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Archive for January, 2011

Door of Hope

Posted in Spiritual, tagged , , , on January 29, 2011 | Leave a Comment »


Dear Friends,

My attention has been drawn inexplicably to some references in the Scriptures to the Valley of A’chor.  From what I can determine, it was a valley, or deep ravine, south of Jericho on the northern boundary of Judah.  That would be just near the North-West coast of the Dead Sea.

It was there that Achan was stoned because of his deliberate defiance of the Lord’s instruction, in stealing and hiding some of the banned treasures, thus resulting in defeat and humiliation for Israel in the battle at Ai.  After Achan’s sin was discovered and dealt with, Israel continued the victorious take-over of the Promised Land.  (Josh. 7:24-26)

In view of the trouble that Achan (his name means ‘trouble’) brought upon his people and upon himself, the place assumed a typical character, symbolizing an accursed desolation, and it was because of this that the place was called the Valley of A’chor (also meaning ‘trouble’ or ‘troubling’).

However, it would not always remain so.  Such desolation would be redeemed at the coming of Messiah.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of a time when “Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of A’chor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.” (Isa. 65:10)

Also Hosea prophesied a time when God would give Israel the Valley of A’chor for a “door of Hope.” (Hosea 2:15)

We are reminded that all of these things recorded in the Old Testament were written for our admonition, and there is a truth hidden in this story that can encourage us today.

Our life’s experiences sometimes take us through the ‘Valley of Trouble’ but, as the Holy Spirit “makes intercession for us according to the will of God,” we know that He makes all things (even our troubles) work together for good, giving us a Hope and confident expectation of the outworking of good.  Instead of the picture of death and desolation, Isaiah gives us the picture of peace and tranquility, and Hosea a “door of Hope,” so we find Hope and expectation of that which is good.

The Apostle Paul, in writing to the Church at Rome, reminds us that “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

(Rom. 8:27,28) Even ‘troubles’ can work together for Hope and confident expectation of good.  There in the valley of A’chor, the place of our deepest wounds or worst failures, the Lord has placed for us a door of Hope.

One of the most outstanding Scriptural examples of troubling circumstances resulting in much good and blessing is the story of Joseph.  As we follow him through the betrayal by his brothers, the years of servitude in the foreign Egyptian court of Pharoah, the seduction and betrayal by his master’s wife, and the consequent years of imprisonment in an Egyptian dungeon, we wonder what his end could possibly be?!

“But God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform!” In the working out of His purpose, Pharoah’s favor was gained, Joseph was promoted to Prime Minister, and the whole nation of Israel was saved from the terrible famine that decimated the land!

We have other examples of troublesome experiences working ultimately for good, such as Esther, an innocent Jewish girl taken captive with her people to Babylon, being made a member of the King’s harem, but eventually becoming the Queen of the Persian Empire, wielding a great influence in effecting the deliverance of her people, and thereby carrying them further along the path of God’s purpose for them.

Then what about Job’s years of loss upon loss?  But God blessed his latter end more than his beginning, and he regained double all that he had lost.  He was able to say, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You.” We have David, the lowly shepherd boy, scorned by his brothers, but exalted by the Lord to rule over Israel.  And consider the three Hebrew Children, taken as captives to Babylon, served as slaves in the king’s palace, but ultimately promoted to high Government positions.

The Apostle Paul, after suffering beatings, stoning, shipwreck, and perils of every kind, as well as lengthy imprisonment in a Roman prison, could say, “I would have you understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel…for I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ…so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (2 Cor. 11; Phil. 1)

“When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies turn back:
this I know, for God is for me.
In God will I praise His Word;
in the Lord will I praise His Word.
In God have I put my trust;
I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.”
“The Lord is on my side;
I will not fear:  what can man do unto me?”

(Psa. 56:9-11; 118:6)

In Agape, Eulene

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Press Toward the Goal!

Posted in Spiritual, tagged , , on January 20, 2011 | 2 Comments »


Dear Friends,

New beginnings often inspire us to set new goals, make resolutions for a new year.  We might resolve to spend more time in the Scriptures and in prayer;  determine to lose some weight;  do what is necessary to improve our health;  spend more quality time with family and friends;  take more steps to improve financial status, etc.

The first recorded Olympic contest took place in the Stadium of Olympia in Greece in 776B.C.  In the beginning the only event was a footrace of about 180 meters.  Over time many other competitions were added:  the Pentathlon consisting of the discus throw, javelin throw, long jump, a sprint, and wrestling. Boxing followed, and by 680 B.C. the four-horse chariot race was added.  Of course, many more have been added to the modern Olympic Games, such as skating, skiing, swimming, etc.

The Apostle Paul, being familiar with the Olympic Games, wrote about goals, using the analogies of running a race, or contending in a boxing ring.  He knew that anyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things.  And they do it to receive a corruptible crown, or perishable wreathe, that soon fades.  He was after an incorruptible, imperishable crown.

Paul ran, not being in any doubt as to his goal.  He did not claim to have already won the race, or already reached perfection, but he said, “I press on, if that I may lay hold on the prize for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus…..I count not myself yet to have laid hold, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the goal, unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus…..” “That is how I run, not being in any doubt as to my goal.  I am a boxer who does not beat the air, but I buffet my body and bring it under control.  Having preached to others, I myself do not want to fall short of the goal.”

What was the goal to which he referred?  It was to receive the “prize of the high calling of God…..to know Christ and the power of His resurrection,” and to attain to his own resurrection from among the dead.

Paul admonished his readers to forget the past – the disappointments, the mistakes, the failures, the hurts and injustices – and to stretch forward to all that lay before them, with their eyes fixed on the goal of (experientially) knowing Christ.

“Therefore,” he wrote to the church at Philippi, “let all of us who are mature believers cherish these thoughts…..And at whatever point we have already reached, continue to persevere in the same course.” May this be our goal for this New Year.   (1 Cor. 9:24-27; Phil. 3:10-16)

The words of the following lovely old hymn express beautifully the thought that “My Goal is God Himself.” After a considerable amount of research, I discovered that it was authored by Frederick Charles Brook who was killed in Europe in World War 1.  His name may be found on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing near Passchendaele, in Belgium.  This may be the only poem he wrote or,

at least one of the very few, as I could find no others.

My goal is God Himself; not joy, nor peace,
Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God;
’Tis His to lead me there – not mine, but His—
‘At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.’

So faith bounds forward to its goal in God,
And love can trust her Lord to lead her there;
Upheld by Him, my soul is following hard
Till God hath full fulfilled my deepest prayer.

No matter if the way be sometimes dark,
No matter though the cost be oft-times great,
He knoweth how I best shall reach the mark;
The way that leads to Him must needs be straight.

One thing I know—I cannot say Him nay;
One thing I do—I press toward my Lord;
My God, my glory here, from day to day,
And in the glory there my great Reward.

- Hymn by Frederick Charles Brook

Now may the God of HOPE

fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

that you may abound in HOPE

by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Romans 15:13, NKJV)

In Agape,  Eulene

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Emmanuel – God With Us

Posted in Spiritual, tagged , , , , , on January 8, 2011 | Leave a Comment »


Throughout this season when the birth of the Son of God has been celebrated around the world, by saints and sinners alike, I have been impressed more than ever by how profound an event was the Incarnation.

It is beyond human comprehension that Almighty God, the Creator of the Universe, the Source and Cause of all that is, should choose to incarnate Himself – that is, to assume a human bodily form and condition – especially that of a helpless infant.

John wrote “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing that exists came into being.” (John 1:1-4 Weymouth)

In his letter to the Church at Philippi, Paul continued the story, that “Christ Jesus…being in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped;  but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a bondservamt, and was made in the likeness of men.” In other words, He laid aside His Divinity, and allowed Himself to be confined to a human body, even that of a newborn baby! (Phil. 2:6-8)

Before His birth into the human condition, both Mary and Joseph were instructed to call His name “Jesus” indicating that He would be a Savior, to save His people from their sins; also “Emmanuel” meaning, “God with us.” (Luke 1:30-33; Matt. 1:20-23;  also Isa. 7:14)

In the fullness of time, Jesus humbly stripped Himself of His Glory, and took on Himself the nature of a bondservant by becoming a man like other men.  And so “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Though “in Him was Life, and that Life was the Light of men…” He humbled Himself further and even submitted to death.  But not an ordinary death!  Rather, the most ignominious, shameful death of crucifixion on a Roman cross!

As we know, that was not the end of the story; it was only the beginning.  For “…The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it.” (John 1:4,5)

Death could not defeat Him!

The grave could not hold Him!

The darkness could not extinguish the Light!

So, “we behold Jesus, (Who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death,) crowned with glory and honor;  that He, by the grace of God, should taste death for every man.  For it became Him, for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”

(Heb. 2:9,10)

As believers, we are among those “many sons” who have been born into God’s family through faith in His Name.  Though, as yet, the world cannot receive the Spirit of Truth, “for it beholds Him not, neither knows Him,” we know Him, for He abides, not only with us, but in us, as He promised.  With the outpouring of His Holy Spirit, Christ now indwells all who have been born of His Spirit.  (John 14:16-20; Gal. 2:20)

As the result of His obedience to the Father’s will, God highly exalted Him, and conferred on Him the Name which is supreme above every other name.  It is at His name – the name of Jesus, “that every knee shall bow, in heaven, and in earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue shall confess that He is Lord.” (Phil. 2:8-11)

While we await the fulfillment of that marvelous promise, we are instructed to let His mind be in us; an attitude of humility and obedience to the will of our Heavenly Father. May this be our goal as we begin another new year of living the Christ Life.

“The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah is
riches, and honor, and life.”

(Prov. 22:4)

“Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth
unto unfeigned love of the brethren,
love one another from the heart fervently.”

(1 Peter 1:22)

In Agape,

Eulene

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