CHILDREN!

This picture was on the website of their Christian school where, the other week, their annual Bible Conference was being held. Here they are with their buddies, Kai, Jonathan, and Jim, praying for the speakers and listeners. Unprompted. Unbidden. Unforced. They’re just … praying. An impromptu prayer meeting, its only motivation the tenderness of their hearts and sensitivity to their God.

Not that I had anything to do with it, but as the uncle of two of these warriors in prayer—John and Jacob—I am immensely proud! I can imagine what it must be like for believing parents to see their children walking with God. Worth it all, isn’t it—the pain, the pouring out of lives, the years of toilsome parenting?

For I rejoiced greatly
when brethren came
and testified to your truth
—how you are walking in truth.
I have no greater joy than this,
to hear of my children
walking in the truth.
3 John 3–4

The joy of knowing that our children—ones we have raised in the flesh and in the Spirit—are maturing, now seeking the Lord on their own. Unprompted. Unbidden. Unforced.

For the report of your obedience
has reached to all;
therefore I am rejoicing over you ….
Romans 16:19

After all, is there anything more important? Not their attaining lofty career goals, nor their obtaining envious financial stature; not their acquiring impressive academic credentials, nor their winning illustrious athletic fame. All these temporary achievements pale before the eternal benefits of a life walked with God.

What a privilege to be able to say, with Paul, …

We give thanks to God always
for all of you, making
mention of you in our prayers;
constantly bearing in mind
your work of faith
and labor of love
and steadfastness of hope
in our Lord Jesus Christ .…
You also became imitators
of us and of the Lord …
so that you became an example
to all the believers ….
For the word of the Lord
has sounded forth from you,
… in every place your faith
toward God has gone forth.
1 Thessalonians 1:2–4, 6–8

The faith of our children, the faith of those we have led to the Lord, the faith of those we have mentored, discipled, and taught in the ways of God—a remarkable faith, a reputed faith, a respected faith. What joy!

And may they continue in that direction, on that trajectory, with that momentum.

Therefore, my beloved brethren
whom I long to see,
my joy and crown,
in this way stand firm
in the Lord, my beloved.
Philippians 4:1

Our children—physical, spiritual—standing firm. What a magnificent legacy to leave. So let us keep parenting, continuing to invest our lives in those of our children. That they might walk worthily.

But we proved to be
gentle among you,
as a nursing mother tenderly
cares for her own children.
Having so fond an affection for you,
we were well-pleased
to impart to you
not only the gospel of God
but also our own lives ….
You know how we were
exhorting and encouraging
and imploring each one of you
as a father would
his own children,
so that you would walk in
a manner worthy of the God
who calls you into
His own kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 2:7–8, 11–12

And today, those two, my nephews John and Jacob, are being baptized by their father!

For what thanks
can we render to God for you
in return for all the joy
with which we rejoice
before our God
on your account!
1 Thessalonians 3:9

Amen!

REMNANT!

It wasn’t hard to find this church. Grace Bible Church, in Mena, Arkansas. Population: 5,637. Area: 7 square miles.

A 250-mile drive from ye olde city of Dallas. And … 76 miles from the nearest Starbucks! Mercy!

Mena sits on the Ouachita Mountains, the only range in the Western hemisphere, I am told, that runs East–West. Mena was named after Mena Janssen de Goeijen, wife of de Goeijen, a Dutch investor. This notable gentleman also got a neighboring town named after him. Unfortunately, in the process, the Dutch surname got somewhat mutilated: that metropolis is called DeQueen.

Nope, it wasn’t hard to find this church. If I had blinked real long (and, driving into town on a hot afternoon after a hectic week in Dallas, I was in frequent danger of blinking real long!)—if I had blinked real long, the pastor said, I’d have missed the entire town. But my name on the signboard woke me up and I slammed on the brakes! How often does one see one’s own name on the marquee when one is perambulating through Arkansas! Surely a brake-slamming kind of experience.

I had arrived!

Anyhow, the delightful bunch of God’s people in Mena, at Grace, reminded me again of the joy of ministry and made me forget my weariness, sleepiness, and Starbuckslessness. As great a company of believers as any, anywhere, anyplace. It has been a terrific weekend.

God’s people are everywhere! Isn’t that amazing! A remnant in Mena! And, instantly, one connects, no matter what one’s race, accent, passport, or epidermal melanin content is. God’s people are everywhere.
Elijah doubted that some time ago. He thought he was the only one remaining.

Or do you not know
what the Scripture says
in the passage about Elijah,
how he pleads
with God against Israel?
“Lord, they have killed
your prophets, they have
torn down your altars,
and I alone am left,
and they are seeking my life.”
Romans 11:2–3

While it is a little hard to compare my deStarbuckization as I fled Dallas for Mena to Elijah fleeing Jezebel, it’s all just a matter of degree (yeah, right!). I and ye olde prophet figured we were the only ones left in that part of the world—I in Arkansas, he in Ahab-land. But he was wrong, and so was I.

God responded to Elijah:

“I have kept for Myself
seven thousand men
who have not bowed
the knee to Baal.”
In the same way then,
there has also come to be
at the present time a remnant
according to God's gracious choice.
Romans 11:4–5

There is a believing “remnant” everywhere, chosen by God’s grace. In Kuwait, in India, in Houston, in Boston, in Scotland, and … in Mena. No Starbucks, but plenty of saints. And lots of love—I can vouch for that. Refreshed by the remnant in Mena. I think I can do without the caffeine!

For I have come to have
much joy and comfort
in your love,
because the hearts
of the saints have been
refreshed through you, brother.
Philemon 1:7

This is no humanly conceived and contrived refreshment that the remnant proffers. Rather, it is actually Christ’s refreshment that is offered through human agency. Same word. Same noun form.

Come to Me,
all who are weary
and heavy-laden,
and I will refresh you.
Take My yoke upon you
and learn from Me,
for I am gentle
and humble in heart,
and you will find
refreshment for your souls.
Matthew 11:28–29

I was refreshed by Christ, refreshed by His remnant in Mena. Who needs Starbucks?

EYE!

Several months ago, I took in a grand view of London atop the “London Eye,” notably the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe. 1800 tons heavy, the whole contraption is supported on a single A-frame on one side only. On the circumference of the wheel are 30-odd air-conditioned capsules, each capable of carrying 25. A single revolution, for which one pays about US$30, takes about 30 minutes. The Eye is one of the most popular attractions in London; roughly 3 million enjoy the ride each year. The reason for its popularity is the remarkable view of London that one experiences 500 feet up in the air in that revolving contrivance. Sitting on the South Bank of the Thames, adjacent to the Westminster Bridge, the Eye offers a grand panorama of the that magnificent city. Truly spectacular. And rightly named—the Eye!

The eye of the omniscient God has a remarkable and spectacular view as well—of all things and everyone. ALL and EVERY!

And there is no creature
hidden from His sight,
but all things are open
and laid bare
to the eyes of Him ….
Hebrews 4:13

Unfortunately, much of what God sees is highly distasteful to Him. The litany of human misdeeds recorded in the Bible is striking. The recurrent statements that Israel’s actions were evil in the eyes of the Lord batter like a staccato of hammer blows.

The sons of Israel
did what was
evil in the eyes of the LORD,
and forgot the LORD their God ….
Judges 3:7
(and 2:11; and 3:7; and 4:1; and 6:1; and …)

Indeed, no one seems to have worried about God’s eyes at all.

In those days
there was no king in Israel;
everyone did what was right
in his own eyes.
Judges 21:25

Things didn’t get better after that. Israel’s subsequent demand for a king was evil in God’s eyes as well.

… your wickedness is great
which you have done
in the eyes of the LORD
by asking for yourselves a king.
1 Samuel 12:17

And those kings? Here are the first three—Saul, David, and Solomon.

Why then did you [Saul]
not obey the voice of the LORD,
but … do what was evil
in the eyes of the LORD?
1 Samuel 15:19

Why have you [David]
despised the word of the LORD
by doing evil in His eyes?
2 Samuel 12:9

Solomon did what was evil
in the eyes of the LORD.
1 Kings 11:6

And so on for the rest of the history of Israel. Ditto for the rest of humankind!

But God continues to observe. He constantly watches. His eyes are open. And upon those who fear the Lord, His eye looks favorably.

Behold, the eye of the LORD
is on those who fear Him.
Psalm 33:18

He watches out for them. He listens to them.

The eyes of the LORD
are toward the righteous
And His ears are open to their cry.
Psalm 34:15

He cares for them.

For the eyes of the LORD
move to and fro
throughout the earth
that He may strongly support
those whose heart is completely His.
2 Chronicles 16:9

On such is the focus of the Lord’s eyes. Blessed are they!

Those who have placed their trust in Christ, have already found favor in God’s eyes. And, now, in the strength of the indwelling Spirit, they seek daily to be pleasing to Him.

Finally then, brothers and sisters,
we request and exhort you
in the Lord Jesus,
that … you ought to walk
and please God
… that you excel still more.
1 Thessalonians 4:1

In His eyes!

MARKETPLACE!

Meandering through Manhattan yesterday, amidst the jungle of jagged skyscrapers rending the heavens, I spied a quaint Georgian style edifice built in the late 1700s—the home of Elizabeth Seton (1774–1821), the first native-born U.S. citizen to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church (in 1975).

Fascinating was the cross proudly pronouncing its presence on an imposing technological and architectural landscape, located by the pulse of the financial district, the throb of our modern society, the nerve-center of our insensate and materialistic culture—New York City.

I was reminded of a poem by the Very Rev. George MacLeod (1895–1991), once Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and the only Church of Scotland minister honored with a peerage (that made him Baron MacLeod of Fuinary). He called his poem “The Cross be Raised Again.”

I simply argue
that the cross be raised again
at the center of the market place
as well as the steeple of the church,
I am recovering the claim that
Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral
between two candles
but on a cross between two thieves;
on a town garbage heap;
at a crossroad of politics
so cosmopolitan
that they had to write His title
in Hebrew and in Latin and in Greek,
and at the kind of place
where cynics talk smut,
and thieves curse and soldiers gamble.
Because that is where He died,
and that is what He died about
and that is where Christ’s followers
ought to be,
and what church people
ought to be about.

Indeed! We must be about the business of proclaiming Christ to a lost world—in the marketplace.

For Christ did not
send me to baptize,
but to preach the gospel,
not in cleverness of speech,
so that the cross of Christ
would not be made void.
For the word of the cross
is foolishness to those
who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved
it is the power of God.
… we preach Christ crucified.
1 Corinthians 1:17–18

The cross raised in the market place! For one, for all. For rich, for poor. For strong, for weak. For all. In fact, God seems to be somewhat “partial” to the poor and weak.

For consider your calling, brethren,
that there were not many wise …,
not many mighty, not many noble;
but God has chosen
the foolish things of the world
to shame the wise,
and God has chosen
the weak things of the world
to shame the … strong,
and the base things of the world
and the despised God has chosen,
the things that are not,
… so that no man may boast before God.
1 Corinthians 1:26–29

On the other hand, we must—we should—boast in the cross, the cross raised in the marketplace.

But may it never be
that I would boast,
except in the cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
through which the world
has been crucified to me,
and I to the world.
Galatians 6:14

The cross raised in the marketplace! And raised by all of us, borne by all of us, suffered by all of us who seek to be Christ-followers.

And He [Jesus]
was saying to them all,
“If anyone wishes
to come after Me,
he must deny himself,
and take up his cross daily
and follow Me.
Whoever does not
carry his own cross
and come after Me
cannot be My disciple.”
Luke 9:23; 14:27

The cross raised in the marketplace! For “that is where Christ’s followers ought to be, and what church people ought to be about.”