is the one who is not tempted to stumble because of me.” _________________________________________

when life does not fit

No one had represented Jesus better than his forerunner, John the baptizer. But time on death row can change a man. He had boldly proclaimed to his disciples that Jesus was the lamb from God, destined to take sin away from the world.[1] But, as he waits in prison, his life in the hands of the powerful and corrupt, he wonders.

John had come to a place in his life where his situation did not agree with his message. He had expected a different outcome. That still happens to believers today, and it can become a time of tension where commitment breaks down, or a time of maturity where commitment grows stronger.

Jesus gave John the perspective he needed. He showed John’s disciples that all the things predicted about the Messiah’s ministry to the poor and needy were being fulfilled. John’s predicament did not change what Jesus is all about.

There are definitely going to be times in our lives as believers when what we experience is going to seem disconnected to what we declare to be true. John had taught that the Messiah would bring freedom, but then John wound up in prison. The challenge for him was to keep living for Christ while his life situation did not fit his message.

LORD, give us the wisdom to faithfully represent you and the destiny you came to give us, especially when our present situations tempt us to stop believing in that destiny.

[1] John 1:29.

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embracing destiny

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Jefferson Vann

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Genesis 29:1-14

Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the sons of the east.

2 As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and see, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, because the flocks were watered from that well. The stone used for the well’s lid was large,

3 and when all the flocks were gathered there, all the shepherds would roll the stone from the top of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the top of the well.

4 Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They answered, “We are from Haran.”

5 He asked them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” They answered, “We know him.”

6 He asked them, “Is it well with him?” They answered, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!”

7 He said, “See, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them.”

8 But they said, “We cannot do that until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”

9 While he was still conversing with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.

10 And as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.

11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and shouted and wept.

12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father.

13 As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things,

14 and Laban said to him, “You are my bone and my flesh indeed!” And he stayed with him a month of days.

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embracing destiny

Laban had figured prominently in the story of Isaac and Rebekah already, but the readers were not told why. Now, we see that his daughter, Rachel, will find her destiny among the chosen family. The LORD is telling us our story with theirs. It is not just about a particular family that just happened to bring the Messiah into the world. It is about God’s way of writing us all into his story.

Laban had heard the story told him by the shepherds of how Jacob opened up the lid of the well, in a burst of nervous energy after seeing Rachel coming with her sheep. He might have remembered another story about how Rebekah served a strange servant and his camels, and that was how she got involved in her destiny. When he saw Jacob, He probably saw the resemblance between him and his mother, Laban’s sister, Rebekah. Laban recognized destiny when he saw it.

The motif of women at wells does not stop there. Moses will find his destiny at a well in Midian, and a woman named Zipporah.[1] And it was not just a well, but Jacob’s well, where a tired preacher named Jesus will sit down and have a chat with a Samaritan woman about her destiny.[2] He told this woman that she – not someone more important or more famous, but she, herself, had potential to be a well of water to rescue and sustain others. She caught on, and led her town to Jesus. She recognized destiny when she saw and heard it.

LORD, we look at you in your glory, and we dare to see the family resemblance. May we embrace our destiny to embrace you, and to become part of your story.

[1] Exodus 2.

[2] John 4.

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