“Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.” Deuteronomy 14:21b
Those of us who know something about Jewish dietary rules, know that it is forbidden to eat milk and meat together in the same meal. In fact, the rabbinical take is that you must wait at least two hours after eating milk or milk products, before you can eat meat, and at least four hours after eating meat before you can eat milk or milk products. (The difference being the length of time estimated for the food to be digested in the stomach; the reasoning being that if both milk and meat were in the stomach at the same time, that could be considered ‘cooking’.) No steak for dinner and ice-cream for supper! They even go so far to say that you can’t eat chicken and milk products together (even though chickens do not produce milk). However, fish and milk products are ok...
Unlike the laws concerning not eating pork or shellfish, among other meats, which God specifically laid down (Lev. 11:7, 10-12), this notion about milk and meat together has been taken out of context from what God intended. Consider this: Abraham served meat and curds as a meal to the Lord and two angels who came to visit him prior to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 18:8). And God ate it.
Cooking a young goat in its mother’s milk was actually a Canaanite fertility rite. God didn’t want His people to adopt the ways of the nations around them, either in worshipping Him, or, even worse, worshipping pagan gods. This law is not so much about eating, but about following heathen practices in worship.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
How not to worship God
“and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, ‘How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.’ You must not worship the Lord your God in their way, because in worshipping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.” Deuteronomy 12:30-31
When the Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land, God warned them on several occasions not to let the Canaanites live but to wipe them out completely. He gives the reason over and over again: so that the Israelites would not be drawn in to worshipping their gods – or, as we find here, worshippng the true and living God in the same way as the pagans worshipped theirs. This was what happened at the incident with the golden calf: the people made an idol, and started bowing down to it, thinking they were worshipping the God who brought them out of Egypt (Ex. 32:8).
It’s easy for us to point the finger at the Israelites and condemn them. But do we do the same thing? Think about the things the world worships today: money, fame, success, themselves. How do they worship these things? By wanting everything for themselves, and being prepared to step over others in order to get it.
God is not like other gods. He doesn’t need to be placated – in the Isralites’ time, to be brought child sacrifices; in our time, to be given lots of money or service. We need to learn how God wants to be worshipped, and do it. “God is spirit, and His worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
When the Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land, God warned them on several occasions not to let the Canaanites live but to wipe them out completely. He gives the reason over and over again: so that the Israelites would not be drawn in to worshipping their gods – or, as we find here, worshippng the true and living God in the same way as the pagans worshipped theirs. This was what happened at the incident with the golden calf: the people made an idol, and started bowing down to it, thinking they were worshipping the God who brought them out of Egypt (Ex. 32:8).
It’s easy for us to point the finger at the Israelites and condemn them. But do we do the same thing? Think about the things the world worships today: money, fame, success, themselves. How do they worship these things? By wanting everything for themselves, and being prepared to step over others in order to get it.
God is not like other gods. He doesn’t need to be placated – in the Isralites’ time, to be brought child sacrifices; in our time, to be given lots of money or service. We need to learn how God wants to be worshipped, and do it. “God is spirit, and His worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Why the world hates Christians
“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” John 15:19
In this post on John 8:23 we saw how Jesus declared that He was “not of this world”, ‘the world’ referring to the mindset of the world at large. We also know from John 17:14 that, if we have been born again, we too are not of the world – although we are still in it. We used to be of the world – following its ways (Col. 3:7). We were travelling the broad road towards the wide gate (Matt. 7:13-14). So how did we come to be loosed from that bondage?
The reason is this: that Jesus chose us and called us out of the world. To the world’s mindsets, we are traitors. We are no longer doing the ‘cool’ thing in rebelling against God, but have submitted to Him. This is why the world hates Christianity. The fact that the world hates us, shows that we don’t belong in it; we don’t belong in it because we have been born again by God’s Spirit.
But we are not alone; nor are we in the minority. With God on our side, we are in the majority. He already has the victory. Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33) - and so have we, if we are in Him.
In this post on John 8:23 we saw how Jesus declared that He was “not of this world”, ‘the world’ referring to the mindset of the world at large. We also know from John 17:14 that, if we have been born again, we too are not of the world – although we are still in it. We used to be of the world – following its ways (Col. 3:7). We were travelling the broad road towards the wide gate (Matt. 7:13-14). So how did we come to be loosed from that bondage?
The reason is this: that Jesus chose us and called us out of the world. To the world’s mindsets, we are traitors. We are no longer doing the ‘cool’ thing in rebelling against God, but have submitted to Him. This is why the world hates Christianity. The fact that the world hates us, shows that we don’t belong in it; we don’t belong in it because we have been born again by God’s Spirit.
But we are not alone; nor are we in the minority. With God on our side, we are in the majority. He already has the victory. Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33) - and so have we, if we are in Him.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Showing our love for God
“If you love Me, you will obey what I command.” John 14:15
We can find ourselves asking the question, ‘How can I prove to myself and others that I really love God?’ Jesus tells us that it’s quite simple: Do we obey what He commands?
Now, obeying commands sounds like something impersonal, following orders like being in the military. It conjures up thoughts of duty and obligation, something you just have to do, whether you like it or not. When we hear the word ‘commands’ we tend to automatically think of the Old Testament law, that by and large feels pretty irrelevant to us. Is that what Jesus means? Do we have to keep the Old Testament law?
John writes in his first epistle, “This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). In fact, Jesus tells us what command He has in view here. “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you... This is My command: Love each other” (John 15:12, 17).
Paul writes, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandment, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not covet,’ and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law” (Rom. 13:8-10).
Do we go out of our way to help others? Do we treat them with respect, the way we would like to be treated? Do we love them as the Lord loves us? If so, then we are keeping Jesus’ command, and we are demonstrating that we do love God. “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:20-21).
We can find ourselves asking the question, ‘How can I prove to myself and others that I really love God?’ Jesus tells us that it’s quite simple: Do we obey what He commands?
Now, obeying commands sounds like something impersonal, following orders like being in the military. It conjures up thoughts of duty and obligation, something you just have to do, whether you like it or not. When we hear the word ‘commands’ we tend to automatically think of the Old Testament law, that by and large feels pretty irrelevant to us. Is that what Jesus means? Do we have to keep the Old Testament law?
John writes in his first epistle, “This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). In fact, Jesus tells us what command He has in view here. “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you... This is My command: Love each other” (John 15:12, 17).
Paul writes, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandment, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not covet,’ and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law” (Rom. 13:8-10).
Do we go out of our way to help others? Do we treat them with respect, the way we would like to be treated? Do we love them as the Lord loves us? If so, then we are keeping Jesus’ command, and we are demonstrating that we do love God. “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:20-21).
Thursday, January 26, 2012
My rock of refuge
“Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.” Psalm 71:3
We all need a rock of refuge at various times in our life, a place where we know we are safe. For the Christian, that place has to be with God. It’s not a physical place, but a spiritual one.
Throughout the Bible God is called a rock, a fortress, a strong tower. These are all things that, once you are inside, the enemy can’t harm you. God’s arms are always open to take you into safety. It doesn’t mean the battle stops, but it means you are protected.
If you’re feeling under attack today, seek out God as that fortress and rock of refuge. Here are some other verses that I hope you will find encouraging:
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Ps. 18:2).
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Prov. 18:10).
“He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” (Ps. 91:4).
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isa. 41:10).
We all need a rock of refuge at various times in our life, a place where we know we are safe. For the Christian, that place has to be with God. It’s not a physical place, but a spiritual one.
Throughout the Bible God is called a rock, a fortress, a strong tower. These are all things that, once you are inside, the enemy can’t harm you. God’s arms are always open to take you into safety. It doesn’t mean the battle stops, but it means you are protected.
If you’re feeling under attack today, seek out God as that fortress and rock of refuge. Here are some other verses that I hope you will find encouraging:
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Ps. 18:2).
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Prov. 18:10).
“He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” (Ps. 91:4).
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isa. 41:10).
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Washing the disciples' feet
“He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, ‘Lord, are You going to wash my feet?’ Jesus replied, ‘You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’” John 13:6-7
We all know how at the Last Supper, Jesus rose from the table and washed the disciples’ feet. This is a practice that doesn’t really translate into our society – we don’t understand just how menial the task was. When guests would come to a house, the host would ask one of his servants to wash their feet – necessary to keep the house clean because, having been walking along dusty roads in sandals, their feet would be dirty. It was not a chore that was envied, and it was usually given to the lowest servant.
This is why Peter protested. He thought, Jesus was the master; He shouldn’t be washing feet!
But the truth is, becoming human was such a step down for Jesus, that stepping down from master to servant was much less humiliating than that. Jesus came to earth to serve (Mark 10:45). It must have been uncomfortable for the disciples to have Him do this, but it was necessary: as Jesus said to Peter, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me” (John 13:8).
Jesus used this to teach the disciples about service. “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). Some people today have taken this literally, even though foot-washing is no longer a necessary part of Western culture. What we should do is apply the principle. Nothing should be too menial for us to do, in serving one another.
We all know how at the Last Supper, Jesus rose from the table and washed the disciples’ feet. This is a practice that doesn’t really translate into our society – we don’t understand just how menial the task was. When guests would come to a house, the host would ask one of his servants to wash their feet – necessary to keep the house clean because, having been walking along dusty roads in sandals, their feet would be dirty. It was not a chore that was envied, and it was usually given to the lowest servant.
This is why Peter protested. He thought, Jesus was the master; He shouldn’t be washing feet!
But the truth is, becoming human was such a step down for Jesus, that stepping down from master to servant was much less humiliating than that. Jesus came to earth to serve (Mark 10:45). It must have been uncomfortable for the disciples to have Him do this, but it was necessary: as Jesus said to Peter, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me” (John 13:8).
Jesus used this to teach the disciples about service. “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). Some people today have taken this literally, even though foot-washing is no longer a necessary part of Western culture. What we should do is apply the principle. Nothing should be too menial for us to do, in serving one another.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Manna: a lesson in humility
“He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you.” Deuteronomy 8:16
We all know about how the Israelites ate manna for forty years while they were in the wilderness. It was provided by God from heaven - in Ps. 78:25 it is called ‘the bread of angels’. It appeared on the ground after the morning dew evaporated, and the people had to collect it every day except the Sabbath. On the day before the Sabbath they were to collect twice as much, and it would last; but any other day if they tried to keep any overnight it would go bad. (See Ex. 16.) The people complained about it, which resulted in God sending quail and plagues upon the people. (See Num. 11.)
But manna is not just how God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness – it is a picture for us today. Jesus called Himself the bread of life who came down from heaven (John 6:32-35). Like the Israelites, we need to be seeking this manna, this bread of life, every day. This is why Jesus instructs us to come to the Father in prayer daily (Matt. 6:11). This forces us to rely on God, trusting Him to provide for us from day to day. That’s how the Israelites were humbled in the wilderness with the manna, and it’s a lesson we all need to learn. And the result? “So that in the end it might go well with you.”
We all know about how the Israelites ate manna for forty years while they were in the wilderness. It was provided by God from heaven - in Ps. 78:25 it is called ‘the bread of angels’. It appeared on the ground after the morning dew evaporated, and the people had to collect it every day except the Sabbath. On the day before the Sabbath they were to collect twice as much, and it would last; but any other day if they tried to keep any overnight it would go bad. (See Ex. 16.) The people complained about it, which resulted in God sending quail and plagues upon the people. (See Num. 11.)
But manna is not just how God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness – it is a picture for us today. Jesus called Himself the bread of life who came down from heaven (John 6:32-35). Like the Israelites, we need to be seeking this manna, this bread of life, every day. This is why Jesus instructs us to come to the Father in prayer daily (Matt. 6:11). This forces us to rely on God, trusting Him to provide for us from day to day. That’s how the Israelites were humbled in the wilderness with the manna, and it’s a lesson we all need to learn. And the result? “So that in the end it might go well with you.”
Monday, January 23, 2012
Being zealous for God
“I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother’s sons; for zeal for Your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult You fall on me.” Psalm 69:8-9
This verse is one that is quoted in the New Testament as being prophetic of Jesus (John 2:17). In fact, the whole of this psalm contains prophetic insights into the life of Jesus, even though David was writing from his own personal experience. David was indeed shunned by his brothers (see 1 Sam. 17:28-29) and had great zeal for the house of God and upholding God’s name. Jesus too was shunned by his brothers (see John 7:3-5) and of course was zealous for the house of God, on two occasions turning over the tables in the temple of those selling animals and doves for sacrifice, and those changing money.
Are we zealous for God in this way? Do we feel offended when people blaspheme God’s name? Do we voice our objection, or do we say nothing and let it slide? The word ‘zealous’ is very similar to the word ‘jealous’. Both imply passion for something; jealousy on the negative side (not wanting to share it) but zealousness on the positive side. Being zealous for God means doing everything you can to promote Him. People are zealous for all sorts of causes today: civil rights, the environment, political parties, etc. As Christians, we should be zealous for the cause of Christ. I know I could definitely be more zealous for Him...
This verse is one that is quoted in the New Testament as being prophetic of Jesus (John 2:17). In fact, the whole of this psalm contains prophetic insights into the life of Jesus, even though David was writing from his own personal experience. David was indeed shunned by his brothers (see 1 Sam. 17:28-29) and had great zeal for the house of God and upholding God’s name. Jesus too was shunned by his brothers (see John 7:3-5) and of course was zealous for the house of God, on two occasions turning over the tables in the temple of those selling animals and doves for sacrifice, and those changing money.
Are we zealous for God in this way? Do we feel offended when people blaspheme God’s name? Do we voice our objection, or do we say nothing and let it slide? The word ‘zealous’ is very similar to the word ‘jealous’. Both imply passion for something; jealousy on the negative side (not wanting to share it) but zealousness on the positive side. Being zealous for God means doing everything you can to promote Him. People are zealous for all sorts of causes today: civil rights, the environment, political parties, etc. As Christians, we should be zealous for the cause of Christ. I know I could definitely be more zealous for Him...
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Lest we forget
“be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Deuteronomy 6:12
Here Moses gives a warning to the children of Israel: when they enter the Promised Land and start to enjoy a life of prosperity and blessings from God, they were not to forget the Lord. It’s very easy when things are going well in our lives, to forget to thank God for it. Instead, we start to think that everything is good because of something we have done to make it that way. It’s easy to leave God out of the picture.
The same thing is true in our spiritual life. It’s easy to become self-content in our salvation. But we must never forget what God has done in saving us, nor where He has brought us out from. In the Bible, the deliverance of Israel from Egypt is used as a picture of how God delivers us from being in bondage to sin. It’s good for us to periodically think back on what our lives were like before we were saved, or (especially if, like me, you were saved at a very young age) to think about where you might be right now if it wasn’t for the Lord. Having this perspective will definitely make you more aware of the Lord and what He is doing in your life. You see, He doesn’t just save us out of the world and sin, but He saves us for something: His purposes. God doesn’t just save us and say, ‘Now you’re on your own.’ Life is a journey that He wants to share with us – and He wants us to remember Him, always.
Here Moses gives a warning to the children of Israel: when they enter the Promised Land and start to enjoy a life of prosperity and blessings from God, they were not to forget the Lord. It’s very easy when things are going well in our lives, to forget to thank God for it. Instead, we start to think that everything is good because of something we have done to make it that way. It’s easy to leave God out of the picture.
The same thing is true in our spiritual life. It’s easy to become self-content in our salvation. But we must never forget what God has done in saving us, nor where He has brought us out from. In the Bible, the deliverance of Israel from Egypt is used as a picture of how God delivers us from being in bondage to sin. It’s good for us to periodically think back on what our lives were like before we were saved, or (especially if, like me, you were saved at a very young age) to think about where you might be right now if it wasn’t for the Lord. Having this perspective will definitely make you more aware of the Lord and what He is doing in your life. You see, He doesn’t just save us out of the world and sin, but He saves us for something: His purposes. God doesn’t just save us and say, ‘Now you’re on your own.’ Life is a journey that He wants to share with us – and He wants us to remember Him, always.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Teaching our children
“Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:7-9
Teaching children the things of God is a privilege and responsibility that, the Bible clearly says, belongs to parents. It isn’t the job of your Sunday school teacher to teach your children about God and the Bible. And, it shouldn’t only be limited to Sundays, or saying grace at meal times. It should be a natural part of family life, every moment of every day. That’s what Moses is getting at here. Unfortunately, in later generations the Jews took these verses literally, making little boxes to tie on their hands, foreheads, doorways, etc. that hold a small piece of paper with a Scripture written on it (usually Deut. 6:4, “Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one”). The instruction to integrate God into everything you do as a family, largely became a impersonal tradition.
Our relationship with God is not a part-time one. If we have committed our life to Him, then we should be conscious of Him everywhere we go and in everything we do – and we should demonstrate this to our children. Proverbs 22:6 tells us, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” That's a promise, but it's also a command.
Teaching children the things of God is a privilege and responsibility that, the Bible clearly says, belongs to parents. It isn’t the job of your Sunday school teacher to teach your children about God and the Bible. And, it shouldn’t only be limited to Sundays, or saying grace at meal times. It should be a natural part of family life, every moment of every day. That’s what Moses is getting at here. Unfortunately, in later generations the Jews took these verses literally, making little boxes to tie on their hands, foreheads, doorways, etc. that hold a small piece of paper with a Scripture written on it (usually Deut. 6:4, “Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one”). The instruction to integrate God into everything you do as a family, largely became a impersonal tradition.
Our relationship with God is not a part-time one. If we have committed our life to Him, then we should be conscious of Him everywhere we go and in everything we do – and we should demonstrate this to our children. Proverbs 22:6 tells us, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” That's a promise, but it's also a command.
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