"When God Has Things Backwards"

“When God Has Things Backwards”

 

When I was in seminary all of us Master of Divinity students had to take a year of Hebrew. The two things I found most difficult to get used to were the different alphabet (22 letters but no vowels) and reading right to left. We sure wished those Jewish scholars of old hadn’t gotten things backwards! The same can be said of the British who think driving on the left side of the road is the way to do it. We know we’re right on this one!

Undoubtedly the people who read Hebrew and those who drive on English roads think we’re the ones who have turned things around. So we need to realize (even if we hate to admit it) that whether or not something is backwards is primarily a matter of our own perspective rather than an issue of right and wrong.

There’s an interesting phrase in Acts 17:6 (KJV) in which unbelievers identified Paul and Silas as “These that have turned the world upside down….” (Quite a compliment on the impact of their ministry!) But the accusers were looking at things from their own vantage point—we’d say the world was being turned right-side up, wouldn’t we?

The Greek word used in Acts 17:6 means literally “to stand in reverse”. Each of its three usages in the New Testament deals with opposing some accepted practice. Could this then be a first century example of fighting political correctness?

Sometimes we think (or at least act as though) God has things backwards when they aren’t the way we believe they should be. Is this possible? No, because He’s not out to confuse or upset us (“…God is not a God of disorder….”—1 Corinthians 14:33) and He “(…makes) known the end from the beginning….” (Isaiah 46:10). So if it looks like things are out of sync God doesn’t have things backwards or upside down—we do! And if things are to be straightened out we must do the changing to conform to His standard as revealed in His Word (“Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”—Psalm 119:89).

Will we let God turn us right-side up when we need it?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Togetherness"

“Togetherness”

 

Over the past 30 years or so short-term missions trips have given many of God’s people opportunities to view cross-cultural ministry up close and personal. These ventures can vary from one week to two year commitments and usually have a specific purpose in assisting in the advancement of God’s work in areas of need. Members of our New Hampshire congregation traveled to more than 15 countries doing projects like construction, medical clinics, children’s work, training church leaders, and evangelism. As we worked with missionaries and national believers we were reminded again and again that “…we are God’s fellow workers….” (1 Corinthians 3:9).

Our church in Lakeland, Victory, sponsors several trips each year. In 2015 one group traveled to a country which isn’t friendly towards Christianity. The purpose of this effort was constructing a church building, but government red tape caused delays in obtaining permits and materials making it impossible to complete the project in the allotted time. However, God had arranged for a team from another church to finish the job. To apply the principle of 1 Corinthians 3:6: “Victory built the forms and dug the trenches for the footers, another church poured the concrete and put up the structure, but God got it done.”

The Book of Nehemiah describes the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem after the Jewish people returned from exile. As did Victory’s group, Governor Nehemiah and his workers faced intense opposition from those hostile to the project. But they each did what they could (“Half {the} men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows, and armor.”—Nehemiah 4:16) and the massive task was completed in 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15) because “…the people had worked very hard.” (Nehemiah 4:6, NLT).

We as God’s people need each other because much more can be accomplished by teamwork than by individual effort (“How could one {person} chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight….?”—Deuteronomy 32:30). So let’s be praying and striving for togetherness wherever God’s call takes us.

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Availability"

“Availability”

 

One summer while I was in college I applied at the post office in my home town for work during the Christmas vacation. I was told they’d call if they needed help (you know, the old don’t-call-us-we’ll-call-you routine). So I pretty much wrote it off until the phone rang early one morning during the break and a voice said, “This is the Massapequa Park Post Office. Are you available?” Twenty minutes later I reported for work. What I earned that week covered my travel home and back. Again God came through and met a need.

I’d forgotten about this experience until many years later when I read these words from King David: “…Who is willing to consecrate (himself/herself) today to the Lord?” (1 Chronicles 29:5). Basically the Lord through His servant was asking the same question the post office did: “Are you available?” But something else comes to mind. The gentlemen who phoned wasn’t interested in my coming the next week—he wanted to know if I was ready to work that day (almost that minute). In the same way, God asked who was willing that day to serve Him. He wasn’t concerned about the next year, next week, or even the next day—He wanted those willing to serve immediately when summoned.

Many of us have the idea that we can respond to the Lord when we feel like it or after we get our own things taken care of. To think this way is to misunderstand a key aspect of ministry. Every day (or opportunity) we waste reduces the total time we have to get God’s work done. Maybe this is what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote, “Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days.” (Ephesians 5:16, NLT). Haggai’s message to Israel 2500 years ago was to stop beautifying their own houses and get the Lord’s house built. Could it be that God is using His prophet of old to make the same point to us today?

God is interested in our immediate availability when He calls. Will we answer with Isaiah, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8). Or will we tell Him (paraphrasing the words of the Roman Governor Felix), “When I find it convenient, I will go for you.”? (Acts 24:25).

So am I available now? Are you?

 

Grace and blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Differing Standards"

“Differing Standards”

Years ago a comic strip in our local newspaper featured an elementary school girl. She was walking with an “intellectual” friend one day looking elated while her sidekick looked glum. A neighbor lady asked the first girl why she was so happy, to which she replied, “I got a 98 in spelling!” She then asked Student #2 why she was so sad and was told, “I got a 98 in spelling.” I recently played a round on our community’s par 3 golf course and shot a 76—pretty good for me (given my handicap) but many others would have been horrified had this been their score.

These examples show how much standards can vary between people. No problem. However, when there are no set guidelines (as some maintain to be the case) the outcome can be chaotic as described in Judges 17:6 and 21:25: “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as (he or she) saw fit.” With no agreed upon authority the result can be turmoil. This explains a lot about our “do your own thing” society.

Among the people of God individual gifts and abilities vary greatly. The Lord’s friend and apostle writes, “Each one should use whatever gift (he or she) has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10). The apostle Paul applied these principles to giving when he wrote, “…If the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what (one) does not have.” (2 Corinthians 8:12). In other words, none of us can do everything but all of us can certainly do something with our level of ability.

Whatever differing standards may be in us are subject to the unchanging Word from our unchanging God. The Lord says through His prophet, “I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:6), so would He give us a written Revelation that brings mixed messages or changes with the times? I say no—and so does the psalmist (“Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens…Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.”—Psalm 119:89,152). So we have divine sources of stability in an unstable world.

Recognizing the differences between people keeps us from falling into the trap of judging others by our personal standards. Paul warns, “…Let us stop passing judgment on one another….” (Romans 14:13). The Lord’s brother says, “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge….” (James 4:12). And it ain’t me! Or you either!

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan