Windham Bible Training Center

The phrase, “the just shall live by faith” from Habakkuk chapter 2 and verse 4 is quoted three times in the New Testament.  Each quote gives us a different, complimentary view of the phrase.  In Romans chapter 1 and verse 17 the just are living by faith as they are recognizing the Gospel as God’s power to save and believing it.  In that way folks are passing from death into life by faith.  In Galatians chapter 3 and verse 11 the contrast is between trusting in God’s grace and working to obey the Law.  The just are living by faith as a means of receiving God’s power for resisting temptation, avoiding sin, and serving His good pleasure.  Faith is a lifestyle in contrast to obeying rules in our strength and wisdom.  In Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 38 the just are portrayed as living by faith in adverse circumstances, refusing to yield.  The contrast is between those who draw back, cower, and shrink from adversity, which leads to destruction and those who persevere in their believing, despite opposition, until they receive the saving, or gaining of their soul.  Which picture looks the most like your walk of faith lately?

In Habakkuk chapter two, verse 4 says, “Behold, his soul within him is arrogant [lit., “puffed up”], it is not upright, but the righteous shall live due to his steadfast faith.”  It has been said that the Hebrew term translated “steadfast faith” expresses reliability, confidence, continuity, and trust.  In this context “it refers to the confidence of the righteous in God’s reliability and indicates that the righteous will continue to trust in God despite adversity.”  When you encounter adversity, do you puff up your soul or place your trust in God?

We return to our Minor Prophets theme with Jonah.  The four chapters of Jonah are brimming with revelations and profound insights concerning God and humanity.  In chapter two, Jonah finally gets some clarity of thought while sinking through the sea towards death.  As he considers his condition, first in the depths of the sea, and then in the depths of the sea creature, he realizes that he is not in control, in the driver’s seat.  He realizes that his circumstances are not, all together his.  He also realizes that he is not as ready to die as he had thought.  He says to God, “While I was fainting away, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came to Thee, into Thy holy temple.”  As he cries out, vowing to bring sacrifice, thanksgiving, and faithfulness he proclaims, “Salvation is from the Lord.”  With that, the Lord speaks and Jonah is vomited onto dry land.  When have you needed to be “in the belly of the beast” to see that you had no negotiating position?  What turned your desperation to deliverance?

In response to his personal joy at seeing that the American forces had turned back the British in the Battle of Baltimore in 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote a poem titled, “Defence of Fort McHenry.”  When set to music the poem is known as “The Star-Spangled Banner.”  The first three verses, including the best-known first verse, speak directly of his experiences in viewing the battle as a prisoner on a British ship.  The fourth verse expresses his conclusion and prayer:

“O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand,

Between their loved home and the war’s desolation.

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land,

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,

And this be our motto:  ‘In God do we trust.’

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave,

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!”

Two observations on liberty (see previous post):  First, basically liberty is about choosing.  If you can’t or won’t choose then you are not free.  Second, choosing wisely matters.  We don’t call it freedom when we use our choices to harm.

A third observation on liberty:  Our choices are never only about us.  They always affect other people.  Sometimes directly, and sometimes indirectly, but always others are involved.  Deuteronomy 30:19 highlights this when it says, “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.  So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.”  Being free to choose is priceless.  Choosing wisely is profitable.  Choosing wisely with an eye to the others who I will affect is the love of Christ in me.

When we speak of liberty or freedom, in essence we are speaking of the ability to choose.  Liberty is the authority to select for ourselves, and the responsibility to bear the consequences of our choices.  This idea of freedom seems to be in the background of Galatians 5:1 when it says, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”  The temptation to let someone or something else choose for us is always with us.  For some reason, there seems to be psychological comfort in the thought that we have someone else to blame, a way to avoid responsibility.  However, not choosing is also a choice.

Liberty also seems to include choosing well, or at least not choosing poorly.  We don’t call it freedom when folks drink until they pass out, or drive too fast and run off the road at a curve, or use credit to incur deep debt.  These are choices, but we do not celebrate the freedom of those who make such choices.  Galatians 5:13 says, “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”  We celebrate freedom best, and honor its Giver well, when we make wise choices.

In the second chapter of Joel’s prophecy, he draws attention to the great generosity of God.  He speaks of an outpouring or God’s Spirit.  An outpouring is a thrusting forth, a gushing.  This great flow is to be “on all mankind.”  He tells us that young and old, male and female, servants and masters, will all be recipients of this outpouring.  Then, verse 32, the last verse of the chapter begins with the words, “And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered.”  In Acts chapter 2 Peter proclaims that these words refer to our time, now is the Day of the Whosoever.  Our excuses are stripped away, our sense of inadequacy is challenged, and we are called to arise and call on the name of the Lord!

The first three verses of Hosea chapter 14 are an interesting outline of repentance.  Verse one calls us to recognize that God is not the problem, but the solution.  Many people become angry with God, assigning blame to Him for whatever they judge that they are unhappy about.  However, repentance doesn’t begin with us angry with God.  It begins with recognizing that my failure is mine and that we “stumble because of our own iniquity.”  Then, verse 2 counsels us to approach God with words and to make three petitions:  ask for forgiveness, ask for mercy and kindness, and ask to give praise.  Finally, verse 3 describes our confession- we will stop expecting great nations and societies to save us, we will stop hoping that the things that we have made will be gods to us, and we will remember that God is a defense and a provider for those who have none.  If change is necessary, and this is what it takes to change, then why do so many resist so persistently?

Nahum is a prophet whose written record is short.  In three short chapters he describes the judgment and fall of Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria.  The first two verses of chapter one remind us that God is at work all over the earth, and that He is jealous and avenging.  Because so much of the Bible follows the story of God’s dealings with Israel we sometimes forget that He is at work everywhere and with everyone.  All nations and leaders will answer to Him.  As to the jealous and avenging part, God is not jealous, as we often think of jealous- suspicious, angry, and insecure.  He is jealous in the sense that He is exclusive, to love Him is to choose to love no other, to serve Him is to choose to serve no other.  God is avenging in the sense of demanding righteousness and meting out justice.  With that established, Nahum describes the utter destruction that Nineveh has invited upon itself.  In the midst of this, chapter one and verse seven reminds, “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.”  Sometimes we hear “stronghold in the day of trouble” as “You will never see a day with trouble in it.”  However, the promise is not that we will not see trouble but that we will not be swallowed by it.  When we see trouble coming upon the unrepentant we should not join the parade but step to the side and look for our stronghold.  When has God brought you through trouble?

This is Memorial Day Weekend.  Here, in the USA we remember those who have given their lives in service to the country.  Those folks answered the call, accepted their mission, and gave the most that they could.  On Sunday, we had Pastor George DeTellis as our guest.  Pastor George and his family have been missionaries to Haiti for almost 30 years.  There are many similarities between those we honor on Memorial day and missionaries.  Rev. Russ Tatro founded a museum to honor those who have served and died on the mission field.  It was a wonderful memorial and a wonderful inspiration.   The dedication and sacrifice of both of these groups reminds us that we all have a mission to fulfill.  We have a calling to answer.  We have work to do.  How do you remind yourself to stay on task for God?