John Archives - Paula Wiseman

Righteousness

And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6

Abram believed the promises of God and God accounted that belief to him as righteousness.
He accounted it to Abram as tsedaqah.

What is righteousness?
Never cheating on your taxes?
Never breaking the speed limit?
Flossing daily?

Well, those are a kind of righteousness.
We conform to the law, the legal standards, so we are “righteous” in a sense.

But God didn’t say, “Abram followed the rules and that was accounted to him as righteousness.”

The Hebrews thought of righteousness not so much as what GOD is, like we do
But more of what He DOES to fulfill His promises, His covenant with us.
This pronouncement of Abram’s righteousness comes in connection with the covenant God made with Him.

Job asked the question, “How then can man be righteous before God?” (Job 25:4)
We aren’t Hebrew. What covenant do we fall back on?
What about the covenant in John 3:16?

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

We believe Jesus died for our sins. We believe that means we will receive eternal life. We believe that promise God made.
So as a result.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

And God accounts that to us as righteousness.
Not what we do, what we believe.

Just like Abram.

A Study in Contrasts: Zerubbabel

By Paula Leave a Comment

Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 4:6

We are continuing our look at contrasts in Scripture marked by the conjunction “but.” Last week we looked at the stand taken by Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael while they were in Babylonian captivity. That captivity lasted seventy years. After the Babylonian Empire was conquered by the Persians, King Cyrus issued a decree allowing any Jews to return home to Israel and restore the cities and the land. You can read about that return in Nehemiah and Ezra. The restoration happened in fits and starts marked by opposition, distraction and discouragement.

Eventually a guy named Zerubbabel was named the governor and Joshua served as high priest. God raised up the prophet Zechariah, who prophesied a lot about the Messiah who would come, but he also gave messages of encouragement to the governor and the high priest. Chapter 4 is the fifth message Zechariah records and it is especially for the governor, Zerubbabel. It is one of the most powerfully encouraging messages in Scripture. Here are some of the encouragements in this message.

God has a mighty work for us to participate in. You can argue that Zerubbabel was the governor, of course HE had an important work. Not everyone is a leader. We’ll come back to that in just a second. The reality of this undertaking was that governor was not going to lay every block in the Temple himself, nor was he going to personally rebuild the wall. These words to the leader apply to the people who will follow.

Now about leaders. We are “in-between” in our relationships. There are those we follow and then, there are those we lead. We follow ministry leaders and supervisors at our place of employment. We follow laws and ordinances. We also have the opportunity to lead our children, to be oversee to new hires, to be examples in society or even on social media. In all of those circumstances, let’s embrace the work God has for us.

God knows the work is a big one. After all, He sent the prophet. Zerubbabel wouldn’t have needed a message from Zechariah if the work was easy or ordinary. Rebuilding a temple and a city wall with a bunch of people with little or no experience, who had their own homes and safety to worry about, with limited materials and funds, not to mention the marauding bands of vandals who terrorized the people.

What God has called us to, what God has called you to, is an important work for the kingdom. In a general sense, it’s carrying the gospel out to a world that doesn’t want to hear, a world that has established itself as God’s enemies. More specifically, the work that God has called you to is nothing to sneeze at. You may have hard-hearted family members. You may have hostile co-workers. You may struggle with temptation and hardship. Jesus said we would have trouble and suffering, but He also promised that He had overcome it. (John 16:33)

God promises to accomplish the work. The message to the governor is NOT by power or by might, not by your strength, your talent, your resources BUT BY MY SPIRIT says the Lord of hosts. Now some of the modern translations give you a better idea what that name for God means. Hosts make me think of dinner parties and making sure everyone has enough to eat and drink. It’s not that kind of host. It’s an army, a heavenly army. So God makes this promise and then reassures Zerubbabel (and us) that He can bring it to pass. No one can stand in opposition to God accomplishing His purposes.

When we try to accomplish God’s purposes in our own strength and energy we get discouraged and even burned out. Think about your work right now. Which best describes your gut reaction? Energy or exhaustion? I don’t think God calls us to frustration. That could be a signal to evaluate whose work we’re doing and whose strength doing it in.

The Apostle Paul brought intellect, theological rigor and a strong work ethic to his ministry. But he knew that wasn’t what let people see the grace of God. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Take hold of that message today.

Untangle the Graveclothes

By Paula

Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” John 11:42-43

Does anything about that miracle catch your attention? Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb, but Lazarus was still bound in the graveclothes. Lazarus didn’t walk out looking like he’s just arrived from an extended spa vacation.

Jesus also didn’t snap His fingers and cause the wrappings to dramatically drop to the ground. No. After watching Lazarus awkwardly waddle or hop or whatever he did to get out of the tomb, after letting everyone around see Lazarus, alive but struggling, Jesus called on those nearby to step up and help him out. Like the feeding of the 5000, others got to participate in the miracle.

In a similar way, every day, all around us, Jesus is calling people out of spiritual, eternal death. They come out of the darkness and into His light, but they are still bound in graveclothes. They aren’t perfect. They still carry old attitudes, habits or ideas with them. They stagger and stumble. All too often, we shake our heads at this point and walk away.

Can you imagine anyone walking away from that cemetery in Bethany? Or refusing Jesus’s call to get Lazarus loose? Me either. It is up to us to participate in those miracles around us by stepping in and helping untangle new believers from their old graveclothes. Not in a snotty sanctimonious way, but with a humble realization that somebody had to untangle us as well.

We also have to recognize that sometimes they’re going to get tangled back up in those graveclothes. And honestly, so do we. Jesus could say the word and make everything perfect, and one day He will. In the meantime, this is His plan– that we help each other, that we give and take, that we grow and go.

So don’t stand back watching. Step up. Unwrap and untangle.

Covenants, Not Contracts

By Paula

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. (Hebrews 6:18-19 NLT)

As a writer, I’ve had the opportunity to enter into a few contracts over the years. We’ve signed agreements with home sellers to buy real estate from them. We’ve accepted bids from contractors to do work for us. We even have an informal arrangement with our kids to cut the grass. (They mow. We give them twenty dollars.)

We like contracts. They seem instinctive and natural and ultimately fair or else we wouldn’t be a part of them. They are everywhere. The news is full of stories of athletes negotiating the terms they’ll play under, and of unions seeking the best terms for their members. Loan agreements are contracts. Even the terms of use for your favorite website are a contract spelling out the services provided and the limits of those services.

Because contracts are such a common part of our dealings, we often fall into a trap of thinking our relationship with God is like a contract. If we pay with the proper obedience and devotion then God will, in turn, render the necessary service of providing answers to prayers, or bestowing blessings, or what have you. If we fail, then He responds with judgment or a curse or mild irritations depending on the offense and its severity.

You can hear it in subtle “if … then” statements. If I have more faith, then God will hear my prayers. If I stop swearing for a month then God will help me find a job. That is the language of contracts and God doesn’t make contracts. He makes covenants.

He makes covenants that rely solely on His holiness for fulfillment. He doesn’t require anything from us but acceptance of the terms. They are eternally binding and utterly unbreakable.

When Jesus makes a statement like, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life,” (John 5:24 NKJV), He’s making a covenant. We just accept the terms and it is irrevocable.

When He says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV), that’s a covenant that we cannot undo, not with actions or words or attitudes.

God knows our frailties. He knows that if our salvation, our blessings, or any of His good gifts depended on our ability to keep up our end of a contract we would be left destitute. His boundless love and His infinite grace won’t allow that.

He takes all the responsibility on Himself. We just have to accept it.

Precious Son

By Paula

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 1 Peter 2:4 ESV

Peter was the most outspoken of Jesus’s followers. He was a blue-collar guy. Hard working, but rough-hewn. So when a guy like that tells you something is precious, it’s worth stopping and considering his words. In his first letter, Peter quickly mentions several things that precious. (Or of great value or great worth, depending on your translation.)

We have looked at the genuineness of your faith which is even more precious than gold. Last week, we considered the precious blood of Christ.

This week we find what is precious to God Himself – Jesus Christ, the living stone.

In this context, the Greek word for precious means highly valued or esteemed. Why?

First is because of His relationship. The is the beloved Son. God affirms this at Jesus’s baptism. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17

Second is because of His position. Christ is the head of all things, and especially the Church.
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, Ephesians 1:22

The third is because of His function. He is our great high priest and intercessor.
Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, Hebrews 3:1

Most importantly, it is because of His work. Christ left glory. Lived as a man. Took our sins upon Him and died a horrible death on the cross. Because He loved US too much to abandon us to the consequences of our sin.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:8-11

Because He accomplished the work the Father gave Him to do, He is the living stone, elect and precious.

But it is even more amazing. In the next verse, Peter says, “You also as living stones.” He made us able to be like Him.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: John 1:12

That makes Him precious to the Father. And because of Jesus Christ, so are we.

Journey to Easter: The Locked Room

By Paula

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” John 20:26

For the last several weeks, we have stopped at significant places with Jesus as He moved ever closer to fulfilling His mission. The Upper Room. The Garden. The Chamber. The Judgment Hall. The Empty Tomb. We’ve seen that each stop was purposeful and planned. And if we took the time, we learned something at each location.

Pessimistic. Loyal. Fatalistic. Devoted. Thomas is an interesting character. When Jesus receives word of Lazarus’s death and heads toward Jerusalem, knowing the imminent danger He faced there, Thomas is ready to go die with Jesus. (John 11:16) He wasn’t afraid. He didn’t hesitate. In the Upper Room, he wasn’t much for abstract ideas about going and preparing places, and said as much. Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (John 14:5)

Like the other disciples, he fled when Jesus was arrested. Like the other disciples, he really didn’t expect Jesus to raise from the dead. In his defense, the other guys were trying to persuade him AFTER they had the evidence. A few hours before, they didn’t believe the women’s reports any more than Thomas believed theirs.

On the eighth day after the resurrection, the disciples were gathered in a locked room. This time Thomas was there. We have all been where Thomas was that day. We have heard the promises Jesus made, but reality and the pain we’ve experienced made those words seem distant at best. We have heard the joyous testimonies of people around us, but struggled to respond with the same faith. Maybe we have wondered what was fundamentally wrong with us. Why don’t we get it? The faith thing seems so easy for everyone else. Maybe the heartache and struggles make the risk of faith too great.

But he was in the room. Notice how Jesus interacts with Thomas. Jesus doesn’t upbraid him for his lack of faith. It’s important to remember that Jesus didn’t shy away from doing exactly that when the situation warranted, like when He calmed the storm, or at Lazarus’s tomb. However, there is a difference between faith in Jesus and faith in our EXPECTATIONS about Jesus. Thomas misinterpreted that faith in his expectations for faith in Jesus Himself. When the expectations weren’t met, a faith crisis resulted.

Maybe you can identify. I know I can.

Thomas teaches us something else. His response wasn’t one of wonder or confusion like Peter and John at the tomb. It wasn’t even joy like Mary after seeing Christ in the garden. Thomas exclaims, “My Lord and my God!” Complete surrender. Genuine faith in Christ brings that. It throws out our agenda and our posturing.

The locked room is where things get real. Pretenses are stripped away and humility is refined. But the authenticity that results opens us up to the kingdom assignment Jesus has for us.

Thomas was in the boat when the tremendous haul of fish was taken a few days later. He was on the mountain when Jesus ascended. He was in the room when the Holy Spirit came. He preached the gospel in a language he had never studied enabling foreigners to hear the gospel clearly. There is strong evidence that he carried the gospel all the way to India where he almost certainly was martyred for his faith.

As you spend some time here with Thomas, consider your own faith. Is it in Christ or your expectations of Him? Are you genuinely surrendered? Are you ready to take on the task He has for you?

When you leave the locked room, your journey beyond Easter awaits!

Righteousness

A Study in Contrasts: Zerubbabel

Untangle the Graveclothes

Covenants, Not Contracts

Precious Son

Journey to Easter: The Locked Room

Encounters Series

Covenant of Trust Series

Foundations Series