Well Done Good And Faithful Servant?

In Matthew 25 Jesus tells a parable where three men are given some money by their master, to manage in his absence. When the master returns the servants make a report of what they have done with the money they were entrusted with. The first servant did well, and in verse 23 his master says to him:

"Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master."

That first phrase, "Well done, good and faithful servant" is one that many Christians anticipate hearing from the Lord on that day when we come into his very presence. Hearing those words from our Savior would mean that after we came to have faith in him we did well in serving him with whatever gifts he happened to give us. Hearing those words would mean that we saw our lives as devoted to his service, trusted by him to use his gifts wisely and for his glory.

To which I say "Amen!" We serve God not to earn his grace but out of thankfulness for receiving his grace. But being a servant of Jesus is not always an easy thing. Being a "good and faithful servant" can be downright difficult, almost impossible, at times.

That was the thought going through my head last night, when I went outside with my bandana around my face because of the COVID-19 guidelines. Someone had rung the doorbell at the parsonage and I went outside to talk with him. It was his second visit in three days, and those were the first times I had seen this man since last summer, when he was here a number of times. We had a good conversation the other day. I was able to pray with him and send him off with a meal. Last night was a bit different. He was intoxicated and as we talked I could see that the conversation wasn't going to be heading anywhere that would be constructive.

For better or worse, these kinds of things are a recurring aspect of ministry on the reservation. I have conversations with this man, and a number of other people I've gotten to know on the reservation, that are all over the place. Sometimes they are good but far too often I don't seem to be doing anything beyond simply maintaining a relationship with them, and hoping that the next time our paths cross it will be different. Would Jesus look on my interaction last night and say "Well done, good and faithful servant"? I'm wasn't sure.

Thinking about last night's situation today I am reminded that God gives the gifts, we use them to the best of our ability, and he brings forth the increase. In Galatians 5 we are reminded of a number of the fruits of the Holy Spirit that are active in the lives of Christians. Looking at that list in view of last night I can see that peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness and self-control seemed to be present, to me, in my part of the interaction. And in that light perhaps there was more going on last night than I had first thought.

The Christian life is a marvelous blessing but living day-by-day as a believer in the Lord Jesus can be very difficult at times. We are all going to have moments when serving the Lord well will be a very real challenge. I have struggles. You'll have them too. I think that  the only thing about my experience that may be somewhat unique are the particular details.

May you live by faith, knowing that in the end it is the faithfulness of Jesus that is victorious. Well done, good and faithful servant? I'm going to try to continue serving as faithfully as I can, and leave the rest to him.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Just One Page

Yesterday I was in an online prayer meeting of people and ministries connected with Global Mission in the Reformed Church in America. Not surprisingly one of the themes that came up a number of times were connected to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic affects all of our lives and ministries, and in a wide variety of ways. It affects us now, in ways that are known as we try to work within the present restrictions, wherever we might happen to be. And it will affect us in the future, in ways that we can only guess at. Time will as to what the short and long-term effects will be. That is true not just for the ministries at the prayer meeting, but for all of us.

At some point in the meeting I found myself thinking about the text I am preaching this week, Zechariah 8:9-23. Zechariah brings a word from God to the people of God. It is a word that is meant to encourage them during a time when discouragement runs high. I took a picture of the passage in my Bible. It was on p. 1436-7, where the whole passage takes less than one printed page. Just one page in a Bible that runs 1825 pages from the first word of Genesis 1 to the last word of Revelation 22.

COVID-19 challenges us in many ways. For a few people it is just a minor inconvenience, while at the other end of the spectrum it is bringing people's earthly life to an unexpected end. There are a whole lot of effects in between those two extremes. We would rather it didn’t exist and that we could just go on with business as usual, whatever that might happen to be for each of us.

One thing COVID-19 is not is it is not the worst, or most disruptive, thing that has ever happened to humans in history. It is also quite likely not the last serious, or even last worst, challenge that humans, collectively, will ever have to face. Like the passage in Zechariah it is but one page in a very long, and full story. A story that ends with God gathering all who love him through faith in Jesus to be with him forever.

That is where for Christians there is a distinct advantage as we go through this pandemic. We know the end of the story. We know that this is just one page in a story that has a wonderful and glorious ending. We know, without understanding quite why or how, that even in the pandemic "for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)  Among his children, God is working out his purposes right now, bringing good, from his point-of-view, out of what doesn't appear good from our point-of-view.

So be encouraged, like the people Zechariah speaks to. The pandemic is not what we would prefer, but it is also just one page in a powerful story, with a glorious ending.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

If you would like to support the work of the Jicarilla Apache Reformed Church you can do so through RCA Global Mission at this link. You can also contact me at bradkautz@gmail.com.

A Strong Warning

One of the books I'm reading right now is a collection of sermons from the 18th century pastor Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen. He was a pastor in the Netherlands and was called to serve several churches in Raritan, NJ. In a sermon titled "The Miserable End of the Ungodly"  he had this to say about sin:

"For however plausible it may sometimes appear, sin is nothing but deformity. Its origin is the devil. He that sinneth "is of the devil." Sin exhibits Satan's character, bears his image, and is the fruit of darkness. 

Sin scorns God's majesty and is contrary to His holiness. It despises His goodness, denies His authority, questions His omniscience, and resents His justice. In a word, sin hates God and merits eternal condemnation. It is impossible to see sin as an abomination and a deformity without regarding it with hatred."

With language that is strong and sounds particularly harsh to our 21st century ears Frelinghuysen's goal is two-fold. First, he desires for Christians to clearly see what they have been saved from as they came to faith in Christ, as well as to strengthen them for the daily struggle with sin that still continues in their lives. And second, he paints a powerful picture of the truth of sin for the benefit of unbelievers, so that they may respond to the call to turn to the Lord Jesus as their only hope from the eternal damnation that will otherwise be certain.

The curious thing is that Frelinghuysen's description of sin is nearly 300 years-old, but it remains 100% the truth. For comparison the theological dictionary on my desk says this of sin:

"Theologically, sin is the human condition of separation from God that arises from opposition to God's purposes. It may be breaking God's law, failing to do what God wills, or rebellion. It needs forgiveness."

In all fairness there is a difference in purpose between a dictionary and a preacher in the pulpit, and it would appear the Frelinghuysen has merely given expansion and emphasis to what the dictionary describes.

Frelinghuysen's warning is strong, but it warms my heart. It's language helps me to see more clearly the danger to my soul from which my Savior and Lord has rescued me, and it urges me to be in prayer for those whom I preach to, that they may also be rescued.

Our culture may be 300 years down the road from Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen but the same danger is just as real today as it has been throughout human history. May you see the danger and seek refuge in Jesus, our only hope.

Lord Willing

I'm supposed to be on vacation today. My family and I are supposed to be in Boston, having arrived yesterday. We are supposed to be spending a few days doing a number of tourist things that our daughter planned as part of a school assignment, then a friend of mine and I are supposed to run the Boston Marathon on Monday, and then we're supposed to come home.

Supposed to. Those were the plans, but something happened. Or, more accurately, one thing led to another in this pandemic, so that about five weeks ago the Boston Marathon was postponed to September, Lord willing.

Lord willing. That is a phrase I've encountered quite a number of times in recent months. Sometimes it has been written out, and other times is has been abbreviated as D.v. I understood from the context and the writing style used by a few particular authors that "D.v.= Lord willing," but I did an internet search to be certain, learning that D.v. is Latin for Deo volente, which the dictionary tells me means "God being willing."

Lord willing. As far as the Boston marathon goes those weren't words they appended to the announcement of a changed date. They are just the words I've added as I've thought about Boston or any number of things lately. We can make all kinds of plans. We can have all kinds of good ideas and take steps to bring them to fruition. But, ultimately, the outcome is in other hands.

Lord willing. To conclude a statement with those words could imply a number of different things. The meaning could be one of resignation. As if we're holding our hands up to signify that we have no control over the outcome. Or they could be taken to mean that everything is predetermined by God. We may do this or that but it only works out if God has pre-arranged the gears of the universe to work in our preferred way.

Or, as opposed to those two somewhat negative ways of understanding the meaning of "Lord willing," there are the ideas of trust, providence and sovereignty. I make plans and take steps to fulfill those plans, trusting that God will allow them to work out if they are actually for the best, from his point of view. Or I pursue my plans believing that God can, and will, provide for them as long as my plans are within his will. Or I pursue my plans being continually mindful of the fact that God is sovereign. He rules every part of the universe at all times. If my intent, be it to run the Boston marathon or accomplish any other thing, large or small, is in conflict with his plans for the universe, it is his plan that will carry the day, every time.

Lord willing. The other thing that comes to mind as I read that phrase in someone else's writing, or think about it being applied to my life, is that it reflects a attitude of submission in heart and mind. Submission might not be highly valued in the world at large, particularly here in the US and our ever-present desire for independence in all things, but for a Christian it is essential. If I my life as a Christian was seen as a building then one of the concrete blocks in the foundation would say, "There is a God, and it isn't me," and the block next to it would say, "Therefore I must submit to that God," and the next block would say, "Submission to God is not a bad thing, but very good and necessary."

So today, on April 15th, I'm planning to be in Boston in September to run the marathon with my friend. Lord willing. My family won't be coming, as that date causes problems for our kids and school. And given the events worldwide in the last two months, who can really predict now, with any kind of accuracy, what things may be like then?

And before that trip comes there are a number of other things our family has in mind. And things I need to do for the ministry, not the least of which is this week's main project, to preach from Zechariah 8:1-8. And all of it, from "greatest" to "least," will be Lord willing.

Perspective

 Yesterday was Easter, which in most years is kind of a big deal for our family, our congregation and our community. For me it starts before sunrise, as I unlock the church buildings, turn the heat on in our gym and get the coffee started. At sunrise people from our local churches gather on the hill behind our building for a community worship service. After worship we all come down to our building for breakfast. Lots of people bring food and the men take over the kitchen to make breakfast. After breakfast we clean up the gym and then I work on the ordinary things I do every Sunday before worship. At 11 AM our congregation gathers, and Easter is a Sunday where the building is usually full. It gives me an opportunity to preach the good news of Jesus to people I would otherwise not see. People in our congregation have a preference for Easter as a Sunday for being baptized and every Easter there are at least a few. Then late Sunday afternoon our family would close out the holiday with our family Easter dinner.

Most years that would be the pattern. But not in 2020, with COVID-19 on the loose. Yesterday was pretty much like every Sunday for the past month. Up at my usual time, doing my usual things before worship, except for making coffee at church. We worshiped as a family at 10. We did have an Easter dinner, but it was early in the afternoon and a simpler meal than in most years.

A bit before we sat down for dinner a man stopped over, delivering the cross in the picture, as a gift for our family. I've known him for most of the time we've been in Dulce, and I know a bit of his story. His presence, and the gift, reminded me that even though many things are different this year, in terms of how we might celebrate Easter and the fact that everyone is living now in ways that are markedly different than they were a month ago, that so many things are still the same.

The people I've been praying for, and the reasons I've been praying for them, haven't changed. Family conflicts. Addictions. Personal struggles. Depression. Grief.

Things are different, but things are also the same, and that, for me, is a good perspective to keep in mind. With the quarantine I've been connecting more with people over the phone. I find that as I pray with them a thought that often comes to mind is that as things may be different for us and for a time, the Lord has not changed one bit.

He has not lessened in power. His love has not decreased. His promises have not changed. He is present. He is trustworthy. He is at work.

COVID-19 will pass. Something else may come along. But the Lord will never change, and everything about that is good.

Every Last Bit, No Exceptions

Late this evening, shortly before Robin and I would ordinarily begin wrapping things up and going to bed I was looking on Facebook and saw a post from a woman who is a mutual friend of ours. She posted something that came from Psalm 130. I responded to her post with a comment and link to a version of that Psalm, set to music, that I am quite fond of. And, being fond of it, I put my headphones in and listened to it.

A few minutes later I heard Robin's phone begin to play some very familiar music. She had seen my link and was playing it for herself. I then connected the speakers to my laptop and we listened to the Psalm again.

In my Bible the last verse of Psalm 130 reads:

"And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities."

In the song that verse is:

"Who will at last his Israel free,

 from all their sin and sorrow."

That last phrase, "from all their sin and sorrow" then repeats a number of times, back-and-forth between a male and female voice, and then repeats and fades, like a haunting echo, as the music ends.

Earlier this evening, shortly before this whole episode I'm describing took place I read a sermon by George Whitefield. In the latter part of the sermon Whitefield made a powerful appeal to his listeners to consider how sinful their lives really were, when seen from God's point-of-view. He said that there was no way to soft-sell what they had done against God. He said that for the least of their sins they would bear terrible guilt and the truth of the matter was that they had many more sins than they could possibly imagine. Whitefield didn't cast them as any kind of exceptionally evil people, for he said that he was just as much of a sinner as any of them were.

But here is the thing. When they, or he, or you or I, for that matter, come to have faith in Jesus as our Savior, it is Jesus who deals with our sin. Every last bit, no exceptions. The freedom that Psalm 130 points forward to is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.

Jesus isn't a Savior in the same way where I might sweep up a floor. Doing a job that may be pretty good, but not worrying too much about a missed spot here or there. Something that I will probably get the next time I get the broom out.

Jesus is the kind of Savior who removes every last bit of sin from every single person who has faith in him. He misses nothing. He prepares us for that moment of final judgment before the Father so completely as to make us spotless.

That is hard to see sometimes, living here in the world and continuing to struggle with sin. But it is the Bible's truth, and the Bible never lies.

Turn to Jesus. Now. And know freedom from "all your sin and sorrow." Every last bit, no exceptions.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

True Wisdom

The Bible reading plan I currently use has me read the entire New Testament and Psalms twice a year, and the remainder of the Old Testament once a year. In order to do that it always has me in four parts of the Bible at the same time. Right now I am reading from Leviticus, Psalms, Proverbs and 1 Thessalonians.

Proverbs are considered wisdom literature, and it's easy to see why. Much of the book is made up of short sayings that could just about stand on their own as guidance for how a person should, or shouldn’t, live. I'll admit that there are many times I read from Proverbs and that while I can see the idea of wisdom in them, at the same time I have a harder time connecting those wise sayings with the greater story line of the Bible. Many times, but not all of the time.

Proverbs 23:15-16 says:

"My son, if your heart is wise,
    my heart too will be glad.
My inmost being will exult
    when your lips speak what is right."

Here is some running commentary on those two verses. There is someone dear to the author of Proverbs, and the author will be glad should this someone's heart become wise. Going farther the author speaks of the joy that he will feel when this someone speaks what is right.

This is all well and good, so much so that our basic response could be "duh!" I'm in the process of raising sons again right now and I can easily see how some wisdom in their hearts would bring gladness to my own. But pushing the meaning of the proverb a bit farther, it would need to be a particular kind of wisdom.

In Romans 10:9 Paul writes:

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Living hundreds of years before Jesus, and not even knowing the name, I believe that he is who the author of Proverbs is ultimately pointing towards. What would be the truest form of wisdom in the human heart? It would be faith in God through the person and work of Jesus. It would be loving Jesus as both Savior and Lord.

It is a great blessing for Robin and I to raise the three children we still have living with us in a Christian home. We treasure the time we spend with them each day as a family in reading the Bible and praying together. And in the separate prayer time that Robin and I spend together each day perhaps our deepest desires are for the life-saving work of God to take place in the hearts of our children.

May this be the wisdom that penetrates, and lives, in your heart, and in the hearts of those whom you dearly love. Amen.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.