Be a Blip

Please allow me to introduce to you a man named Amasiah. Perhaps you've heard of him; he's the son of Zichri. Still not ringing any bells? I have to be honest, had I not been reading 2 Chronicles 17, I wouldn't have a clue who this guy was either. But we all probably should. 

Just a little background: Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, was on the throne and following after the Lord. He'd fortified the cities of Judah and torn down unsanctified places of worship. Verse 6 says, his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD. And mighty men of valor came to serve him. One of those men was Amasiah. Now, of Amasiah, Scripture says this:

...next to him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to the Lord, and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor. (2 Chronicles 17:16)

This was a man, a leader of men of whom it is said he willingly offered himself to the Lord. And then... silence. Amasiah is not mentioned in Scripture prior to his service to Jehoshaphat, and we read nothing of Amasiah in Scripture after this mention. But we know one very wonderful, very significant thing about him, and that was that he offered himself willingly to the Lord. 

Can you imagine having your name recorded in the best-selling book of all time, and that's it --just once, barely a mention, a blip --but the simple description that follows your name is the name of your father and your surrender to the Lord? Personally, I would love --I hope to be known for my favorably disposed in mind, desirous, ready, prompt service to the Lord. That's how Webster's 1936 Collegiate Dictionary defines "willingly." One's mind is made up and in full accord with --in this case --God's. The actor's desires are The Master's desires. And the servant is ready, prepared, to act without hesitation or reluctance. This was Amasiah. 

How does one come to this willingness? Scripture is full of willing servants, Jesus being Chief of all. Paul's words in Philippians 2:5-8 provide a concise description of Jesus' willingness:

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

And, if I can distill this even further: humility. The level of humility that leads to a resolute, unified obedience. But let's not ignore the elements of readiness or preparation either. It is so important to read the Bible. I can't say it enough! 

2 Timothy 3:16, 17:

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

This is our training manual, our playbook. Without humility, we will be unwilling. Without readiness, preparedness, we will be unwilling as well. Imagine enlisting in the military. You're handed a weapon you've never fired, driven to a place of which you've never even heard, placed shoulder-to-shoulder with a stranger, and told to fight the enemy when he appears. Would you be willing? I hope not! Training is vital. Training prepares us for what is to come and gives us the confidence willingness requires. God's Word warns us of the dangers and trouble we will encounter. God's Word shows us the correct path. God's Word corrects us, transforms us, and gives us insight. God's Word encourages us that we might remain willing to do the work even when things get tough. God's Word is the sword with which the enemy is slain and the sustenance with which we are able to survive the most adverse conditions. 

Scripture doesn't say for sure, but I'm thinking Amasiah was well-trained, a soldier humble unto obedience and an asset to Jehoshaphat's armies. His name --somewhat predictably --means "Yahweh is mighty." A willing soldier with a name like that. The kind of blip we should all desire to be.

 

Midweek: The Prodigal Son (Part Three)

A few weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to share my testimony. I did so within the framework of Jesus' parable of The Prodigal Son. Not only because my story has similarities --Who can't identify with the urge to rebel against authority, or having to eat a little crow because of our past foolishness? --but I used this parable because of the lessons I am learning still today, lessons I learn every time I read it.

It appears Jesus was prompted to tell this story because of the Pharisees and scribes, lawful men of Israel who took it upon themselves to define and enforce Torah. They were quite put out by the fact Jesus was not discriminating in His audiences but was instead talking to "sinners" about His Father. (Oh, the irony! Were the religious elite so free from sin they were not sinners themselves?) Suffice to say, they missed the point. God's Law was given to keep us safe. God's Law was given that we might know clearly our inability to keep it and our need for a Savior. But God's Law was also given that we might know how to please Him, how to worship Him with our lives. The hypocrisy of those condemning Jesus didn't look at all like worship. And that's where the older brother in the parable comes in. I don't want to jump ahead, because there are a few things I'd like to point out with regard to the younger son and his father, but the older brother --bitter, judgmental, entitled, unforgiving, and arrogant --is the character who most likely resembles the guys who started this fight. 

Let's pick up where we left our foolish young man; a stranger, penniless and starving in a far-off country gripped by a famine. Luke 15:15 says, he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country. The word translated "joined" in this passage is the Greek word, kollao; it means "glue." It's the same word translated "cling" in Romans 12:9, Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. The idea is to join oneself firmly; attach or glue oneself to what is good. Or, in the case of this son, to another human being. Does that ring any bells? How about the joining together of husband and wife, the two becoming one? In Matthew 19:3-6, Jesus reiterates God's framework for marriage using the words "be joined" (proskollao in the Greek). This Jewish son was willing to compromise his principles, his identity to be joined with a stranger, a pagan who --Who what? If we read on (verse 16), we find the young man still had nothing to eat! He was craving the husks he fed to the pigs each day. The pigs were eating while he was not! And he longed for the empty pods. Not even real food! The outside shell of food! But no one gave him anything. He had attached himself to this person in return for nothing more than a place to lay his head.

Compromised. Alone. Starving and broke. Without dignity or principle. And as I read this, I ask myself how many times I joined myself to things and people who would be my undoing just to fulfill some immediate craving. How often have I put myself in predicaments --harmful spaces --because I didn't understand the gnawing emptiness was meant to draw me to the only One who can redeem me and who is fullness of joy? How many times was I willing to trust people who were fighting their own battles, who could only appreciate me based on the last party I threw? How many times had I been so desperate for the approval of others I not only ignored my principles but remained in situations that didn't even meet my most basic of needs? And how often had I done these things to avoid contrition and repentance? How often had I found myself still empty, slopping hogs, but full of pride?

We'll continue with The Prodigal next week, but I'd just like to leave you with this last thought. The younger son has become the star of this parable over the years; but lest we too miss the point, let us remember the pride of the older son and those finger pointing, legalistic elitists. It can be difficult to admit we were impulsive, selfish, too big for our britches; but the pride that sits in judgment of others while we ourselves are rejecting truth is a special kind of stupid --next level deception and a hardness of heart we should abhor.

    

Freedom from Anxiety

In 1966, the Rolling Stones hit western shores for their fifth American tour, bringing with them a little ditty, Mother's Little Helper. 

"Kids are different today"
I hear ev'ry mother say
Mother needs something today to calm her down
And though she's not really ill
There's a little yellow pill
She goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
And it helps her on her way, gets her through her busy day

The lyrics escalate Mother's use of pharmaceuticals to abuse and, eventually, death. Somehow the mothers of the '60s were finding it impossible to deal with "modern" life. More than half a century later, is it any better? Life "improved" through conveniences like the internet and AI and same-day delivery and groceries selected and loaded for you into the back of your high-end SUV has somehow driven more Americans to anxiety and chemicals to manage it. So, what gives? Well, check this out:  

I acknowledge my guilt; I am anxious because of my sin. ~ Psalm 38:19 CJB

Anxious because of sin. Hmm... The New American Standard renders the same verse:  

For I admit my guilt; I am full of anxiety because of my sin.

Yoga and meditation have taken the place of prayer and Bible reading in schools to help students with stress. "Mindfulness" and "breathwork" are ubiquitous terms for librarians, healthcare professionals, and influencers. As our world becomes more independent of God --out of touch with His nature, His balance, His simplicity --everyone and their second cousin has anxiety. And the methods used to mitigate it are not curing anything. Snippets of Eastern religions and medical marijuana are, at best, temporary elixirs; at worst, they are idol worship and the dumbing down of American society. That may seem a bit harsh, but anything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God or causes one not to think soberly is not for the child of God.  

So, how can sin be the cause of anxiety? First, let's define anxiety. Psychology Today says:

Anxiety is both a mental and physical state of negative expectation. Mentally it is characterized by increased arousal and apprehension tortured into distressing worry, and physically by unpleasant activation of multiple body systems—all to facilitate response to an unknown danger, whether real or imagined.

The cognitive feelings of dread in anticipation of some bad outcome, and physical sensations such as jitteriness and a racing heart are designed for discomfort. Anxiety is meant to capture attention and stimulate you to make necessary changes to protect what you care about. Occasional bouts of anxiety are natural and can even be productive. ...But persistent, pervasive, or outsize anxiety can disrupt daily life, whether at school, work, or with friends—the mark of an anxiety disorder.

Dread of   (fill in the blank)  ; judgment, ineptitude, rejection, abandonment, isolation, small spaces, or perhaps, nothing at all. A provoked, limited reaction is not wrong: its purpose is to motivate us to change. If we feel anxious as we walk down a dark alley at night, we seek a well-lit path. If we feel anxious about a test, we study harder. But being full of anxiety --the persistent, pervasive, or disproportionate reaction --is different. 

If Scripture says anxiety's true cause is sin, we have to ask, What sin? 

How about a failure to observe Sabbath rest? Back to all of those modern conveniences. What about the unending influx of information, constant visual stimulation and recurring soundbites as close as our fingers? In Mark 2:27, Jesus declares, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Rest and time spent in God's presence is His gift to each of us. 

How about the sin of self-sufficiency? We are finite, not meant to know everything or do everything; putting that sort of pressure on ourselves is unreasonable and the cause of much anxiety. 

Neglecting the spiritual disciplines (reading God's Word, prayer, fasting, giving, serving, etc.). These are activities given to us to move us toward sanctification by the Spirit and equip us to do the work God has planned for us on earth. Without proper equipping, we will struggle to do what we are not meant to do on our own. Anxiety is the result. 

Other sins --self-sufficiency, pride, doubt, isolation, idolatry, fear, doubt, worry --separate us from the protection and provision of an infinite, almighty God. We were not made to be separated from Him. Being separated from Peace, Joy, Love, and Providence in a world as large and dark as this is like being a sheep (sans Shepherd) among wolves. The cause of extreme anxiety.

Jesus came that our joy may be full. We are not meant to be full of anxiety. I have a dear friend who goes through season after season of depression and anxious thoughts. From time to time, he clears out his friends' list on social media, makes a new commitment to himself or finds a new girlfriend. He usually feels pretty good for a couple of weeks, but his lifestyle never changes. He does not live according to God's Word, but lives only for his own pleasures. At some point, anxiety rears its ugly head once more. Wash.Rinse.Repeat. It breaks my heart. But he wants nothing to do with God, and this is the result. 

I don't mean to say that there are not physiological causes and medication is never necessary; sometimes it is. Sometimes great trauma has rewired the brain to respond to stimuli of which the person is unaware or doesn't even understand. But if one has not tried the most basic of solutions --a life lived in congruence with the precepts of one's very Creator --what can Mother's Little Helper accomplish? Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life --a life lived without anxiety and without slavery to sin.