The Demon’s Book

“Now I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction. For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by members of Chloe's household, that there are quarrels among you. What I am saying is this: each of you says, "I'm with Paul," or "I'm with Apollos," or "I'm with Cephas," or "I'm with Christ." – 1 Corinthians 1:10-12 HCSB

There once was a wise man who over time came to have many followers. Some of them even came to live near him so that they could learn directly from him how to live well. One of these disciples was a young man who came to have such an appreciation for the tzaddik’s thoughts that he took it upon himself to record them all in a book. As the good man spoke, the young student busily scribbled all his words into his notebook.

The wise man knew full well of the great spiritual battle that went on around all of mankind.[1] In fact, the Lord had granted him the ability to see the spiritual beings[2] that surrounded them much like the great prophet Elisha.[3] As he was walking, he saw a demon going by that had a large book under its arm.

“Stop in the name of Yahweh Yeshua!”[4] he commanded the demon. “What is that you have under your arm?”[5]

The demon responded, “Why this is your very own words! It is an entire book of your teachings! I am using it to ensnare your disciple.” The tzaddik took the book and carefully looked at each page. Sure enough, they were his teachings; but somehow, in transferring them to this book, the disciple had twisted them. Though they sounded like the teachers words when read, on the page they looked subtly…wrong.

Finally, the teacher realized what was wrong. He rebuked the demon and sent him away then took the book to the disciple. He asked, “Is this the work of your hand?”

The young man proudly responded, “Yes, teacher! I have been faithfully recording your words for posterity!”

The teacher showed him the pages and how the words were slightly wrong. “There is nothing wrong with trying to remember what you have learned,” he gently taught. “There is nothing wrong with recording my words.[6] The difference is the heart-reason driving you. You have started worshipping my words rather than my Lord.” Then two together started a fire and burnt the book.

There is nothing wrong with seeking out a mentor, finding somebody who is further down the path than you who can help you on your way.[7] The danger lies in beginning to forget that they, too, are students.[8] The best mentor in the world will tell you, “Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ.”

[1] 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
[2] Acts 12:7-10
[3] 2 Kings 6:15-17
[4] John 14:13-14; Jude 1:9
[5] Mark 5:9; Luke 8:30
[6] 1 Corinthians 11:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; Colossians 2:8
[7] Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
[8] Matthew 15:1-14

Abigail’s Strength

A man in Maon had a business in Carmel; he was a very rich man with 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats and was shearing his sheep in Carmel. The man's name was Nabal, and his wife's name, Abigail. The woman was intelligent and beautiful, but the man, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings. - 1 Samuel 25:2-3 HCSB

Though Saul was still on the throne, it was widely known that David had been anointed as the next king. The hatred Saul had for David and his relentless, mad pursuit for David’s death was also be well-known.

Abigail was not just any farmer’s wife. Her husband, Nabal, was a very wealthy and powerful man. Like the politicians of our day, David and Saul were probably both wooing Nabal as a potential donor to their war chests and an important source of employment. David had spent the entire year protecting Nabal’s flocks only to be spurned when pay day came.

Apparently, David reacted violently in keeping with his nature, which only makes his restraint toward Saul that much more remarkable. He took 400 warriors and went to kill Nabal and every male member of his household.[1]

Abigail’s beauty was matched by her brains. She quickly gathered sufficient supplies to feed David’s 600 men[2] and met him on the way. She quickly jumped off her mount, bowed her face to the ground and gave him the respect her worthless husband had not. During the course of her very short statement, she addressed David as “my lord” fourteen times. Talk about some serious ego stroking!

She was willing to refocus his rage upon herself saying, "The guilt is mine, my lord”[3] and “Please forgive your servant's offense”[4] David quickly calmed down and came to his senses. He did not apologize for being wrong because disrespect to the Lord’s anointed was, after all, a capital offense. However, he praised Abigail for her discernment and blessed her.

Abigail returned to her husband who by this time was too drunk to be able to understand how narrowly he had squeaked by with his life. When he did find out, the Lord struck him so that he died after ten agonizing days. After an appropriate amount of time had passed, David called for Abigail and got himself a wise and capable wife.

When wrong has been done, Abigail has left us a remarkable example of how to go about defusing potentially volatile situations and bringing about justice. She went straight to David, did not deny that a wrong was done, spoke to him respectfully and was willing to take her share of the blame. Further, she did something tangible to rectify the situation. She demonstrated confidence in his calling as future king and showed consideration for his future needs. Her willingness to humbly serve was her greatest strength.

[1] 1 Samuel 25:22, 34
[2] He left 200 back with the baggage 1 Samuel 25:13
[3] 1 Samuel 25:24
[4] 1 Samuel 25:28

Willing to Lose but Prepared to Gain

The person who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; the person who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And whoever doesn't take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Anyone finding his life will lose it, and anyone losing his life because of Me will find it. - Matthew 10:37-39 HCSB

Discussions of what it means to have a Christ-centered marriage often fail to address the issue of the marriage in which only one of the two are actually Ransomed. How does one pursue a Christ-centered marriage when one half of the relationship is seriously flirting with Mammon?[1]

As I stated in “A Christ-Centered Marriage”, giving the Lord His befitting centrality means using the relationship as an opportunity to imitate His sacrificial love. Marriage is a testing ground in the child of God’s constant effort to be holy[2] and to make their spouse holy.[3] Though being “unequally yoked”[4] makes this pursuit much harder, it does not change God’s call to holiness.

Paul directly dealt with this situation. He taught that the Ransomed must, if at all possible, remain with their unbelieving spouses. Why? So that they can sanctify their spouse and their children.[5] Again, the primary purpose of the Christian marriage is to sanctify, set aside and make the other holy.

This is not to be done in an obnoxious, supercilious and holier-than-thou attitude. Our speech should always be lightly seasoned with grace,[6] not drenched in constant saccharine-sweet quasi-religious platitudes. We are to demonstrate to our unbelieving spouse the advantages of holiness; the draw of a sanctified life.[7] Peter taught, “Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do evil, they may, by observing your good works, glorify God in a day of visitation.”[8]

Everyone has a free will. Everyone has the chance to rebel against the rightful King[9] and unfortunately most do.[10] Very often a household divided against itself on such an important issue will fall.[11] If that happens, placing Christ on the throne of our marriage may mean going through a painful divorce with a Christ-like attitude. It doesn’t mean that we are dishonest about our feelings[12] or that we enable sin,[13] but that our desire is still to demonstrate the primacy of our King over every expression. It means knowing that we will be judged for every word that comes out of our mouth.[14]

Having said that, sacrificial holy love, the kind that constantly seeks the good of its object, is an amazingly powerful weapon. Patient, humble and honest service is very hard to resist. We may think that by placing Christ above our spouse or our children may risk our relationship with them but the truth of the matter is that it very well may be our only hope at keeping them eternally.


[1] Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13
[2] 1 Peter 1:16; Leviticus 19:2; 20:7, 26
[3] Ephesians 5:25-26; Hebrews 10:24
[4] 2 Corinthians 6:14
[5] 1 Corinthians 7:12-17
[6] Colossians 4:6; Ephesians 4:29
[7] Matthew 5:14-16; 1 Timothy 2:9-10; 5:10; Titus 2:7, 14; 3:8; James 2:18
[8] 1 Peter 2:12
[9] Matthew 2:2; 21:5; 22:2-14
[10] Matthew 7:13
[11] Matthew 12:25; Luke 11:17
[12] Colossians 3:9; James 3:14
[13] Romans 12:9
[14] Matthew 12:36

A Christ-Centered Marriage

Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this to you also. - Philippians 3:13-15 HCSB

I spent years as a professional martial artist. I lived for my sport. I would get up early in the morning so I could get my cardio done before school (and later, work). I got to the dojo while the sun was still down to get some uninterrupted time on the gear. After school or work, I hustled to the dojo again and spent hours drilling certain moves over and over, or sparring with whoever showed up. My sport regulated what I ate. It regulated when I slept. It even impinged upon my dating life. Jiu-jitsu was not the center of my life, but it was very close.

Christ is the center of my life. Whatever skills I developed through my association with MMA, I put to His use when I worked with gangs and street kids. When fights were scheduled at the same time as church, I opted out of the fight regardless of the cost.

Christ is the center of my marriage. That means that I go to bed when He lets me and I get up when He tells me to. If I have to forgo a little sleep so that I can get some uninterrupted time with my Master, then so be it. That means that my purpose in marriage is to make my wife holy[1] so that I can present her to my Master as another useful follower. Just as my goal used to be to imitate my sensei, my goal is now to imitate my Master and He has given me a tremendous example of sacrificial love.

Putting Christ at the center of my marriage means that I love and take care of my spouse like I do my own body.[2] Practically becoming “one flesh”[3] means that my wife and I strive to think the same way, to have the same love, to share the same feelings, and to focus on the same goals. It means that we do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility, consider each other as more important than ourselves. I cannot look only for my own interests, but also for hers. In this, I am imitating Christ and putting Him at the center. [4]

We must reject the tokenism of platitudinous piety that merely mumbles about Christian marriage but instead, seek the reality. There can be no half measures in this pursuit. Everything must be subject to Him so that God may be all in all.[5]

[1] Ephesians 5:25-27
[2] Ephesians 5:28-30
[3] Ephesians 5:31
[4] Philippians 2:2-8
[5] 1 Corinthians 15:28

Finding a True Princess

"Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" "The one who showed mercy to him," he said. Then Jesus told him, "Go and do the same." - Luke 10:36-37 HCSB

A certain poor man came upon such hard times that he despaired for his life as well as the lives of his family. He tried everything, but it was a time of scarcity and people’s hearts had grown hard, thinking only of their own needs and unwilling to help.

One day he heard that there was a community of righteous people, true children of God, called the Ransomed that lived in a town many days away. He had heard of these people and how they were renowned for their humble, loving service to mankind. So he gathered his family together and traveled for several days to reach these people, buoyed by his hope that at long last he would find help and that his family would not need to go to bed hungry.

When he arrived he went to the house next to the biggest church in the town and asked for some assistance. A man dressed in clerical garb answered the door, but roughly denied the poor man’s request. Undaunted, the man went from door to door, pleading for some food or some money. Time after time he received not so much as a biscuit.

He came to believe that there was no such thing as a godly people, a noble priesthood[1] of the one true God. In fact, the hardness of heart that he had confronted in these religious people was beginning to make him doubt the very existence of Hashem!

As he sat on the side of the road, he heard the voice of a young person ask, “May I help you?” The young girl certainly did not look like what he thought the Ransomed should look like. Her hair was died an unnatural color and strange metal jewelry pierced various parts of her face. In fact, she even had tattoos! However, she quietly insisted on helping the poverty stricken family. She took them home, fed them, allowed them to use her shower and made a few phone calls to see if the man or his wife could find some kind of work. That night, the poor man’s heart rejoiced, knowing that he had found a true child of God, a princess of the house of Christ, one of the Ransomed.

God does not desire sacrifices and rituals. He seeks merciful hearts.[2] Tithes, offerings – these are all well and good, but our God is more interested in justice, mercy and faith.[3] Those who understand that and show mercy to their fellow man will find themselves the recipients of God’s mercy too.[4] The Ransomed know this principle well and as slaves who have been shown mercy by their Master, they seek to constantly exemplify Hashem’s mercy to other slaves.[5]

[1] 1 Peter 2:9
[2] Matthew 9:13; 12:7
[3] Matthew 23:23
[4] Matthew 5:7
[5] Matthew 18:33; Mark 5:19

Joyful Fasting

"The LORD of Hosts says this: The fast of the fourth month, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth will become times of joy, gladness, and cheerful festivals for the house of Judah. Therefore, love truth and peace." - Zechariah 8:19 HCSB

An old tzaddik used to make a habit of fasting on a regular basis. He was an elder in the church and people were coming to him constantly for his help. The only way that he could get these precious times of spiritual renewal was to go out into the woods. He would fast for days at a time as he communed with the Lord in prayer, worshipped in song, danced and focused his mind on Hashem’s word.

His wife was concerned for him so as he was preparing to leave on one of his times of prayer, she handed him a bag of bread, one loaf for each day he would be gone, and a canteen of water. “Take this,” she said. “Eat and keep up your strength.” He thanked her and assured her it wasn’t necessary but when she insisted, out of his love for her he took the bag along.

He arrived at his destination, drew out his Bible and began to read. This soon led to a time of confession which went directly into worship and praise for Hashem’s deliverance. He prayed, studied and learned at the feet of the Master from dawn till dusk, only falling into his cot once the light got too dark to see. Even his dreams were filled with visions of Adonai’s wonders.

Finally, the day of his return arrived and as he gathered his things, he was only mildly surprised to see that all the food his wife had given him remained. He had eaten nothing for days and had not even noticed.

We usually associate fasting with mourning[1] or national calamity.[2] We generally think of fasting in terms of a restricted diet[3] or a time of confession of sin.[4]

However, the Lord predicted a time of particular spiritual “rapprochement” that would include an increased desire to attend to worship and fasting. People will call out to each other saying, “Let's go at once to plead for the LORD's favor and to seek the LORD of Hosts. I am also going…In those days, 10 men from nations of every language will grab the robe of a Jewish man tightly, urging: Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."[5] He prophesied that this spiritually minded people would enjoy the regular fast, considering it to be a time of joy, gladness and good cheer.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could be so focused on our God that all other considerations would fade? Wouldn’t it be something if we could fast, not as a burdensome discipline, but by accident, simply because our joy caused us to not even notice?


[1] 1 Samuel 31:11-13
[2] Joel 2:15; 2 Chronicles 20:3
[3] Daniel 10:2-3
[4] Nehemiah 9:1-3
[5] Zechariah 8:20-23 HCSB

To Heal the Enemy

Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. - Romans 12:21 HCSB

An elderly holy woman decided to serve God by living in a third world country and serving the destitute people there. She lived among them, as poor as they, yet radiated Hashem’s loving care to them. She showed them how to bathe upstream from where they defecated. She brought them mosquito nets and showed them the advantage of sleeping under them. She toiled all day long under the sweltering sun in a garden showing them how to increase their crops through irrigation so that they would not go hungry in the rainy dry season.

As she served them tirelessly, many of the villagers were drawn to her heart. “Why have you come here? Why are you always joyful?” they asked.

She explained to them simply, “The great God, the One who made all things, has rescued me from my sufferings. He has shown me His love. How can I not be glad? How can I not share that good news with you?” Many listened to the words she spoke, considered the acts of love with which she backed them up and decided to also seek this great God.

Some chose not to, hardening their hearts. As they did, their minds became darkened and a hatred for this godly saint grew in them. The local shaman, finding that he was losing customers for his useless idols, became enraged at the old lady and decided to kill her. Other men who considered him an ally agreed with him. “Kill the old white woman and we will back you up in front of the others. We can all share her wealth between us!”

The wicked shaman went that very night to kill the tzaddik. He snuck to the back of her house with a poisoned knife in his hand, looking for an opportunity to stab her with it. However, as he tip toed through the darkness, something tripped him and as he fell he stabbed himself in the side with the deadly blade.

The old woman heard him cry out, ran around to the back of her hut and found him there bleeding and already in the thrall of the poison. She called for help but when the villagers saw him lying there with the blade, they knew what he had wanted to do. “Let him die!” they urged. “He would have killed you and if he survives he may try again!”

The old woman replied, “Hashem reached out to us when we were hateful and filled with the bitter dregs of sin’s poison.[1] How can we not do the same for this poor soul?” With their help she got him inside and over the next couple of weeks healed him.

To truly be delivered of our enemy we must heal him. We must find a way to teach him God’s love even if it means that, like our God, we too must die.[2]

[1] Romans 5:6-8
[2] Philippians 1:20; 2:5, 8

The Rich Man’s Reward

The righteousness of the blameless clears his path, but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness. The righteousness of the upright rescues them, but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires. When the wicked dies, his expectation comes to nothing, and hope placed in wealth vanishes. - Proverbs 11:5-7 HCSB

What is the expectation of wealth if not power? What is its hope if not the ability to grant wishes? Quoheleth clarifies that the wicked will not necessarily fall to an outside threat. It is his wickedness, his selfish desire to place his desires above morality, that will be his undoing. That very thing that he thinks will liberate him will be transformed into binding shackles.

Adam and Eve thought that disobeying God would grant them greater knowledge and experience which would bring greater wisdom. They imagined that their new-found independence of thought would raise them to a new and superior level of awareness. In fact, all it brought was death, shame and exile.

When the wicked one dies, his expectations of power and influence shrivel and die with his rotting corpse.[1] He comes face to face with Yahweh Shaphat[2] and realizes the true insignificance of his pursuits. The wicked, having placed their trust in Mammon are thrown down by their own sin, but the righteous have a refuge when they die.[3] Having ruthlessly pursued wealth to the detriment of their workers, stepping mercilessly on anyone in order to reach the fabled top, they are in turn shown no mercy at the Judgment Seat.[4]

We must beware of greed. Success in life does not consist in the accumulation of possessions. The Master once told a parable of a rich man whose lands were very productive. He thought to himself, “What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? I will do this: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods there. Then I’ll say to myself, ‘You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink and enjoy yourself.’” God responded from heaven “You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. The things you have prepared – whose will they be?” The Master concluded by warning, “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”[5]

The rich man’s mistake was not in planning ahead or even being financially successful. His mistake was his total obsession on materialism. He became so focused on his worldly affairs that he forgot to give Yahweh Melek His due. We need to dedicate ourselves to the accumulation of treasure in heaven.[6] If Hashem chooses to grant us wealth on earth in the meantime, that must be regarded as one more tool to build heavenly wealth. “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep in order to gain what he cannot lose.”[7]


[1] Proverbs 10:28;
[2] God our Judge; Hebrews 9:27
[3] Proverbs 14:32
[4] James 2:13
[5] Luke 12:15-21
[6] Matthew 6:19-21
[7] A quote by Jim Elliot in the October 28, 1949 entry on page 174 (Chapter 4) of the 1978 hardback edition of the Journal and on page 108 (Chapter 11) of the 1958 hardback edition of Shadow of the Almighty.

Delilah’s Manipulation

"How can you say, 'I love you,'" she told him, "when your heart is not with me? This is the third time you have mocked me and not told me what makes your strength so great!" Because she nagged him day after day and pled with him until she wore him out, he told her the whole truth. - Judges 16:15-17a HCSB

Delilah was a beautiful young woman who lived in the valley of Sorek. I think that it is somewhat telling that the Midrash[1] tells us that the sorek is a fruitless tree. If ever there was a fruitless pursuit, it was Samson’s pursuit of Delilah.

Apparently, beauty was the only consideration Samson ever gave of a woman. He saw a Philistine woman in Timnah and wanted her saying, “She looks good to me.”[2] This woman used tears to betray him to his companions and married his best man. Later, he saw a harlot in Gaza and went in to her. The men of Gaza were told of Samson’s visit and they made an unsuccessful attempt to kill him. Who do you think told the Gazites that Samson was there? Who if not the prostitute?

“Third time’s the charm,” they say, but they lie. This go-round Samson actually loved the woman[3] this time. However, her only concerns were pecuniary. Her god was Mammon and when the Philistines spoke her language, she dropped all pretense of loyalty to Samson.

Granted, the sum they offered was enormous! The five lords of the Philistines[4] promised her 1,100 pieces of silver each! That’s 5,500 pieces of silver. Seeing as ten pieces were a year’s wage[5] that would mean she was looking at 550 years of salary or the price of 275 slaves![6] In today’s terms, the Philistines had put a $27 million bounty on Samson’s head!

With that in view, Delilah began her manipulation. She started with playful flirtation and Samson responded in kind.[7] When that didn’t work, she tried pleading and using the ploy of shame, "You have mocked me and told me lies! Won't you please tell me how you can be tied up?" [8] When that didn’t work, she got angry and (ironically) questioned his loyalty.[9] Isn’t it interesting how people often accuse others of what they are themselves most guilty?

Unfortunately, we see that Samson was beginning to yield because his lie was uncomfortably close to the truth. He told her it had to do with his hair – just not about cutting it.

Finally, Delilah got it right. She questioned his love and used the same phrasing the father of Samson’s first wife-to-be used.[10] Just as his first fiancée,[11] she also nagged him incessantly until out of frustration he yielded.

The result? Death. Not just Samson’s but also 3,000 of her own people. Beware of manipulation for it cuts both ways. To seek to influence is one thing, but to Yahweh Ro’iy[12] our motivations make all the difference. The path of manipulation doesn’t lead to wealth and glory but to destruction.[13]


[1] Numbers Rabbah 9
[2] Judges 14:3 NASB
[3] Judges 16:4
[4] Judges 16:5 cp Joshua 13:3 and Judges 3:3
[5] Judges 17:10
[6] Genesis 37:28
[7] Judges 16:6-9
[8] Judges 16:10-12
[9] Judges 16:13-14
[10] Judges 15:2
[11] Judges 14:17 cp 16:16
[12] All Seeing God (Genesis 16:13)
[13] Proverbs 5:3-6

The Bed of Straw

If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers within any of your gates in the land the LORD your God is giving you, you must not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. - Deuteronomy 15:7 HCSB

A rich man’s daughter fell in love with a poor shepherd. Her father was so incensed that he vowed the couple would never receive so much as a penny from him. However, the daughter valued the shepherd far more than she valued her father’s gold, so after an appropriate time of betrothal, she left her father’s house and became one with the poor man.

They were so poor that they didn’t even have a real bed! All they had to sleep on was a pile of straw. Every morning they would awake and laugh as they picked the straw out of their hair. The shepherd regretted being unable to provide his beautiful and gracious wife with the type of things to which she was accustomed but she kept reassuring him, “I desire you more than all the gold in Solomon’s palace.”

One day, Yahweh Shaphat[1] sent an angel to test the couple.[2] The angel arrived dressed as a beggar because the Lord God knows that a true test of a person’s heart is to see how they deal with those who are in need.[3] So the angel/beggar knocked on their door and pleaded, “Please give me a bundle of straw. My wife is in labor and we need a soft place for her to lie.”

The shepherd was glad to be of assistance. He threw open his door, allowed the supposed beggar in and said, “Here is some straw. Take all you need.” The angel grabbed up a big bundle of straw and left quickly, gladdened to see such a righteous and holy mortal. Hashem too rejoiced at the beautiful sight of such a lovely soul as these two humans had. He rewarded them – not with gold and jewels, but with a far more precious gift: the gift of wisdom.[4]

After many more years of faithful and steady obedience in the right direction[5], the shepherd became a very wise man indeed. In fact, all of Israel sought his advice and counsel and thus, his latter end was far better than his humble beginnings presaged.

We may proclaim our holiness to the four corners of the world. We may blow trumpets before we do our righteous works[6] and let our faces sag so that all will know that we are fasting.[7] Or, we may keep our righteous works to ourselves and quietly serve in the background. Neither is as good a test of true holiness as the manner with which we address and serve the poor and needy. That is because it is at those times that we reach out to those who cannot return the favor that we are most like Yahweh Yeshua who reached and to a bunch of lowly sinners in self-sacrificing love.[8]

[1] God our Judge (Genesis 18:25; Psalm 7:18; 96:13; Isaiah 33:22)
[2] Hebrews 13:2
[3] Deuteronomy 15:9; 2 Samuel 12:1-6; Job 29:7-17; Isaiah 58:6-7
[4] Proverbs 2:1-6; 3:13-16
[5] e.g. Eugene Peterson’s concept found in “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction”
[6] Matthew 6:2-4
[7] Matthew 6:16-18
[8] 1 Samuel 2:8

The Sign of a Great Warrior

My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father--Jesus Christ the righteous One. He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world. This is how we are sure that we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands. - 1 John 2:1-3 HCSB

I once had a jiu-jitsu student who was born to fight. That kid had more natural talent than any three others combined. But he’s not fighting today. He kept winning with his talent until he found a man who figured his tricks out and got soundly trounced. Instead of going back to the drawing board and humbly recognizing that he had not yet achieved, he simply quit.

I gained another student who came into my dojo filled with pride, arrogantly thinking that he could knock the cap off my head at will. Thirty pain-filled seconds later, he changed his mind. He humbly accepted that there were entire worlds of knowledge out there just waiting to be conquered and got to work. He’s still fighting today and I am filled with a righteous pride for him.

We all mess up. We all make a hash of our lives. That’s why John said, “If we say, ‘We have no sin,’ we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”[1] That’s just facing reality. We were born in sin[2] and we take to it like ducks to water. It’s so easy to sin that even with the Holy Spirit’s help, it actually takes a tremendous amount of effort for the Ransomed to maintain their practical holiness.

We must recognize the absolute need for holiness for “If we say, ‘We have fellowship with Him,’ and walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth.”[3] That’s why we “pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—for without it no one will see the Lord.”[4]

However, we must equally admit our complete inability to achieve this lofty goal on our own. We must seek the help of the only man who can teach us the Way – the Messiah Jesus of Nazareth. He’s the only human to have never sinned and He willing to show us the Way.[5]

We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.[6]

The sign of a great warrior is not constant victory. The true sign is his ability to humbly acknowledge his lack, go back to the dojo and try again – and again – and again.[7]


[1] 1 John 1:8
[2] Psalm 51:5
[3] 1 John 1:6
[4] Hebrews 12:14
[5] John 14:6
[6] Hebrews 4:15-16
[7] Philippians 3:10-14

Dating

Some time later, he fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the Sorek Valley. - Judges 16:4 HCSB

Samson, for all his miraculous strength, was a sucker for bad girls. On three occasions, he chose a woman based on her looks and all three times he was betrayed.[1] If you are in that phase of life when dating is an option, date people who will help you pursue tzedekah (righteousness). Date those who, like you, call on the Lord from a pure heart.[2] It is not only unwise to date someone who doesn't love God – it is a direct violation of God’s command.[3] After all, how can a Christian be a partner with one who doesn't believe?[4]

Besides the obvious prohibition against dating unbelievers, also be cautious of dating someone who claims to be a Christian, but doesn't live it.[5] For example, avoid dating people who have a bad temper.[6]

Contrary to the world’s ubiquitous message, inner beauty counts the most.[7] Jacob was attracted to Rachel because she was physically beautiful.[8] He should have imitated Yahweh who is not fooled by a person’s outsides but primarily considers the person’s inner beauty.[9] Rachel turned out to be a real witch! She grew jealous of Leah, abused her power over her slaves, was selfish, and willing to hire her husband out as a stud to get what she wanted! She even stole and lied![10]

Date someone with a good attitude, someone who will unite with you in glorifying God.[11] Date someone who encourages you and is supportive.[12] In a dating relationship, don't be exclusive; care about others too.[13]

Let the relationship progress step by step.[14] On dates avoid “deeds of darkness”. Make sure your activities may be described as decent; things you would not be ashamed of doing in front of the Lord Jesus.[15]

Dating should not include a sexual relationship.[16] You need to keep yourself pure[17] so that you can keep from hurting yourself. In order to do this place all your sexual desires and activities under Christ’s control. [18]

If you have already gone too far physically, what should you do? First, acknowledge your sin.[19] Second, ask forgiveness for your sin. God says you can start over again.[20] Third, quit the sin. Don’t do it anymore.[21] Last, believe that God has indeed forgiven you and quit feeling guilty.[22]

Trust me, loving God has a mate for you.[23] Ask the Lord for a mate[24] and He will give you your heart's desires. He knows what those are better than you do.[25]

[1] Judges 14:1-3 cp 14:17; 16:1-2; 16:4 cp 16:16-18
[2] 2 Timothy 2:22
[3] 2 Corinthians 6:14-15
[4] Amos 3:3
[5] 1 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6
[6] Proverbs 22:24
[7] 1 Peter 3:3-4
[8] Genesis 29:17-18
[9] 1 Samuel 16:7
[10] Genesis 30:1, 3-6, 14-16; 31:34-35
[11] Romans 15:5-6
[12] Philippians 2:1-2
[13] Philippians 2:4
[14] 2 Peter 1:5-7
[15] Romans 13:12-14
[16] 1 Corinthians 6:13, 18
[17] 1 John 3:2-3
[18] 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
[19] Psalm 51:2-4
[20] Psalm 51:7-12
[21] 1 Corinthians 6:9-12
[22] Psalm 32:1-6
[23] Genesis 2:18
[24] Proverbs 19:14
[25] Psalm 37:4; Matthew 6:8

Purity of Perception

To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience are defiled. - Titus 1:15 HCSB

A tzaddik decided that he wanted to find a city that would be conducive to holy living. Being a wealthy man, he sent servants everywhere, each with a sum of money for expenses, and gave them the mission of finding him a potential home.

One of the servants arrived in a town we’ll call Caleb, but instead of doing his job, he decided to spend the money on a lavish hotel and a hedonistic lifestyle. Of course, he ended up with the wrong crowd and got robbed. He returned to his master and said, “Master, the town of Caleb is completely corrupt, with nothing but thieves and cut-throats within its borders.”

His description of the town was so extreme that the tzaddik had a hard time believing it so he sent a second servant to the same town. This second servant was also given a sum of money, but instead of wasting it on worldly pleasures, he found a modest but comfortable room in a nice motel and went about looking for some people his master would care to befriend. He came upon a house of worship and soon found some wonderful, caring and compassionate people who reached out to him.

He returned to his master and reported, “Master, the town of Caleb is filled with righteous and holy people who are quick to reach out and serve others.” After the first report, the tzaddik was surprised upon hearing this second servant’s evaluation and decided to go see for himself. After looking around for a few days, he realized what had happened. Each man had been drawn to the elements of the city that were like his own spirit. How they saw the city said more about themselves than it did of the city.

Paul told Titus, “To the pure, everything is pure.” He did not mean that the pure of heart wear rosy glasses and are completely unaware of the reality of a given situation. He was simply restating the truth he had taught the Corinthians church saying, love “finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things…”[1]

The Ransomed recognize the innate sinful nature of the humans around them, but have a developed sense of hope that they will overcome their sinfulness, submit their wicked hearts to Christ and thereby find peace with God. Being shrewd as serpents, they possess insight and even cunning as to the right strategy to take. However, being harmless as doves, their motivations remain pure.[2] Because of this inward gratitude at having had their sin-debts cancelled, the Ransomed are quick to overlook, or forgive, the sin-debts of others.[3]

Our heart’s condition is always revealed by our words and actions.[4] So what is your town like?

[1] 1 Corinthians 13:6-7
[2] Matthew 10:16
[3] Matthew 6:12; Mark 11:25; Luke 17:3-4
[4] Matthew 7:16-20; 12:33-37; Luke 6:44-45

Our Spirit’s Witness

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but [only] the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?' 23 Then I will announce to them, 'I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’" – Matthew 7:21-23 HCSB

Exterior modification without spirit transformation is useless. The Lord uses a man’s spirit as a lamp, searching all the innermost parts of his humanity.[1] The Holy Spirit amplifies our conscience. God’s Wind[2] interacts with and operates through our “neshamah ch’ay”, our God-given “breath of life”.[3] It is our spirit that speaks the truth and honestly reveals our character.

It is easy to speak words that do not reflect the heart. Even when we speak “from the heart”, we do not necessarily speak from our spirit’s will.[4] After all, the “spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”[5] The heart is more deceitful than anything else and desperately sick – who can understand it?[6]

This is why an intelligent person restrains his words.[7] Keeping a cool head, an understanding spirit, a wise heart and a discerning mind is only possible when our lips are shut.[8] Instead of primarily relying on the testimony of our lips, we should allow our loving and obedient spirits do the talking.[9]

It is not that the Ransomed advocate a “silent witness,” never confessing our Lord’s sovereignty in our lives to others. Not at all. It is simply that we recognize the futility of unbacked words. Talk is cheap after all.

Unfortunately, so is action. Even a life characterized by so-called good works is apparently insufficient to book sure passage to glory. Prophesying, public identification with the Lord, exorcism and miracle working – none of these categorically indicate a regenerate heart!

So we shrink from urging unbelievers to pray the “sinner’s prayer” (a phrase that appears nowhere in the Scriptures). We don’t want them to place their faith in some mantra as though it were some kind of Christian voodoo. Instead, we call them to consider the cost of discipleship and then to simply pray from their heart. We do not put reliance on some verbal ritual, or on the act of approaching the front of a church during an altar call. We put our reliance on a change of spirit.

We count our spiritual birth from the point at which we began to see the fruit of the spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self control. When we see these multiplying in our spirits, we take heart and feel properly authorized to speak. When others see them, we are granted opportunities. When the Lord sees them[10], we hear “'Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master's joy!”[11]

[1] Proverbs 20:27
[2] Ezekiel 37:9-10; John 3:8; Acts 2:2
[3] Genesis 2:7 Strong’s #5397 + 2416
[4] Romans 7:15-24
[5] Matthew 26:41
[6] Jeremiah 17:9
[7] James 1:19
[8] Proverbs 17:27
[9] John 14:15; 1 John 5:3; Proverbs 20:11
[10] Jeremiah 17:10
[11] Matthew 25:21

To Have or To Be

All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them. I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles. When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun. - Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 HCSB

There once were two wealthy men who each wanted to hoard their riches. The first man buried his gold beneath a tree, but he had no sooner left when a thief, who had been spying on him, came and stole it. This man did not realize that his gold was gone and went on dancing and partying, thinking that he was one of the elite when in fact he was poverty stricken.

The second man also buried his treasure, but soon forgot where he hid it. Though he was very wealthy, he spent the remainder of his days in abject poverty and misery.

To have, or to possess, is considered by most to be the primary objective of mankind. Some seek to possess wealth, while other desire fame. Some want constant pleasure while others are only interested in power. All these are illusions. This is the nature of this world.

The things we collect will soon be given to another and who knows whether they actually deserve it? Fame is fleeting as any aging actor will attest. Power is equally ephemeral and excessive pleasure can actually be destructive.

To be is of far more use than to have. To be means to steadily work at our character, our soul, our spirit. The body will age and pass away leaving only the soul and spirit to continue plodding on into eternity.

The only thing we can take with us into the next life is what we have added to our character. Those who have added only greed, pride and narcissistic self-will will take those with them to Sheol just as surely as those who have added humility, compassion and a servant’s spirit will take those to Heaven.

Small wonder then that the Master taught, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, because they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, because they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.”[1]

Day by day, moment by moment, we are given the choice again and again: to have or to be? Human society offers fast cars, well-paying jobs and beautiful playmates. Hashem offers a quiet harvest of righteousness.[2] Let us decide.


[1] Matthew 5:3-10 HCSB
[2] Hebrews 12:11

The Influence of Parents

“Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” - Proverbs 22:6 HCSB

“Ch’anak na’ar derek peh zaquen cuwr” literally reads “dedicate a child to a way of mouth, elder not depart”. There are three critical elements to understanding this verse. The first is the word “ch’anak. This verb is primarily used in the sense of “to dedicate” and is the source of the term Hanukkah, which is the feast celebrating the rededication of the temple by the Maccabees in 165 BC.[1] Elsewhere in the Bible, it speaks of the dedication of a house,[2] and the dedication of the original Solomonic Temple.[3]

“Na’ar” can indicate everything from a new born child[4] all the way up to a person of about twenty[5] which seems to be the generally accepted age of accountability in the Old Covenant.

“Derek peh” is an odd phrase I have found a total of nine times in the Old Covenant, including this one. Together the two words seem to indicate “a way of life or habitual thought pattern indicated or revealed by one’s speech” which makes sense when we take into consideration Jesus’ explanation that “the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.”[6]

“Zaquen” clearly means “to be, to become, or to grow old” but does not have the negative connotation that English holds, because it is used for vigorous old age.[7]

Finally, the troublesome “cuwr” means “to turn aside, to go away, to depart e.g from a way.” However, here’s the interesting part – to which word does “cuwr” point? We find parallel sentence structures in many other passages which give us the clue. In Genesis 40:10, it was the scepter that would not leave Judah. In Exodus 8:11, It was the frogs that would depart from Egypt. It Exodus 8:20, the flies would depart from Pharaoh. In Leviticus 13:58, the plague departed from the children of Israel. In Numbers 12:10, the cloud departed from the tabernacle. We could go on with quite a few other passages but for space’ sake we won’t.

Apparently, the intent of the passage may thus be taken as “If you dedicate your child to a way of life or habitual thought pattern, as he ages it (the thought pattern) will never leave him.” This fits nicely with the idea described elsewhere that even a murderer goes to his grave with his conscience bothering him.[8]

We may be sure that our influence will remain with our children for the rest of their lives. However, though we may do our best to raise our children, free will remains. Those whose parents were godly may stubbornly refuse the Way and take the broad path that leads to destruction. Those whose parents were wicked can yet rise above their upbringing and become godly people. If there is one thing of which I am confident, it is that the Bible teaches personal responsibility.[9]

[1] I Macc. 4:52 ff.
[2] Deuteronomy 20:5
[3] 1 Kings 8:63; 2 Chronicles 7:5
[4] Exodus 2:6; Judges 13:5, 7; 1 Samuel 4:21
[5] Genesis 34:19; 41:12 cp 37:2 and 41:2; 1 Kings 3:7; Jeremiah 1:6-7
[6] Matthew 12:34-37; Luke 6:45
[7] Genesis 18:12-13; 19:31; 24:1; 27:1; 1 Samuel 2:22
[8] Proverbs 28:17
[9] 2 Kings 14:6; Jeremiah 31:29-30; Ezekiel 18:2-20

Holy Hospitality

Don't participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead, expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. -- Ephesians 5:11-12 HCSB

I was recently asked, “If an unmarried adult couple who lives together in their own home comes to stay with you for the weekend, do you ask them to sleep in separate rooms?”

Hospitality is a practical way to serve God. It should be an automatic response to a perceived need and the Ransomed should be passionate about it. When we have guests, we should serve them and give them our best.[1] After all, by practicing hospitality, we may even be entertaining angels[2]. Even when we know for a fact that our guests are no angels, we should STILL serve them as if we were serving the Lord Himself.[3]

Hospitality is a spiritual discipline that should be as zealously pursued as the discipline of patience in suffering or prayer. It will only improve with practice.[4] In fact, hospitality is such an important practice that it is actually a requirement that Church elders[5] should be capable of both extending and receiving hospitality.[6]

Jesus did not limit his social life to the spiritual elite. He was willing to “hang out” with sinful people.[7] So we should be willing to show love to the sinful as Christ did for us when we were the rebels.[8]

That does not mean that we should enable sin! We must neither give the devil a toe hold in our lives[9] nor allow sinners to influence our behavior toward wickedness.[10]

On the other hand, we cannot separate ourselves from all sin, for to do so we would have to leave this world![11] The only sinners we are to separate ourselves from (while keeping an eye to our own sinfulness[12]) are those who claim to be Christians and yet are living in unrepentant sin.[13] Living an uncompromised life entails faithful discernment. It involves humbly realizing that sin lies very close at hand at all times, regardless of who we are or where we are spiritually. However, there is hope because no temptation is ever too great to resist and no situation is so complex that no path exists towards righteousness.[14]

Balancing these two principles, hospitality and personal righteousness, is a tremendously difficult task. Our Lord left us here as sheep among wolves and so we must be as shrewd as serpents and yet as harmless as doves.[15]

It is my judgment that the best approach would be to simply offer the couple two rooms. Do not discuss their situation unless they bring it up. If they do, deal with it lovingly and without condemnation. In that way, you are extending hospitality while not enabling their sin. If they choose to sleep together anyway, then the sin is on their heads.


[1] Genesis 18:1-8
[2] Hebrews 13:1-2
[3] Ecclesiastes 9:10; Colossians 3:17, 23-24
[4] Romans 12:11-15
[5] 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8
[6] Luke 10:7-8
[7] Matthew 9:10-13
[8] Romans 5:6-8
[9] Ephesians 4:27
[10] Proverbs 1:10
[11] 1 Corinthians 5:9-10
[12] Matthew 7:1-6
[13] 1 Corinthians 5:11-13
[14] 1 Corinthians 10:12-13
[15] Matthew 10:16

Emotional Competency

For anger kills a fool, and jealousy slays the gullible. - Job 5:2 HCSB

When Hashem created us in His image, He gave us the full panoply of emotions that were available. He gave us the potential to feel love and hate, joy and sorrow – everything ranging from acceptance to zest.

The reason He gave us these feelings is so that they would motivate us to right action. There is an appropriate time and place for each one.[1] For instance, we would normally say that hatred is a wrong feeling, but Yahweh hates.[2] Jealousy is not normally encouraged, yet the Lord God feels jealousy over His people.[3] Though we should not be characterized by vengeance, there is nothing intrinsically wrong with the feeling since God Himself feels it.[4]

The problem with most of us is that we can hardly even identify what emotion we are feeling half the time, and by the time they are strong enough for us to clearly identify, our emotions are often out of control. We struggle with knowing whether or not we are allowed to be angry. We are tormented by our inability to forgive and wonder if it is even appropriate. Confusion is exacerbated by guilt and we swing between resignation and rage.

There are four steps we need to take when processing our emotions. The first is identification. If we don’t have the emotional vocabulary to identify and verbalize our feelings, how are we to process them adequately? King David was supremely capable of putting his finger on how he was feeling about a given situation and raising the issue up at his next meeting with God. As a result, he got answers to his problems and became a man after God’s own heart.[5]

The second step is subjugation. We cannot allow our emotions to rule us. Though we are allowed to feel them, they are not necessarily to be acted upon. We are allowed to feel anger (something we don’t have a tremendous amount of control over feeling anger anyway) but we are not allowed to let our feelings drive us to commit sin.[6] We are allowed to feel grief and sorrow, but we must not let those feelings cause us to doubt God.[7] If we understand that emotions are primarily physical responses, various chemicals released by the brain in order to facilitate given physical reactions, then we must take responsibility to discipline our bodies to God’s will.[8]

The third step is formulation. We need to determine what is the best thing to do about this feeling? Do we need to reconcile ourselves to the issue? Do we need to speak out about it? Do we need to act on it? What is actually best, not only for ourselves but for the others involved?[9]

The last step is communication. If necessary, openly, honestly and compassionately speak the truth to the appropriate person.[10] As already discussed, make sure that what you say is what’s best and as much as possible, makes for peace.[11]

[1] Ecclesiastes 3:4, 8
[2] Psalm 5:5; 97:10
[3] Exodus 20:5
[4] Deuteronomy 7:10
[5] Acts 13:22
[6] Ephesians 4:26
[7] Job 1:22; 2:10
[8] 1 Corinthians 9:27
[9] Romans 12:10; Ephesians 5:21; Philippians 2:3
[10] Ephesians 4:15; Matthew 5:23-24 cp Matthew 18:15
[11] Romans 12:18