by Tim Hall

The conditions Jesus predicted to His disciples were nothing short of crisis. The movement that saw Christians "having favor with all the people" (Acts 2:47, NKJV) would take a dramatic turn. In the not-too-distant future, "... they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake" (Luke 21:12). To these timid followers, such words were sure to instill fear.

But they would not be alone in their trials, Jesus went on to say: "Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom ..." (Luke 21:14,15). Their ability to testify before hostile courts would not come from quick wit and deep intellect, but from God above. This assurance they were to settle in their hearts.

That's an interesting phrase: "settle it in your hearts". The word for "settle" is often used in the New Testament, referring to a deliberate act of placing something in a certain location. It is used, for example, of the placement of Jesus' body in the tomb by Joseph of Arimathea (Luke 23:53). Jesus' body didn't just happen to be in the tomb; Joseph, acting upon his will, placed it there.

Jesus' meaning, therefore, is clear: God's promise, which would answer a strong need (how to answer charges brought by murderous enemies), could calm their fearful souls. But for the promise to be of any value, they would have to "settle it in your hearts". They would have to deliberately meditate on God's promise, reminding themselves of His offer over and over again.

Another occasion of something placed in a person's heart is recorded by John: "And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him ..." (John 13:2). The result in both instances was the same: Something that had not previously been in a person's heart now resided there. In Judas' case, however, Satan was the one responsible for placement. The word for "put" in this verse is "ballo", a word often translated as "cast" or "throw". It suggests a more careless act, perhaps done with impulsiveness. Nonetheless, the thing cast is now located in the heart, the very seat of emotions, desires and will.

Here's our point: Our minds are receptacles into which many things can be placed. We can allow God's word to be placed there and the result will be peace, joy, love and faith. On the other hand, those who do not diligently watch the gates of their mind may discover things that the devil has flung there. The potential for damage from such devil-inspired thoughts is seen in Judas, an apostle of Christ who fell to the depths of a traitor!

A battle rages for the hearts and minds of us all. Paul warned: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:4,5).

God has provided each of us with the armor we need; it's up to us to put it on. He has provided us with promises that will secure our hearts and minds; it's up to us to work to settle them in our hearts. Those who are careless in what they allow to enter their minds may discover -- too late -- a serious deficiency in strength when their time of battle comes.

by Tim Hall

"Am I a sinner? Well, yes, I am. I occasionally have impure thoughts; sometimes I let a bad word slip out of my mouth; and I have been known to creep over the speed limit now and then. Yes, I must confess that I am a sinner. But Jesus is willing to receive sinners like me."

It's true that Jesus is willing to receive sinners who repent and turn back to God. But is our understanding of "sinners" the same as Jesus had in mind? We should remind ourselves of what He really taught.

Sinners are the subject Jesus addressed in Luke 15. Through the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the wayward son, Jesus made a powerful point: "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance" (Luke 15:7, NKJV). We've often thrilled over the truth of that passage. To know that angels rejoice when a sinner like me repents -- that's really good news!

But who did Jesus have in mind when He spoke of penitent sinners? Look back to the beginning of the chapter: "Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, 'This man receives sinners and eats with them'" (Luke 15:1,2). The people Jesus had in mind when He spoke of "sinners" in verses 7 and 10 were those whom polite company silently condemns as beyond hope. "Incorrigible!" we think. "God will forgive sinners like me, but those kind of people are beyond hope."

Who were these sinners of Luke 15? One class is mentioned: the tax collectors. Others were likely drunkards, prostitutes, thieves, hardened soldiers. Could people like these be reached by the gospel? Obviously they could, for they were coming in large numbers to Jesus. Instead of rejoicing over their change, though, the "good people" of Jesus' day -- people who would quickly admit they were sinners -- looked upon the scene with scorn.

Could we become like these scribes and Pharisees? Do we regard some people as "sinners like me", and others as "those people"? And because they are so steeped in sin, do we make little or no effort to reach them with the saving message of Jesus' gospel?

There are sinners all around: drug addicts, pornography merchants, convicted felons, etc. And then there are the other sinners: church-going people who tell white lies, who cheat on their income taxes, who "borrow" pencils from the office. Which group is worse? Whom did Jesus come to save?

The answer is clear: We're all sinners. The prostitute is a sinner like me. The thief is a sinner like me. The murderer is a sinner like me. I need the Savior's help as much as any of these. If I don't think so, then I may have already developed Pharisaical attitudes.

Who is the worst sinner of all time? Would the apostle Paul qualify for that title? He thought he would! "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief" (1 Timothy 1:15). If a Christian like Paul realized his desperate need for a Savior, then I'd better try to see myself in that way, too.

by Tim Hall

The word "wilderness" brings many images to American minds. Generally it connotes a place of harsh circumstances, a terrain that tests survival skills. For some, the wilderness is a place to be avoided at all costs; they don't want to give up their comforts. Others relish the opportunity to get out and brave the elements.

One man in the Bible didn't fare so well in the wilderness. We read of this nameless individual in Luke 8:26-39. We know nothing of his former life, only that he was possessed by demons who drove him "into the wilderness". After living among the tombs, his appearance and actions frightened people. His was a miserable existence in the wilderness. (Of course, Christ changed all that.)

The book of Numbers in the Old Testament is a record of many who didn't survive. In the Hebrew Bible, its title is "In The Wilderness", taken from the first words of the book. Its account of the first generation of Israelites doesn't have a happy ending. By failing to place their trust completely in the One who wrested their freedom from mighty Egypt, they forfeited their promise of a wonderful new home in Canaan. Here's Paul's summary of that first generation: "But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness" (1 Corinthians 10:5, NKJV).

Jesus' experience of life on this earth was not exempt from harsh wilderness experiences. Luke 4:1 tells us, "Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness." The wilderness, the place where so many before Him had not survived, was a dangerous place even for the Son of God. But as Luke goes on to report, Jesus survived the wilderness. And His conquest carries with it seeds of hope for our own survival.

What enabled Jesus to do what many others didn't is highlighted in Luke's account. When tempted by Satan to compromise His convictions, Jesus responded each time with "It is written" (Luke 4:4,8,12). What did He mean? Simply that mortals must look to God for their survival. If Jesus had reacted on the basis of fleshly passions, He would have changed the stones to bread, or taken the short-cut to power by worshipping the devil. Instead, Jesus looked to God for direction, refusing worldly solutions. The key to wilderness survival according to Jesus is to keep our focus on the One who placed us in the wilderness.

The Hebrew writer exhorts us with these words: "For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren" (Hebrews 2:10,11).

We who are Christians today are mentioned in that passage: "those who are being sanctified". We struggle to resist the allurements of the flesh. But we have made it our aim to be set apart solely for the use of God. We follow the example of Jesus who was perfectly sanctified, and look to Him for help. By keeping our focus on Him, we will survive this wilderness we call life on earth.

"They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for habitation. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" (Psalm 107:4-8).

by Tim Hall

His childhood home was just a short distance away. It had been many years since he had been there. But as Jacob lay down to sleep that night, he couldn't deny he was frightened. After all, when he left many years ago, his brother felt very defrauded and had vowed to kill him. As far as Jacob knew, nothing had changed between him and Esau. He had trouble sleeping that night.

During the night, "a Man" accosted Jacob. They struggled until it was nearly dawn. When the Man asked Jacob to release him, Jacob refused. "I will not let you go unless you bless me." The Man then pronounced a blessing upon Jacob by giving him a new name -- "Israel", the prince of God. The blessing was bestowed because "you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed." In the process of the struggle, though, Jacob's hip was thrown out of joint, and he walked afterward with a limp. But as he limped away, he recognized that he had been wrestling with God Himself! (The account of this episode can be read in Genesis 32:24-31.)

There are times when each of us is challenged to "wrestle" with God. No, it's not actual physical combat, as in the case of Jacob. But through the trials that come our way, we are challenged to confront our previously-held notions of God and His will for our lives. Not everyone accepts the challenge. Many simply walk away from the scene, deciding that God evidently doesn't love them as they once thought, or else He wouldn't have allowed this to happen. Some give up entirely on the idea of God. These refuse to wrestle with God.

Those who choose to engage in the struggle will be blessed. Note again that the Lord blessed Jacob "for you have struggled with God . . . and have prevailed." Don't conclude from this that God can be defeated by man; that's not at all what this teaches. Instead, God is shown as One who sometimes pushes us a little farther than we thought we could go so that we might grow. The wise teacher assigns homework that looks too demanding, but knows that those who struggle with the assignment will learn much. God knows how much wrestling we can endure. He also knows we will be blessed for having engaged Him in the struggle.

Of course, like Jacob we may walk away from the ordeal with a limp. In extraneous ways we will be less than we were before the trial. But in our souls we'll be joyful because we will know we've been blessed by the Lord. His blessings are far more glorious and longer-lasting than a perfect gait. We are happy to limp, as long as we limp with the Lord.

". . . Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9,10, New King James Version).

by Tim Hall

The people standing before them looked like weary travelers. Their clothing was dusty and worn; their sandals were barely holding together; even their provisions had the appearance of age. Bread which they claimed to have taken hot from their oven on the day they began traveling was now dry and moldy. Certainly these people had come from a great distance.

One suspicious soul raised a caution: "Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you?" (Joshua 9:7, NKJV) It was a valid concern. After God led the Israelites out of Egypt, He told them about the land He would give them. One thing God made clear was that they were to make no treaties with the occupants of Canaan. "...For I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods" (Exodus 23:31,32). The religions and lifestyles of the Canaanites were extremely immoral. God wanted His people to have no contact with such ungodly people.

Joshua committed a serious mistake on this occasion. As a man with good leadership skills, he carefully listened to these strangers as they asked for terms of peace. One thing, however, he forgot: "...they did not ask counsel of the Lord" (Joshua 9:14). Had they asked the Lord for wisdom, God would surely have pulled the disguise off these Gibeonites. Since no one asked, though, God allowed them to make a pact with people who had been designated for destruction.

You can't say Joshua wasn't thinking that day. You can say, though, that he was thinking with his eyes rather than with God's counsel. And that's always a mistake.

Paul warned against the same tendency in his day. In speaking of false teachers already at work among the Corinthian Christians, he wrote, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:13,14). Judging solely by the senses, this teacher appears to be trustworthy. He looks friendly; his words are smooth and non-judgmental; his handshake is firm, and he looks you in the eye. Surely this man is teaching us things upon which we can rely.

But wait! Has anyone thought to "ask counsel of the Lord"? How can we do that? Here's the test Paul prescribed: "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8,9).

Imagine one of the apostles coming to speak at your church this Sunday. Or maybe an angel descends with a stirring message. "We can believe that!" some might gush. "These are holy messengers." Paul would disagree. He would ask, "Is it the message that has been preached to you? There is no other gospel. If it's not what was delivered in the first century (i.e. revealed in the New Testament), don't believe it."

The messenger before you sounds and looks authentic. Yes, his message is a little different from what you've been taught in the past; ... Okay, it's a lot different. But he assures you that his message is true, based on the best scholarship of the day.

Just one question before you accept what he's saying: Have you sought counsel from the Lord?