Worth More Than Angels

For it is clear that He does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham's offspring. - Hebrews 2:16 HCSB

Whenever we struggle with low self-worth, we need to meditate on the ramifications of this verse. The only begotten Son of God did not die for angels.

The angels, faced with Lucifer’s pitiful hubris,[1] made their decision to either remain loyal to their Sovereign or to join the rebel’s camp. Those who chose the side of sin were locked into their decision and their fate was sealed. A place called the Lake of Fire was prepared for them.[2] They know that their time is coming[3] and they are very afraid of it.[4] In spite of all their beauty, power and wisdom, the fallen angels were not found worthy of the Christ’s sacrifice. Their disloyalty was simply met with pragmatic discipline.

Yet when humanity fell, the Messiah was sent to take upon Himself our sins, to bear upon His sinless shoulders the burdens of our wickedness. It is at the cost of His stripes, the awful lashes inflicted by Roman soldiers with a cat o’ nine tails, that we are healed.[5]

Adam and Eve’s excuses were still reverberating through the air when Hashem predicted their salvation through the Messiah’s death.[6] Then He worked for thousands of years to prepare humanity for that glorious moment. He began teaching Abram what it meant to be His friend. He chose a particular tribe of people called the Jews and gave them His Law. This Law was meant to be a teacher;[7] its particular lesson being that humanity can in no way earn its way back into God’s good graces.[8] Atonement would require a blood sacrifice.[9] When that fateful day finally arrived, the Messiah not only died for us, He actually took upon Himself our curse![10]

Consider the power and beauty of angels that, in most encounters, engendered fear in humans.[11] They were even instrumental in bringing the Scriptures to humanity.[12] Yet Christ did not reach out for them. He did not die for them. He died for us and He is willing to lift us up to a position of authority over the angels.[13]

What was found in us that made us worth the death of God? I do not know. The Scriptures say that we were created in Hashem’s image.[14] Yahweh Boreh[15] took a little dust, formed a human and breathed into him the breath of life.[16] Whatever came with that breath is what gave us our worth. It is not emotions, intellect or will for the angels possess all these. If it is “spirit”, it is something different than what we usually understand it to be for the angels are themselves spirit beings.

Christ was willing to die in order to redeem this “image” found only in humanity. Whatever it was, it was revealed to the angels that they do not serve themselves but us – and they also long to look into this matter.[17]

[1] Isaiah 14:13-15
[2] Matthew 25:41
[3] Matthew 8:29
[4] James 2:19
[5] Isaiah 53:4-5
[6] Genesis 3:15
[7] Galatians 3:24-25; paidagogos (from whence pedagogy) – a tutor, guardian and guide
[8] James 2:10; Romans 3:20; 5:20
[9] Hebrews 9:22
[10] Galatians 3:13
[11] Daniel 8:17-18, 27; 10:5-11; Matthew 28:2-5; Luke 1:11
[12] Acts 7:30, 35, 38, 53; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 2:2
[13] 1 Corinthians 6:3
[14] Genesis 1:26-27
[15] God our Creator Isaiah 40:28
[16] Genesis 2:7
[17] 1 Peter 1:12

The Spitting Wife

The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children, and if children, also heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ--seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. - Romans 8:16-18 HCSB

A godly woman loved to attend the lectures of a local tzaddik (righteous elder). Her husband was not a believer and had grown jealous of the love and respect the woman had for the holy man. One day, the tzaddik’s lecture went long and the woman was late getting back to the house. The husband had returned to the house from work before his wife and was angered that she did not have his supper ready. As soon as she walked in the door, he attacked her verbally, berating her for not being at home to greet him and for preferring the tzaddik.

Caught in the throes of jealousy, he ordered his wife to immediately return to the house of worship and spit in the holy man’s face. The wife was horrified and tried to refuse. The husband shouted, “Doesn’t your own religion teach you to submit to your husband? Or does it teach you to rebel to your own vow and moon over some other man? Get out of my house and do not return until you have spit in this man’s face!”

The wife was mortified by the fight and terrified by the idea of showing such disrespect to God’s man. She went to a friend’s house to spend the night. The next morning, she returned to her husband, hoping that he would relent but he wouldn’t. Meanwhile, her friend had gone and explained the situation to the tzaddik. He quickly ran to the couple’s house and found the woman on the porch crying in front of her husband.

He approached them with a quiet greeting. The husband said nothing because he was, after seeing the tzaddik’s age and apparent holiness, a little embarrassed by his jealousy. The tzaddik addressed the wife in the following manner, “Little sister, my eye is causing me a great amount of pain. I have heard it said that the spit of a righteous woman carries great healing powers. Would you do me the favor of spitting into my eye seven times?”

The woman was obviously reluctant to do it but she finally obeyed, carefully spitting into her elder’s eye seven times. The husband, seeing the gentle and humble spirit of the holy man, was so convicted that he determined from that point on to worship his wife’s God.

It is an honor to take on some of the world’s sufferings for the Messiah’s sake and thereby to show true love. Hanging on to our pride and insisting on recognition demonstrates that we do not truly grasp the Master’s ways.

Blood or Algae?

So the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron: Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt--over their rivers, canals, ponds, and all their water reservoirs--and they will become blood. There will be blood throughout the land of Egypt, even in wooden and stone containers." – Exodus 17:19 HCSB

There are two principle ways in which people approach the miracles described in the Bible. Some say that each was completely supernatural and that there were no natural explanations. Others say that though the timing was fortuitous, the events were natural phenomena that uneducated people simply interpreted as miraculous.

Those who hold to the second view would say that the Red Sea divided as a result of a strong steady wind that blew across the shallow marshes sufficiently to allow a passable ford. When those who hold this purely reductionist view cross Exodus 7’s description of the plague of blood, they consider the possibility that what was described as blood was in fact an algal bloom that not only tinted the river red, but killed all the fish, rendering the water temporarily poisonous.

A critical point to take into consideration here is the fact that when Hashem afflicted the Egyptians with this plague, not only was the water of the Nile infected but so was every river, canal, pond, water reservoir and even the water already in wooden or stone containers.

The Hebrew word translated “blood” here is the word “dam.” Dam is primarily used to indicate blood. For instance, it is the word used when King Saul’s starving soldiers rushed upon the plunder and in their haste ate meat with the meat still in it[1] which was in direct contravention to the Jewish dietary laws.[2] However, it is interesting to note that it stems from a root word that means “red”. Clearly, at the very least the waters were reddish in color.

The same word is used metaphorically of innocence,[3] the blood of an innocent person,[4] and even of the innocent person themselves.[5] “Dam” is also used to indicate bloodshed, slaughter[6] or the guilt that is incurred when one kills.[7]

Miracles are miraculous whether every element in them is completely supernatural or the timing is too perfect to be explained by anything other than divine intervention. For instance, whether the waters of the river Jordan piled up because Hashem put some kind of force field in the way or because there was an avalanche somewhere upstream, doesn’t the fact that it happened just as the priest’s feet touched the water as predicted make the timing just as miraculous?[8]

Just as Hashem chooses to use us to do miraculous works, He may choose to use natural events and elements to achieve His supernatural ends. Whether He allowed an algal bloom to infect the Egyptian waters, including the stored water sealed in containers or whether He transformed it all into actual blood, we still must stand in awe of His amazing powers.

[1] 1 Samuel 14:32-33
[2] Leviticus 17:11; Deuteronomy 12:23; Ezekiel 33:25
[3] 2 Kings 21:16; Psalm 106:38
[4] Deuteronomy 19:10, 13; 27:25; Jeremiah 19:4; 22:17
[5] Psalm 94:21
[6] Leviticus 19:16
[7] Genesis 37:26; Leviticus 17:4; 20:9, 11; Deuteronomy 17:8; 2 Samuel 21:1; Ezekiel 18:13; 22:2; 24:6
[8] Joshua 3:15-16

Sewage Pipe Dreams

Dear friends, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure. - 1 John 3:2-3 HCSB

I watched an interesting TV show on which the host helped make terra cotta architectural ornaments and facings. He had to first make the terra cotta material before he could pour it into huge moulds and it was that initial step that caught my eye.

Terra cotta is hard-fired clay that is brownish red in color when still unglazed and one interesting part of the recipe was old sewage pipes. The host shattered some huge sewage pipes and ground them up into a powder that was then included in the new batch that would later become an architectural façade. Evidently, the material from the old clay pipes helped start up the chemical process needed to make a fine architectural element.

Somewhere out there an old clay pit was mined; its material proceeded to a factory that formed it into a sewage pipe. Later on down the line, that sewage pipe broke, was dug up, hosed off and taken to another factory where some guy with a sledge hammer shattered it, fed it into a grinder, mixed it up with some new ingredients and ended up a beautiful piece of art stuck on the front of an expensive building!

I would think that there are a lot more terra cotta sewage pipes in our nation than terra cotta architectural ornaments. This is because, though they are a lot less flashy, sewage pipes are a lot more useful.

Paul taught his spiritual son, Timothy, that a large house has not only gold and silver bowls but also those of wood and earthenware - some for special use, some for ordinary.[1] God has plans for all of us, plans for good and not for calamity.[2] He has decided to put a few up front where all the lights can focus on them. Others are meant to be buried underground, quietly making sure that everything keeps running. It is entirely up to the Potter to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor.[3]

It is important for us to notice that both pipe and façade are basically the same stuff. Neither is intrinsically superior. Secondly, in order for that sewage pipe to become an architectural façade, it had to be broken up and ground down. Brokenness is the path to leadership. Difficult is the path to responsibility and few should take it. So, if there are some old sewage pipes out there who feel God calling them to higher things, dream on, but get ready for the sledge hammer! The process may be harsh, but the result will be beautiful.


[1] 2 Timothy 2:20-21
[2] Jeremiah 29:11
[3] Romans 9:21

Sim City Lives

Women received their dead raised to life again. Some men were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection, and others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts, mountains, caves, and holes in the ground. All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us. - Hebrews 11:35-40 HCSB

There is an old version of the tremendously popular “Sim” series of video games that was called “Sim City”. The player could establish commercial, residential and industrial areas; lay down electrical and water lines, build churches and shopping malls. There was one feature of particular interest to me which was a landscape feature. You could use a bulldozer to flatten out mountains. You could use another icon to “tug” a flat plane up into a rugged mountain or to fill in a lake. For an obsessive perfectionist like me, you could not have a more wonderful capability.

My wife would simply accept the landscape the game randomly generated and work with it, using minimal modification. Her streets would meander up and down mountainsides with the houses perched precariously on the sides. She would have huge lakes in the middle of her city or forests intermixed with superhighways.

My cities would be rigid structures of crystalline perfection. All the streets were lined up in a perfect grid with every intersection absolutely perpendicular. My water lines lined up with the streets and woe betide any mountain or river that got in the way of one of my neighborhoods. One time, I worked for hours making an island continent perfectly square, with each square neighborhood exactly the same size and pattern as the next.

The problem was that in every case my wife beat me. She had less pollution, less crime and her citizens were way more happy than mine. Where she had populations in the hundreds of millions, mine were pathetic little villages with vast wastelands of empty buildings.

Life was not meant to be neat and tidy. We were not designed to always get our way. Chaos happens. People do not always respond correctly to the truth. They are stubborn, willful, sinful and oh so beautiful. Isn’t the old saying “variety is the spice of life”?

None of the people in today’s passage enjoyed their trials yet they rejoiced in them.[1] Because they worked through their circumstances instead of running away, they came out better, stronger and more beautiful.

So don’t worry that your life is not perfectly rectangular. Got a mountain in your way? Build some condos on it and plant a big “Hollywood” sign on it.

[1] James 1:2-3

Pulpit Language Principles, 2 of 2

Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints. And coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. For know and recognize this: no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God. - Ephesians 5:1-5 HCSB

Sexually frank, but not explicit: The Scriptures are quite frank about human sexuality. After all, wasn’t the very first command God gave humanity “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it”?[1] Anyone who has read the book Song of Songs lately probably blushed from time to time. The Holy Spirit inspired the writers to clearly and without equivocation describe both the positive and negative aspects of sex. It not only prohibits incest, but it gives us a vivid example of the long term effects of this banned activity in Lot.[2] It not only disallows adultery, it shows us the very real possibility that no one is exempt from this particular temptation in King David and Bathsheba.[3] However, just as the Bible stops short of describing their acts in lurid detail, we too similarly limit ourselves. We will frankly and unhesitatingly address issues that all of us face, but we will not abuse our freedom in such a manner that we will bring sin into the minds of our congregation.

Age and gender appropriate: Paul exhorted Timothy, “Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and with all propriety, the younger women as sisters.”[4]

We are creatures of our times. Those who were raised in the 50s have a different mindset and vocabulary than those who were raised in the 80s. Those who were born and bred in the farming communities of the Midwest give words different connotations than those who are denizens of the inner city.

Therefore, when we address older men, we talk to them as fathers, which means with respect. When we talk to the younger generation, we approach them as equals. We talk to them on their level and perhaps with more glibness than would be appropriate for the older generation. Obviously, in a mixed crowd, this becomes more difficult. In our church, we try to match the general tone of the message to the average age and culture being addressed. When speaking to a crowd that is largely composed of younger couples with only one or two elderly folk thrown into the mix, our primary target is the younger ones. When addressing a group in a nursing home, we shift not only language, but music and message so that in all things we may be useful to them and to our Master.


[1] Genesis 1:28
[2] Genesis 19:30-38
[3] 2 Samuel 11:1-3
[4] 1 Timothy 5:1-2

Pulpit Language Principles, 1 of 2

No rotten talk should come from your mouth, but only what is good for the building up of someone in need, in order to give grace to those who hear. And don't grieve God's Holy Spirit, who sealed you for the day of redemption. All bitterness, anger and wrath, insult and slander must be removed from you, along with all wickedness. - Ephesians 4:29-31 HCSB

Obviously, it would be impossible to directly prohibit specific English words for the very simple reason that none of them appear in the Bible. However, there are some general principles that we follow in determining what language is publicly acceptable and what is not.

Mindfulness: We are to be very mindful of everything spoken, not only from the pulpit, but also in our daily language. After all, on the Day of Judgment we will have to account for every careless word we speak. By our words we will be acquitted and by our words we will be condemned.[1] So nothing should be done carelessly, off the cuff or without a direct purpose. We cannot use words simply because that is our habit and we cannot control our mouths.

Stumbling blocks: We cannot use words for the express purpose of shocking. We do not want to place unnecessary stumbling blocks in front of people that may cause them to fall into sin. Rather, our purpose is to do the exact opposite: to build up and prepare the way and remove every obstacle from people’s way to the Lord.[2] As a minister of Christ, the teaching elder of the church should guard knowledge and people should seek instruction from his mouth as the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. When we turn from the way and cause people to stumble by our instruction, we have violated our covenant with God and will incur His justified wrath.[3]

Crude, sexual language: We are prohibited from using language that is characterized by sexual immorality, impurity or greed. We avoid coarse and foolish talking or crude, unsuitable joking. [4]

Constantly edgy: There is as much of a danger of people zoning out when the language is consistently edgy as there is when it is consistently stodgy.

Insulting language: We must not insult people. We can argue against their philosophies, declare their activities to be sinful or their ways foolish, but we must shy away from demeaning creatures that made in the image of God. Jesus gave us our direction in this when He said, "You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Fool!' will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, 'You moron!' will be subject to hellfire.”[5] We are thus very careful to distinguish between the sin and the sinner. We have no problem identifying people’s behavior as foolish, but we humbly recognize that the same foolishness often characterizes our own hearts.[6]

[1] Matthew 12:36-37
[2] Isaiah 57:14
[3] Malachi 2:7-8 cp Proverbs 15:2
[4] Ephesians 4:29; 5:3-4
[5] Matthew 5:21-22 HCSB
[6] 1 Corinthians 10:12; 1 John 1:8-10

Pulpit Language, 4 of 4

If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to the righteousness that is in the law, blameless. But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ - Philippians 3:4b-8 HCSB

When faced with the incredibly frustrating tendency of the Jewish Christians to insist on following Jewish ritual practices, Paul exclaimed, “I wish those who are disturbing you might also get themselves castrated!”[1] If the average pastor said the same thing in the average American church today, the puritanical congregation with moral taboos more grounded in Victorianism than in the Scriptures would gasp and quickly form a pastoral search committee.

Paul tried to explain that all the religious externals that we think are so important are completely irrelevant. They are all a loss compared to simply having a real, passionate and intimate relationship with Christ. He was not only willing to set aside religious rituals and what the world commonly describes as holiness, he went on to say that to him they had become “filth.” The word he used was “skubalon” which means animal excrement or dung according to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon. The Etymologicum Gudianum puts it “that which is given forth from the bowels, or dung.” Its common usage was apparently along the lines of “it’s just so much crap to me.”

Like Paul, we want to be able to speak to all people at their level, in their language and within the context of their culture. We want to be all things to all people so that we may by all means save some.[2] Not that we will follow the world into sin[3] for in what way will this lead them to their Savior? No, what we seek is relevance without misplaced irreverence. We want to be real. We want to be practical. We want to deal with issues that matter in a way that will be heard and understood by the average listener.

This causes some to reject us, but that is all right. Some rejected our Master too. He was very polarizing. People either hated Him or loved Him. Interestingly, the same type of people who were drawn to the Savior have also been drawn to our church: those who humbly stand far off from the holy places, not daring to raise their eyes to heaven but striking their chests and saying, “God, turn Your wrath from me – a sinner!”[4]

[1] Philippians 5:12
[2] 1 Corinthians 9:20-22
[3] Romans 12:2
[4] Luke 18:13

Pulpit Language, 3 of 4

"Two men went up to the temple complex to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee took his stand and was praying like this: 'God, I thank You that I'm not like other people--greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.' "But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, 'God, turn Your wrath from me--a sinner!' I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." - Luke 18:10-14 HCSB

The expression of extreme emotions in worship is actually encouraged in the Scriptures with the sole stricture being that the expression be honest. The only prayers that Jesus ever criticized were the ones that were too long, repetitious or showy.[1] All through the Psalms, the book of Job and Lamentations, we read prayers, hear songs and listen to sermons in which God’s prophets express their deepest longings. Some even dare to question God, crying out in essence “God, where the heck are you? Is this any way to run the universe?”

It is precisely because we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way we are and managed to get through the experienced unscathed that we are instructed to approach the throne of God with great boldness.[2] We don’t have to tiptoe around in our worship, afraid of getting the doilies dirty, or that we will offend because we did not raise our pinkies as we sipped on the tea. We have a rugged, masculine and strong Master who loved a good time and a good laugh.[3] He never crossed the line into sin, but He wasn’t your Aunt Bea either.

When a woman who was apparently known for her sinful lifestyle followed Jesus into a house and anointed with expensive perfume,[4] the disciples indignantly questioned, “tis houtos apoleia?” In Greek “tis” means “what”, “houtos” means “this”, and “apoleia”[5] means “utter destruction consisting of eternal misery in hell.” Basically Jesus’ hillbilly disciples were saying “What the hell?” Jesus didn’t rebuke them for their language but for their hard-hearted lack of love.

The Ransomed have committed themselves to a Person, not a set of rules. We follow a Messiah, not the Rule of Benedict. As followers of a loving and frank King, we offer the same honesty to each other. We use whatever language is necessary to wake each other up to the ever present danger of the roaring lion[6] that all God’s sheep face.


[1] Matthew 6:5-7
[2] Hebrews 4:15-16 cp Ephesians 3:12
[3] John 2:1-10; Matthew 9:10-13; Mark 2:15-17; Luke 5:29-32; 7:36-39; 15:1-2
[4] Mathew 26:6-7
[5] Matthew 26:8; Strong’s #684
[6] 1 Peter 5:8

Pulpit Language, 2 of 4

Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. - Matthew 12:34 HCSB

As we previously saw, Jesus used common, everyday language to deal with people and purposefully eschewed the use of “religious language”, unless pitching His teachings to a group of rabbis. Jesus was often very sarcastic and did not mind insulting the powers that be. He was more than willing to call them fools and deride them for hypocritical behavior. Once, when Jesus was railing on the Pharisees, a teacher of the Law spoke up protesting, “Teacher, when you say these things You insult us too.”

Jesus’ response? “Woe also to you experts in the Law! You load people with burdens that are hard to carry, yet you yourselves don’t touch these burdens with one of your fingers.”[1] He was quick with the comebacks and certainly didn’t mind making a public nuisance of Himself if He thought it was the right thing to do.[2]

This facility with sarcasm is apparently a family trait. Remember Elijah’s treatment of the false prophets on Mount Carmel? At noon, Elijah mocked them. He said, "Shout loudly, for he's a god! Maybe he's thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away; or maybe he's on the road. Perhaps he's sleeping and will wake up!"[3]

Jesus hung out with the nobodies of his culture. Several of his disciples were sailors, the truck drivers of their day. He ate and drank with the sinners.[4] This earned Him the (falsely applied) accusation of being a drunkard and a glutton.[5] In each case, it was the religious elite with their mellifluous tones, quasi religious justification of hypocrisy and total disregard for true justice who were offended – not Jesus.

As a side note, we need to understand that the Pharisees were not throwing a random insult out. They were not even arguing from the prohibition against close and habitual association with sinners[6] that was designed to protect culturally malleable humans from temptation. They were already trying to establish some legal grounds to have Jesus not only repudiated, but killed. They were using a legal phrase from the Old Covenant’s Halakah in which a son could be accused of systematic, calculated rebellion against authority.[7] They were accusing Jesus of being a consistent rebel against the status quo and in this, they were actually right! He went against the grain, and destroyed every preconception humanity had of what it meant to be religious. Where they thought He should be powerful and commanding, He was meek and lowly and humble of heart. Where they thought He should meekly follow the human-made rules and regulations for maintaining an appearance of sanctity, He was wildly irreverent and bucked the taboos.

[1] Luke 11:45-46
[2] Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15-16
[3] 1 Kings 18:27
[4] Matthew 9:10-13; Mark 2:15-17; Luke 5:29-32; 7:36-39; 15:1-2
[5] Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:34
[6] Proverbs 23:20
[7] Deuteronomy 21:20

Pulpit Language, 1 of 4

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to the place of his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? - Matthew 3:7 HCSB

For many Christians who were raised on King James English, our church can be quite a shock. They may be used to culturally irrelevant sermons preached in rancidly sweet tones. They are used to (at best) heated discussions over whether women should wear pants or (at worst) smooth, silver-tongued addresses on daisies, puppy dogs and butterflies.

In contrast, we use blunt language to discuss issues that sometimes require that we ask the children to leave. When was the last sermon you heard that had a PG-13 rating at church?

Why do we do this? Are we simply trying to be crass in order to appeal to the lower moral standards of our modern society? Are we using language purely for its shock value, like popular shock jocks in the media?

First and foremost, we are trying to emulate our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Though Hebrew was the language of faith and religious education, Jesus purposefully stuck to Aramaic, the common market language of the people. For instance, when He healed a little girl, He said “Talitha cumi”[1] which in Aramaic means “little girl, get up.” As He healed a deaf man with the words “be opened”, He used the Aramaic “ephphatha”.[2] Under the duress of pain, Jesus cried out “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani!” which in Aramaic means “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?”[3]

In Jesus’ time, Hebrew was pretty well relegated to formal and/or religious settings. It was on its way to achieving the same status as Latin reached in the Middle Ages: a dead language most of the people did not understand but that the religious elite used in order to maintain their status. By the third century, one rabbi[4] insisted his people pray only in Hebrew saying, “Angels do not understand Aramaic”. This ludicrous statement illustrates the height of idiocy humans can achieve when they fully yield to their pride.

Jesus was well-versed in Hebrew. Even after His ascension, when Christ later called Saul (the future Apostle Paul) who was an educated rabbi, He used Hebrew.[5] We can tell that He understood Hebrew in His use of the Hebrew expression “head of the corner” when He told the parable of the wicked tenant farmers.[6] His use of Hebrew let the Pharisees positively know that He was addressing them. As a matter of fact, whenever the Lord quoted Scripture,[7] He very likely used Hebrew. In both Matthew 9 and 21, Jesus was talking to Pharisees privately and thus, matched His language to His audience.

The Pharisees and Saducees would have liked to use Hebrew in their public debates, both to illustrate their religious superiority and to keep some of the Messiah’s finer points out of the reach of the common people. At first, they probably used Hebrew with the Lord in attempts to stump Him since they considered Him an illiterate bumpkin from Nazareth. However, our Lord gave simple, direct, frank and yet profound responses that demonstrated His clear mastery of the Hebrew language.

[1] Mark 5:41
[2] Mark 7:34
[3] Mark 15:34
[4] Rabbi Johanan
[5] Acts 26:14
[6] Matthew 21:42-45
[7] Matthew 9:13 cp Hosea 6:6

The Rebellious Son

Listen, my son, to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching, for they will be a garland of grace on your head and a gold chain around your neck. - Proverbs 1:8-9 HCSB

A rich, godly man had a rebellious son who caused him much grief. All the son ever wanted to do was party, drink and run around with wild women. Though the father repeatedly tried to teach his son the advantages of righteous living, the son never listened. He was too caught up in his pleasures to hear what his father was saying.

Finally, the father called the son to his bedside and said, “My son, I am going the way of all the earth. You have never listened to me before but I am asking that you listen to this last bit of wisdom that I offer you.”

The son, a bit softened by his guilt over his rebellion, now that he saw he was about to lose his loving father, agreed to listen to his father’s advice.

“First,” the father said “if you must party, I ask only that you wait until two in the morning to go.”

The son thought that all the best parties didn’t really begin swinging until about then anyway so he easily agreed.

“Second,” the father continued “if you must womanize I ask that you wait until after ten in the morning to do so.”

The son said to himself, “What do I care when I get to play as long as I do?” So he agreed to this term.

The father died and after mourning him, the son decided to seek solace in a wild party. Remembering his promise, he didn’t go until after two in the morning. When he got there he saw the drunken state of his friends, how badly they stank and how awful they looked. He was repulsed and went home. He thought that he could find some comfort in the arms of a woman he frequented, but remembered his promise and didn’t go until after ten the next morning. Of course, she had been partying all night and when she answered the door, she was so disheveled and had such terrible breath from the alcohol and smoking that she wasn’t nearly as desirable as he had formerly thought.

Having seen his lifestyle for what it was with clear and sober eyes, he changed his ways, settled down with a good woman and lived a good and godly life thereafter.

Our Father in heaven is constantly trying to give us wise advice.[1] He is our Creator.[2] He can read the hearts and minds of men and He knows what will happen before it actually does.[3] Further, He has our good at heart.[4] He wants us to have true and lasting joy.[5] Listening to Him will make us look better, feel better and actually be better if we will only stop and listen.

[1] Proverbs 8:14; Isaiah 28:29
[2] Genesis 14:19, 22; Deuteronomy 32:6; Ecclesiastes 12:1; Isaiah 40:28; 45:18; Romans 1:25; Colossians 3:10
[3] Psalm 139: 4; Isaiah 46:9-10; Jeremiah 1:5; Jeremiah 29:10-14; Matthew 6:8; Romans 8:28-30;
[4] Jeremiah 29:11
[5] John 15:11

Receiving Forgiveness

God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit. - Psalms 51:10-12 HCSB

A king enjoyed playing chess with one of his officers. Now the king was very good and nearly always won which frustrated the officer to no end. One day, while the king was distracted, the officer cheated by removing one of the king’s knights. Sure enough, the officer managed to win shortly thereafter. However, his sin beset his conscience unmercifully.

Only a few days later, the king was able to capture two thieves who had been trying to steal his treasure. As soon as he had locked the thieves up, the king convened his counsel (including the cheating officer) and asked, “Gentlemen, what should I do with a person who has stolen from me? What punishment befits the crime of stealing from the king?”

The officer, completely wracked by his guilt, immediately assumed that the king was talking about him and blurted out, “My king! I am truly sorry for stealing your knight. I repent of my sin and beg you to please forgive me!”

The king was pleased to see that his officer’s conscience was so sensitive and readily forgave him.

Asking for and receiving forgiveness is probably one of the most satisfying actions in our spiritual lives. However, if we are in need of forgiveness, we should first acknowledge sin[1] and actually ask forgiveness for our sin.[2] Then, if at all possible, we should seek to make restitution for our sins.[3] Jesus did not respond with a confirmation of salvation until Zacchaeus humbly demonstrated a willingness to make restitution for his sins. The Prodigal did not receive forgiveness until he was willing to set aside his rights as a son and simply work for his father as a hired hand.

Once we do this, we must believe that God will indeed forgive us and quit feeling guilty. To hold on to our guilt is, in a twisted way, to maintain our pride. We are demonstrating our lack of faith in the One who has extended forgiveness.[4]

Through forgiveness, Christ provides complete deliverance from the penalty of sin.[5] The wage of sin is death. We are delivered from spiritual death and from the spiritual consequences of our sin.

That is not to say that there will not be any consequences. David publicly confessed his sin, demonstrated contrition and offered to make restitution. The prophet Nathan, speaking for God, actually told him he was forgiven. Nevertheless, the child of his sin died as a direct consequence of his sin.[6]

Jesus forgave the woman caught in adultery.[7] However, she still had to deal with her betrayed husband and with the whispers that would continue for years. As wonderful as forgiveness is, it is far better to not sin in the first place.


[1] Psalm 51:2-4
[2] Psalm 51:7-12
[3] Luke 19:8-10; Luke 15:17-24
[4] Psalm 32:1-6
[5] Colossians 2:13-14
[6] 2 Samuel 12:12-14
[7] John 8:11

How to Forgive

Now the end of all things is near; therefore, be clear-headed and disciplined for prayer. Above all, keep your love for one another at full strength, since love covers a multitude of sins. - 1 Peter 4:7-8 HCSB

We often hear “love covers a multitude of sins” quoted as a suggestion to overlook sin. However, when taken in context, the true meaning of the verse is that if we pray for others in a disciplined and clear-headed manner and work at loving each other, many of OUR OWN sins will be covered in Hashem’s eyes. This fits very neatly with the principle of “forgiven as we forgive.”[1]

So the Ransomed need to work steadily at finding ways to gently restore those who have fallen into sin. The overall process of restoration is clearly described in a topical study entitled “Church Discipline.”[2] Succinctly, it may entail confrontation, (hopefully) confession, the installation of measures to ensure the sin does not reoccur, and (if possible) reinstatement into ministry. The installation of measures to ensure that sin does not reoccur fits with the command “watching out…so you won’t be tempted also.”[3]

The Corinthian church was guilty of being too forgiving. They were allowing one of their own to have a sexual relationship with his father’s wife! Paul berated them for congratulating themselves on their supposed grace and understanding and ordered them to exercise church discipline properly.

Later, after the discipline had worked and the man’s heart was softened to repentance, Paul had to command them to take him back. He told them that once a person who has wronged others has responded positively to the necessary discipline, the Ransomed must forgive and restore them.[4] The Corinthian church was just as slow to forgive as it was to discipline. Both are serious errors.

So forgiveness and restoration is not to be granted until repentance is shown – at the very least verbally![5] In the Corinthians affair, the man had already undergone church discipline and shown remorse for his sins.[6]

When we do forgive the repentant sinner, we need affirm our love toward him. We mustn’t keep bringing the matter up. We should not keep talking (to them or others) about how much it hurt us.

As soon as practicable, we should resume whatever level of friendship or at the very least cordial relations we can.[7] The Bible doesn’t require us to be their very best friend. It didn’t require that of us in the first place before they ever sinned against us. The Bible also does not suggest that there not be any consequences. Part of dealing with the sin is making sure it never happens again using either natural or imposed consequences.

The old Liar desperately wants to divide and conquer us and when we are willing to forgive others we are actually outwitting him.[8] We need to be as glad to restore each other to a right standing with both God and man as we are that Christ did it for us.

[1] 1 Peter 4:7-8
[2] Found at http://www.fromthebible.net/
[3] Galatians 6:1
[4] 2 Corinthians 2:5-11
[5] Luke 17:3-4
[6] 2 Corinthians 2:7
[7] 2 Corinthians 2:7-8
[8] 2 Corinthians 2:10-11

The Unmerciful Slave

"Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' And his master got angry and handed him over to the jailers until he could pay everything that was owed. So My heavenly Father will also do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart." - Matthew 18:32-35 HCSB

The parable of the unmerciful slave shows just how sinful an unforgiving heart is. The king forgave one slave a tremendous amount, more than he could have ever repaid. As he walked out of the throne room however, that ungrateful wretch found another slave who owed him a pittance. Rather than living by the humble knowledge of his new-found liberation, the first slave held the debt against the second slave and even threatened him with personal vengeance. Yahweh Melek judged that miserable sinner terribly.[1]

What is the moral of the story? Unless we repent of that arrogant sin, holding a grudge will forestall our own forgiveness.[2] It is a character trait of the forgiven to be forgiving and when we fail to forgive others, we are demonstrating that perhaps we have not truly been forgiven ourselves. We should double check our salvation, asking the Holy Spirit for guidance.[3] We should imitate our Messiah who loved us and sacrificially gave Himself for us.[4] We must be willing to forgive a person who sins against us, as Christ was willing to forgive us.[5] Real forgiveness does not keep a record of wrongs. True love is willing to forgive even seventy times seven[6] when a person does actually ask for forgiveness.

Don’t get me wrong; those who refuse to acknowledge their wrongdoing are a completely different matter. Their stubbornness may actually lead to withdrawal of fellowship and even church discipline. Though Christ made forgiveness available for all, not all will be forgiven. Witness the great numbers who will end up in hell. We must be willing to forgive those who trespass against us, but if they refuse our forgiveness and choose to stubbornly continue in their sins, we are not bound by God for that.

The father of the prodigal son forgave him and accepted him as completely as if he had not sinned. The father represents God and reveals how God treats repentant sinners.[7] The prodigal apparently went years without the Father running to him with forgiveness. Even when his state became critical and he was starving, the Father did not reach out to him.

Finally, the prodigal son came to his senses, recognized that he had sinned against both his father and God, was humbly willing to publicly confess his sin and to take the position of a bond-servant. Only then did the father (an image of God our Father) run toward him and forgive him.

[1] Matthew 18:23-35
[2] Matthew 6:12-15
[3] Ephesians 4:32
[4] Ephesians 5:1-2
[5] Colossians 3:12-13
[6] Matthew 18:21-22; 1 Corinthians 13:5
[7] Luke 15:20-24

Forgive, Regardless of Your Feelings

“Be on your guard. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him." - Luke 17:3-4 HCSB

If there was ever a man who should rightfully have been bitter, it was Joseph. He had been scorned by his brothers, manhandled, thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, lied about, falsely imprisoned and forgotten. Yet, Joseph found it within himself to forgive his brothers and treat them kindly.[1]

Jesus commanded us to forgive others.[2] Forgiveness is a command to be obeyed, not a suggestion to be considered. It is to be granted even when it is not necessarily felt.[3] Our feelings are not a necessary ingredient of obedience.

Many try to excuse themselves from the mitzvah of forgiveness, but Jesus told us that we are to forgive our brother if he asks for it, even seven times in a day! When our brother is caught in wrong-doing, those of us who are spiritual should gently rebuke him and pursue whatever path is required to restore him to his former righteous state.[4]

Notice that Jesus stressed the results rather than the cause. If an offending Christian says he is repentant, our Master plainly expects the offended brother to forgive him.

We don’t have to wait for evidence of repentance in order to determine whether or not one’s repentance is real. If we are to forgive seven times in a day, there is no way for us to verify the fruit of the other’s repentance in that space of time. In fact, all the evidence would seem to point in the opposite direction. Yet, Jesus demanded that we forgive upon verbal testimony alone.

The disciples replied, “Lord, give us more faith!” At first, their request sounds quite reasonable to us – maybe even pious, but the Lord was unsympathetic. He responded that if they even had as much faith as the grain of a mustard seed, they would be able to do miraculous things.

He then gave them a practical example. A servant was working out in the field all day. Upon returning at the end of the day, tired and hungry, he was told to clean up, cook some food and serve his master. He did so, in spite of his natural hunger, and was not thanked. Why? Because he did not deserve thanks for merely doing his duty.

Thus, it is clear that forgiveness is a “duty.” It is commanded. It is no more hypocritical to obey the Lord in granting forgiveness against one’s feelings than for the slave to prepare and serve the meal against his feelings. Nor is it meritorious to do one’s duty. “In the same way, when you have done all that you were commanded, you should say, 'We are good-for-nothing slaves; we've only done our duty.’"[5]



[1] Genesis 45:4-5, 9-11; 50:19-21
[2] Mark 11:25-26
[3] Luke 17:3-10
[4] Galatians 6:1; Matthew 18:15
[5] Luke 17:10

The Hope of Forgiveness

"Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30 HCSB

Jesus has extended a loving invitation to the weary and the sin-burdened.[1] You may feel that you have gone too far, broken too many rules or acquired too many scars to be able to receive forgiveness, but there is hope for you. God forgives and saves all kinds of sinners no matter how bad they are; He changes them.[2] Jesus tells us to pray for forgiveness. He describes sin as a debt that must be paid.[3]

Didn’t Jesus forgive the penitent woman when she humbly demonstrated her sorrow for her sins and placed her trust in Jesus the Messiah?[4] The adulterous Samaritan woman was also saved by Jesus and received living water.[5] Jesus even forgave the murderer on the cross. This is a beautiful example of one saved only by grace. This man could do no good works. He could not be baptized. He could join no church. The only things he did was acknowledge and confess his sin, repent of them, seek God’s forgiveness and publicly acknowledge Jesus’ authority. This was enough to receive forgiveness and a place in Paradise.[6]

Peter, who denied Jesus three times, was forgiven and reinstated in his ministry.[7] Now we must realize that Peter’s sin took place over the course of a couple of hours one night. It was not habitual. Yet he immediately acknowledged his sin, showed tremendous remorse, was willing to step aside from ministry, was willing to take however length of time it took to make restitution and repeatedly demonstrated a humble and contrite spirit. He did not expect to be reinstated. He did not feel as though simply saying “sorry” was enough. People with those expectations have not demonstrated true contrition yet.

Jesus gave us the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector to demonstrate what true repentance and humility can achieve.[8] Repentance and humility will not only wipe away our daily sins, it will actually save our souls!

A person who is not a Christian must believe in who Christ is and what He did, repent, and confess Jesus to be his Lord for the remission of his sins. Then he should immediately and publicly declare this inward act by being baptized.[9]

If troubled sinners cry out for mercy, God will graciously forgive. He is willing to restore them to His love and favor.[10] Sinners are forgiven when they repent and seek to return to right fellowship with God the Father.[11] They can be justified (cleared of all guilt) and their sin debt is paid by faith in Jesus; in Him they will find peace.[12]


[1] Matthew 11:28-30
[2] 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
[3] Matthew 6:12
[4] Luke 7:47-50
[5] John 4:4-26
[6] Luke 23:39-43
[7] John 21:15-19
[8] Luke 18:9-14
[9] Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:35-38; 22:16; Romans 10:10-13; 1 Peter 3:21
[10] Psalm 130:3-4
[11] Luke 15:11-32
[12] Romans 3:21-25; 8:1-4

God’s Forgiveness

Seek the LORD while He may be found; call to Him while He is near. Let the wicked one abandon his way, and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, so He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will freely forgive. - Isaiah 55:6-7 HCSB

God calls sinners to seek Him and promises them forgiveness when they repent. However, though He is patient, there is a limit to His patience. We must not presume upon His grace.[1]

The prayer for forgiveness be timely and accompanied by clearly demonstrated repentance. Solomon, at the dedication of the temple, prayed that God would forgive His people if and when they repented of their sins and sincerely served Him.[2] The Ransomed, those Believers who have confessed their sins and truly repented of them, place their faith in this wonderful aspect of God and believe that their sin-darkened hearts are made as white as snow.[3]

Like Solomon, we should seek forgiveness not only for ourselves individually but for our people. Nehemiah and Solomon both confessed and sought forgiveness for the sins of God’s people.[4] If we stubbornly insist that our nation is always in the right, that it never makes mistakes, is never greedy and never sins, we will lose God’s favor. We will lose the blessings that He has so graciously given us.

Authority, whether civic or religious, means nothing before God. Even Yahweh’s ministers need to confess their sins, repent of them and seek His forgiveness. For example, Zechariah had a vision of the high priest in filthy clothes, which were removed and replaced with pure white garments.[5]

Forgiveness brings joy to the repentant heart. David sang joyfully after he repented of adultery and God forgave him.[6] Up until that time David had been depressed.[7] That is the way of sin. The thing we thought would bring pleasure and freedom actually brings depression, fear and imprisonment.

However, God readily forgave David when he repented and confessed his sin.[8] David rested his hope of forgiveness, not on his good works or on his ability to “turn over a new leaf” but on Hashem’s faithful love and abundant compassion.[9]

We need to believe God when He says that He will not despise a broken spirit and contrite heart.[10] God wants to help us. He does not want us to live a life characterized by or dominated by fear.[11] Hashem is ready and waiting to forgive anyone who asks.[12]

God's mercy cannot even be measured. It is as high as the heavens. When He forgives our sins, they are infinitely far from us.[13] God not only puts our sins out of sight; He also put them out of reach;[14] He puts them out of mind;[15] in fact, He puts them completely out of existence.[16]

[1] Isaiah 55:6-7
[2] 1 Kings 8:33-36, 46-53
[3] Isaiah 1:18-20
[4] Nehemiah 1:6-7; 1 Kings 8:50
[5] Zechariah 3:1-5
[6] Psalm 32:1-2
[7] Psalm 32:3-4
[8] Psalm 32:5
[9] Psalm 51:1
[10] Psalm 51:17
[11] Isaiah 44:2
[12] Psalm 86:4-7
[13] Psalm 103:11-12
[14] Isaiah 38:17; Micah 7:19; Psalm 103:12
[15] Jeremiah 31:34
[16] Psalm 51:1, 9; 43:25; 44:22; Acts 3:19

Rebekah’s Favoritism

Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for wild game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. - Genesis 25:28 HCSB

Like many marriages, Rebekah and Isaac’s started out idyllically[1] but soon degenerated into a mutually apathetic relationship. It diverged even further into reciprocal frustration and antagonism. What started out as a story book marriage ended up as a text book case of favoritism run amuck.

Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah, old enough to be set in his ways and to be condescending to a young (possibly teenaged) bride. Twenty years passed by and Rebekah had difficulty conceiving. When she finally got pregnant, her pregnancy was so rough that she cried out, “Why is this happening to me?”[2]

The Lord answered her directly, and told her that she was having twins. He further informed her that her younger son would end up ruling over the older one. Perhaps this oracle was the seed of the later favoritism. Perhaps she ascribed her later reprehensible behavior to this spiritual root; we don’t know for sure.

What we do know is that Isaac loved Esau selfishly. He loved Esau for what Esau could do for him. So between Isaac’s selfish mindset, and Rebekah’s preconceived notion of future greatness for Jacob, the stage for a tragic drama was set.

Their marriage became a joke - a sham. They were faithful to each other but it takes more than simply staying together to be truly “faithful.” Successful marriages are characterized by teamwork, mutual sympathies, convictions and goals.

Of the two parents, Rebekah’s favoritism became far more aggressive. In fact, she began to be so actively jealous for Jacob that she ceased to be jealous for her husband. She elevated her son’s needs over her spouse’s. Her love became so twisted that in an effort to gain Jacob a position of spiritual leadership she directed her son to deceive his father and was even willing to defy God’s curse saying “Your curse be on me, my son. Just obey me…"[3] Talk about love gone berserk! That kind of “love” will result in split families, broken homes and ruined lives.

Love that does not conform to God’s word is not true love.[4] True love is not blind. It recognizes and struggles against the sin and character flaws in those we love.[5] True love is sacrificial and considers the long term needs of the object of affection.[6]

God does not play favorites[7] with His children and there is no room for partiality in His house.[8] There is no excuse for discrimination in our lives. There must be no cliques, cabals, in-crowds or fraternities in the church. We do not break the rules for someone because they are family, because they are popular or because we simply like them better. We must love; but we must truly love as Hashem does and not play favorites.


[1] Genesis 24:15-16
[2] Genesis 25:22
[3] Genesis 27:13
[4] John 14:15, 21; 15:10-12; 1 John 5:2; 2 John 1:6
[5] Romans 12:9
[6] Ephesians 5:22, 25, 28; Philippians 2:3-8
[7] Deuteronomy 10:17; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Job 34:19; Matthew 22:16; Mark 12:14; Luke 20:21; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Galatians 2:6; Ephesians 6:9; 1 Peter 1:17
[8] Deuteronomy 16:19; Psalm 82:2; Colossians 3:11, 25; James 2:1, 9

Lot’s Compromise

Stay awake and pray, so that you won't enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. - Matthew 26:41 HCSB

Temptation and compromise are often so subtle that it’s best to not even start down that evil path. The Psalmist noted the common progression, and described it for us. First, we listen to wicked advice, then we take a wicked path and finally, end up being one of those who mock God’s Word![1]

Gradual compromise is what destroyed Lot’s life. At first, he hung out with righteous Abram[2] but success and wealth caused him to fall prey to materialism.[3] Soon, spiritual differences caused a rift between him and Abraham. Lot not only separated himself from his righteous relative[4], but started edging toward the worldly influences of Sodom.[5]

He became so entrenched in his habits that even when the consequences began coming, he stubbornly continued his fateful compromising ways.[6] Righteous Abram rescued compromising Lot, but there is no indication of any gratitude or change of heart.[7]

By this time, Lot was living in Sodom and actually became a person of some import among the Sodomites – not that it brought him true respect or influence.[8] He sat in the city gates, a habit of those who acted as city officials and judges so they could be easily found by plaintiffs.

We never sin alone. Our compromise will always end up hurting those we love. Though Lot was deeply disturbed by the vices surrounding him, his compromise caused him to lose all influence and witness to his own family. As a result, they all died in the conflagration.[9]

His compromise caused him to hesitate and vacillate at a crucial moment. It caused him to even argue with God’s angels. It’s not surprising then that his wife also lacked faith in and obedience to the angel’s commands. She too was lost.[10]

Because they had grown up in a household where personal desires and humanistic thinking took precedence over morality and God’s word, Lot even lost his daughters and certainly, by then a piece of his own tortured soul.[11]

Let’s not allow sinners to influence us.[12] Uncompromising righteousness is a source of strength and security.[13] Let’s make sure our lives are characterized by faithful discernment, humbly realizing that sin lies very close at hand at all times, regardless of who we are or where we are spiritually.

Let’s live in the hope that God gave us. He told us we would never encounter a temptation that was too great to resist.[14] Let’s not only claim that promise but work hard to look for those avenues of escape or preferably, ways to avoid the temptation in the first place!

We mustn’t give the devil a chance.[15] We need to decide who we serve. There can be no compromise; we are either for Christ or Satan.[16] There can be no compromise.


[1] Psalm 1:1; Proverbs 4:14-15
[2] Genesis 12:4
[3] Genesis 13:5, 10
[4] Genesis 13:11
[5] Genesis 13:12-13
[6] Genesis 14:11-12
[7] Genesis 14:16
[8] Genesis 19:1, 9
[9] 2 Peter 2:7-8; Genesis 19:14
[10] Genesis 19:15-18, 26
[11] Genesis 19:30-36
[12] Proverbs 1:10
[13] Isaiah 33:15-16; Ephesians 6:14
[14] 1 Corinthians 10:12-13
[15] Ephesians 4:27
[16] Matthew 6:24; 12:30; Luke 16:13