Law or Love?

          As you know, in the mind of virtually every Jew, God was angry and they needed to appease His wrath, in order to live in peace with Him. As a result, life in the Old Covenant centered around making sacrifices, burning offerings, and keeping the Law—not only the Ten Commandments, but also the 600+ laws that were the fruit of the original “ten” commandments. As you can see, for these Jews, appeasing God’s wrath was something they had to do, not something He had to do. In their efforts, they presented sacrificed animals to Him; consequently, their efforts failed because the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins (see Hebrews 10).

          God, however, had a much better plan, a perfect plan. one that the sacrificed animals merely shadowed. He presented to HIMSELF a single sacrifice, a person—HIMSELF—and His sacrifice was efficacious because HE offered HIMSELF TO HIMSELF as a propitiatory substitute for us, that not only appeased His wrath, but also remedied our sin problem.

          His remedy begs this question: Now that His work is finished and we live in the New Covenant, what must we do in order to live at peace with Him? The answer? Nothing! Why? He has already done everything through His vicarious sacrifice.

            Let me ask the correct question: What does He ask of me, as a member of the New Covenant, not in order that I may live in peace with Him, but because I do live in peace with Him?

            This is His answer: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35 NASB).

            This is Paul’s answer: “For  you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the [one]statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, take care lest you be consumed by one another” (Galatians 5:13-15 NASB’ emphasis added).

          Now, with that, I want you to listen carefully to these words of Jesus: “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; jut as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:10-12 NASB).

          Notice how Jesus contrasts “My commandments” [love God and love one another] with “My Father’s commandments” [the Law]. Surely, you can see this idea of “shadow” and “substance” coming into play again.  

          Surely, you can see that Jesus is attempting to make His listeners aware that the Christian life—the New Covenant life—does not center around sacrifices and laws, but around grace and love; not around what we do to appease His wrath, but around what He has done to appease His wrath.

          You think about this—

"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29 NASB).    

Knows Me Best and Loves Me Most!

         Yesterday, I had the privilege of speaking at the funeral of a man, John Flanders, who, in the opinion of everyone, was much too young to die. He left his parents, his wife, his children, and his grandchildren, as well as a long, long list of friends. For my text I read most of Psalm 139, the Psalm that clearly tells us that God knows each one of us very well, that we keep no secrets from Him, try as we might, and that God ordained the days of each our lives, long before time began. Listen to some of what the Psalmist had to say:

          O Lord, Thou hast searched me and known me. Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up. Thou dost understand my thoughts from afar. Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, and art intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, Thou dost know it all. Thou hast enclosed me behind and before, and laid Thy hand upon me. For thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb. My frame was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depth of the earth. Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.

          The songwriters (Bill & Gloria Gaither) wrote a song that contains this line: “The One who knows us best loves us most!” What an incredible truth! The One who knows every single about us, even the things that we wouldn’t want anyone to know, is the One who loves us best. Talk about grace & mercy!

          When the storms of life are raging, there is something amazingly comforting about knowing that the One who knows us best loves us most, and that One is none other than God, Himself. This truth enables every believer to view the tragedies of this life, even the “premature” death of someone we deeply love, through a set of lenses that allow us to see beyond the moment of pain and grief, into the joy of knowing that God really does cause all things to work together for good, for those who love Him, and are the called according to His purpose.

          He really does make all things beautiful in His time, and His time is never premature and never late.

          "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29 NASB).    

Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child!

The following is taken from the April 2010 issue of The Taylor County Tracer, p. 6, published by Taylor County Historical-Genealogical Society, Inc; P.O. Box 1925; Butler, GA 31006. Have I discovered why the public school systems of today are in such shambles? Read and enjoy! You might want to share it with the US Department of Education!

1870 Rules for Teachers

1.    Each day teachers will fill lamps, clean chimneys, and trim wicks.

2.    Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and a scuttle of coal for the day session.

3.    Make pens carefully. You may whittle nibs to the individual taste of the pupil.

4.    Men teachers may take one night each week for courting purposes, or two evenings a week, if they go to church regularly.

5.    Every teacher should lay aside from each month’s pay a goodly sum for his benefit during his declining years so that he will not become a burden on society.

6.    Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be discharged.

7.    After school the teacher must spend the time until supper reading the bible and other good books.

8.    Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool halls or public halls, or gets shaved in a barbershop, shall give good reason to suspect his worth, integrity, and honesty.

9.    The teacher who performs his duties regularly and faithfully and without fault for five years, will be given an increase of 25 cents a week in his pay, providing the Board of Education approves.

1860 Student Rules

1.    Boys and girls shall file into classroom in separate lines and be seated quietly on opposite sides of the room.

2.    Boys shall remove their caps when entering.

3.    Children must sit up straight at all times.

4.    Children must not squirm, fidget or whine.

5.    Children must be clean and tidy in clothing.

6.    There will be a daily inspection of neck, ears, and fingernails prior to class to ensure cleanliness of person.

7.    Young ladies must never show a bare ankle; girls’ and boys’ clothing should cover arms and legs completely.

Punishment

1.    Five minutes tardy in the morning equals 1 hour after school.

2.    Double assignments if homework is not done.

3.    Nothing shall be dipped into the ink wells except pens.

4.    Children who are caught writing with their left hand equals 1 ruler rap on the knuckles.

5.    Do not speak unless spoken to by the teacher. Talking in class equals 1 whack with a rod.

6.    Nothing shall be thrown in class. Such behavior equals 5 whacks with a rod.

7.    Chewing of tobacco or spitting equals 7 whacks with a rod.

8.    Carving on desks or defacing school property equals expulsion.

9.    Fighting, lying, or cheating equals expulsion.

My Daddy

"Debbie"

This past Sunday, one of the members of the church I serve as pastor, Debbie, having just returned from her daddy’s funeral, shared this story with us. I am confident that it will not only bless you, but also encourage you. In all probability you will learn something about love, especially the love a father’s daughter has for him, that will, well it will surely stir your heart. I wish all of you could know Debbie, as she is truly “light” and “salt” for those who do. I am confident that had she lived during Jesus sojourn on this earth, she would have been one of those women He pulled into His inner circle—the Mary’s in His life. Please feel free to contact Debbie via email: ldbluhm@gmail.com

                                                                           

My Daddy

       My Daddy, Eugene Francis Clemo was born May 11^th 1929, just a short time before one of the darkest times in our country. At about the age of five my daddy was left in an orphanage in Burbank Ca. My daddy never talked about his experiences in the home run by nuns, but from what momma said, it was anything but pleasant. My daddy’s mother visited him at age ten, but he didn’t even know who she was. After many run-ins with the law for “escaping” from the home, my daddy was ordered by a judge to join the US Navy. While in the Navy he met Bob McVey who became his good buddy. After serving seven years in the Navy, my daddy went home with Bob to Lubbock Texas. That is where he eventually met and married my Mom and became a part of the Slaughter family. Before long my daddy had his very own family, four beautiful and intelligent children, three girls and one spoiled boy. My daddy worked hard to give us a safe and comfortable home and provide for our needs. Some of my fondest memories of those times include many grand Christmases under our silver tree, always decorated in monochromatic glass ornaments, illuminated by the magical color wheel.  

Walking in the Valley

       The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil: my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23 KJV).

       Most of you know that my daddy’s health had been digressing for some time. Physically he was relatively healthy, but dementia was taking its toll. Each time I saw my daddy within the last year he was less and less of the person I’d known all my life. While this was extremely difficult, the Lord used my husband, Dudley, to help me see that my daddy seemed to be content and at peace. Like Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (NIV).

       In November daddy was put in “at home” hospice to get more help for my mom, his primary care giver. He continued to slowly digress in a steady downward spiral. But on Wednesday December 29^th daddy showed some signs of a possible stroke, had a temperature and some signs of pneumonia. So he was taken to an in-house hospice unit for observation and oral antibiotic therapy. Upon arrival to the facility daddy became very agitated and uncooperative, wanting to be up and out of bed, which it was determined, he was too weak to accomplish. Due to my daddy’s risk of falling, if he did get out of bed, he had to be constantly medicated. This made it so very difficult to believe that the best decision had been made for his care. Therefore the decision was made to take him back home as soon as possible. 

       Have you ever been there? Stuck between a rock and a hard place? You’ve exhausted all your possibilities and chosen what you believe to be the best choice and then all hell breaks loose. It’s a tough place! But in the midst of all my unanswerable questions the Sweet Holy Spirit softly reminded me that God is in control even when it seems to makes no sense. Romans 11:33-36 (NIV), “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” And, Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV), “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

       This crisis, or so it seemed, forced me to make a decision to travel to Texas. I left Atlanta on January 1st. I thought my purpose in going was to help facilitate my daddy’s going to a nursing home, since my mom could no longer care for him at home. When I arrived in Dallas I barely recognized the man I saw in that hospital bed. Daddy was extremely thin, no he was gaunt. He was not lucid at all but constantly attempting to get out of bed, even though he could not support his own weight. The other family members were exhausted from their hours of helping to care for him, so of course my shift began. I would calmly talk to my dad, reminding him of the fond memories we share and then singing old hymns and songs of praise to comfort and soothe him. “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 100 & 103;1-5 NIV).

       On Sunday we were able to get my Daddy up into a chair and give him a very small amount of fluids through a syringe. His eyes were open but obviously he could not really focus on anything or anyone. Sometime during that day the Lord began to show me that I had not made this trip to see my daddy go into a nursing home. Rather my prayers and yours (for I know you all had prayed with me) were being answered. I was being privileged to be at my daddy’s bedside for the last few days of his earthly sojourn and to witness his grand entrance into the very presence of Jesus.  “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”  (I Corinthians 15:53-57 KJV).

       On Monday daddy was up for a very short time but was much weaker and “more distant”. When we put daddy back to bed on Monday afternoon he never got up again, that is in his “earth suit”. Over the next few days I had the great privilege and opportunity to talk with my daddy many times, recounting so many wonderful “life” memories and praising the Lord for his unbelievable choosing of us to be as righteous as Jesus is and to share in his glory for all eternity. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those that love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:28-39 NIV).

       On Tuesday the Holy Spirit confirmed what I thought he had put in my heart regarding my daddy’s home-going. When the RN came for her daily assessment she stated that she could not believe the change in my daddy’s condition since she had seen him on Monday. She suggested that we call any family members who might want to come while daddy was still alive. In her professional opinion she felt it would be a matter of two to three days. I sometimes wonder just what the Lord thinks of our vacillating thoughts and requests. You see I had been asking the Lord to be gracious in taking my daddy home quickly that his suffering (or really my suffering) would be short. But now I was asking the Lord to let my daddy live long enough for my sister and niece from Georgia to be able to see him alive. But even in our wavering the Scripture encourages us: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will” (Romans 8:26-27 NIV).

       On Wednesday my sister and niece did get in from Georgia and were able to have time talking, and singing with, and reading scripture to my daddy. It was an incredibly sweet time of worship. But, my heart was so grieved and heavy on Wednesday. Every time I helped to turn my daddy it was so very difficult for me to see him so fragile, broken and wounded. His flesh was definitely wasting away. I never thought about what a laborious process it is for this flesh to give up the soul so that it might join our spirit which is already seated at the right hand of God. I really could not see how his body could sustain life, how his chest could rise with one more breath. Once again the Holy Spirit reminded me of truth: only God himself can sustain life and knows the appointed time of our going home. “In him we live and move and have our very being. For all the days ordained for us were written in his book before even one of them came to be” (Acts 17:28 & Psalm 139:16b).

       Thursday morning, January 6, 2010, I awoke after a surprising restful night’s sleep. The Lord whispered to me a very specific word for my daddy and for my heart. I went into my daddy’s bedroom; I pulled open the curtains and rose up the blinds. The sun was just coming up over the horizon. I said, “Daddy the sun is just coming up and I believe this is the dawn of the day for you on which the sun will never set.” “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp” (Revelation 21:23). My mom, sisters, niece, nephew, and I had some incredible moments at dad’s bedside during that day. We sang and reminisced and talked of what heaven must be like and of all those who we knew were waiting for him to come Home. Sometime shortly before 5pm some of my parent’s church friends came by the house. Gene, who is their Sunday school teacher, had us gather around daddy’s bed and pray; it was a sweet time. A few minutes after five, I made the observation that the sky was beginning to get dusky. And my spirit was somewhat discouraged. I began to question the word the Lord had given me that morning. How quickly and easily my flesh pulls me back to earthly limitations. Keeping me from living in the freedom of righteousness and victory that Jesus himself has already purchased for my benefit and His pleasure. Just a few minutes later, my sister asked someone to turn on the overhead light because she thought daddy’s color was somewhat different. We all gathered at daddy’s side and experienced one of the most awesome spiritual miracles I’ve ever witnessed. We wept and grieved and yet encouraged daddy to answer Jesus’ calling him home and fly away to meet all those waiting on heaven’s shore. Daddy peacefully breathed in and out very slowly, and then he exhaled one last time the oxygen of this earth. The next breath he breathed in was one of eternal bliss and glory in a land where joys never end, where there is no more pain, suffering, or death, and more wonderful than all this, where Jesus Himself looked into my daddy’s face and whispered, “Welcome Home my good and faithful child”. “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4). I can only imagine what it’s like for my daddy, my son, my mawmaw, my many uncles, aunts, and all those other loved ones who walk and talk with Jesus in a land where they can only worship forever more. But I look forward to that day when, because he has chosen me for his own, I will join them for all eternity.