Crammed packed full!

I enjoy watching the re-runs of the TV series, "The Waltons".  The simpler times have their intrigue.  The struggles to remain true to their convictions when times are quickly changing around them is a reminder to me of the speed of change demanding our attention today.  What touches me the most is their simple trust - in their neighbors, in their family, and in their God.  One of the characters on the show, Ike Godsey, is the store owner and local postmaster.  His store is never really what we'd call "impressive" by today's standards, but it always seemed he could get his hands on whatever anyone was looking to obtain - even if he had to special order it.  Today's passage reminds us of the "general store" available to all of us.

⁵²  He said, "Then you see how every student well-trained in God's kingdom is like the owner of a general store who can put his hands on anything you need, old or new, exactly when you need it."  (Matthew 13:52 The Message)

The student well-trained in God's Word is the like the owner of a general store - able to put their hands on anything we need - exactly when we need it!  Wow!  I never really thought of it this way, but it is true.  Depending on the translation we read, we get a little different interpretation of this passage, but all ring true to the idea of a vast storehouse which is at our disposal.  The one important fact which is apparent in each translation is the "access".


We often have "access" to many things.  I have access to a copy machine right across from my office.  In fact, I have access to a laser printer, copier, and fax machine without having to walk more than 10 feet.  Yet, none of these office machines are mine.  I can "use" them in the day-to-day operation of my work, but I don't get to take them home at the end of the day.  They are not owned my me.  Access is the ability to "use" these items only.  I have been granted "permission" to utilize them, and I can grant permission to others to utilize them as they have need, as well.


As Jesus is speaking with his disciples, he refers to being "students" - well-trained in God's kingdom - and equates them to being like store "owners".  The one who owns the store is able to access anything within the store whenever the need arises.  The one who merely "purchases" from the store is one who must seek permission to purchase what is needed.  Being a disciple of the Word is like being the keeper of a vast storeroom of "good stuff" you may "access" at any time.


New or old - exactly when you need it.  Here's the joy of becoming a student of the Word - the vastness of the resources available to you!  Some truths will be like the pillars of a building - holding us strong through thick and thin.  Other truths will be used less frequently, but like the fine china which comes out on special occasions, they grace our lives with beauty.  Then there is the cumulative effect of one portion of the Word adding to another - providing wisdom for our journey and sustenance to our soul.


I recently moved the pantry to make access to the items contained within it more easily accessible to my sight-challenged mother.  She needed narrower shelves, more lighting, and less clutter in order to make her "access" to the items contained within more practical for her.  What she discovered was how much stuff we actually had!  She had forgotten about some of the items (so had I!).  As we spread them out, we saw how blessed we really are!  It is often in the "de-cluttering" of our lives we find out just how blessed we are!  


Sometimes we "clutter up" our storeroom of faith with all kinds of things which only serve to push the good stuff to the back, making "access" a little difficult.  Maybe we need to "de-clutter" our spiritual storerooms a little, too.  In so doing, we may find treasures we'd long forgotten!

What is in a name?

^2-3 God, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together.
   God, you pulled me out of the grave, gave me another chance at life
      when I was down-and-out. 

(Psalm 30:2-3)

Sometimes we blast through our scripture reading and never stop to look at how the "names" of God are actually written.  Did you know that the publishers of our Bibles have gone to great lengths (in most translations) to assist us in understanding that the names of God are different in some passages?  As you note above, sometimes GOD or LORD is in all caps and at others it is God or Lord.  That is because David is using two very distinct terms to describe this delivering and very capable God he serves!

David has been in a real mess - he has been hotly pursued by King Saul's armies, betrayed by friends, not very secure in his future (from his vantage point).  He has spent hours pouring his heart out to his Lord and now, at long last, God has intervened.  He is delighted that God has heard his prayers and he wants to celebrate the goodness of God.  He wants those around him to join in that celebration.

He begins with GOD, my God...

GOD or LORD refers to the name of God Israel often used in describing their God - Jehovah.  Anytime that we see GOD in all caps it is translated Jehovah (pronounced Ja-ho-vah).  The meaning of Jehovah is simply put as "the unchangeable one".  When David is crying out, he is laying out his need for intervention to the one who remains steadfast and unchangeable in his promises of protection.  David had been anointed by God to be the next King of Israel - he was calling upon the God of unchanging promises to keep him safe and deliver him from the "mess" he found himself in.

Jehovah carries some other meaning that lend to the interpretation of this passage.  For example, whenever he used the term Jehovah, he was also calling upon the one who would become everything David needed - in other words, the intervention would be exactly what was needed at that moment in his life.  He knew that the attributes of God that were referenced in the name Jehovah revealed the righteousness of God's character - a God of divine compassion, holy in all ways, and permanent in his promises.

Attributes of character were important in Old Testament times - that is why names were not given lightly.  The name often revealed something about the character of the individual, the quality of a location, etc.  The attributes of God that are revealed in the names used in various portions of scripture give us insight into the traits of God.  In this case, Jehovah is a holy and righteous name - it reveals the complete holiness of God - placing God in a position of justice.

David uses a second name for God when he uses the "God" term - Elohim (pronounced El-o-heem).  He is saying, "Just and Holy One, Faithful in your promises to me (Jehovah), my God (Elohim), I yelled for help and you put me together..."  Elohim refers to the God of all creation - the creator God.  As creator, he is the one in possession of absolute power and authority.  Think about making something - as "creator" of that object, you have the power and authority in the outcome of that object.  David is acknowledging that he needs the one who created him to take complete control of his life.

In using this term, he is also referring to the "governing" side of God's character - the right to "rule" what he has "created".  This is the name that Israel used when they thought about God's covenants - Jehovah displayed the moral side of his character; Elohim displayed his loving and faithful commitment to keep that which he created under his care.  This term reveals much about God - creation is dependent upon its Creator.  David is acknowledging that it is "his" mess - but he needs his Creator to intervene to set that mess straight!

It is the all-powerful God that pulls him out of the grave!  Jehovah to the rescue!  That is what David is proclaiming.  He got into the mess - the covenant keeping, totally unchangeable one would deliver him from that mess. It is the Unchangeable One that gives David another chance at life - the holy GOD is also a loving and merciful GOD!  

There is a third name displayed in our Bibles written as Lord - Adonai (pronounced as Add-o-nigh).  This refers to God as our owner, the one who has unrestricted claims on that which he possesses.  It is Adonai that expects obedience from those he possesses - those who have given their hearts to him.  It is he who expects to be the "sole" owner, master and possessor of our lives.  

The next time you read a passage - just stop for a moment to consider what name is being used to describe God.  The very character attributes of God lend much to the frame of the passage.  We see man's attitude toward God in the term he uses to describe God.  We see man's reliance on God as creator, as holy judge, etc.  It can open scripture in a new way to simply focus on something that seems so insignificant!

Invitation to build

Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.

(I Corinthians 6:19-20)

We began to look at the concept of being bought (purchased) with a price that was far too great for any of us to pay - the life of the Son of God. That purchase moved us into the unique position of being another's possession - owned by another.  Today, we will explore what kind of obligation this places us under - what does being owned by Christ - indwelt by his Spirit - mean for us in our day to day walk?

It is possible for us to "own" something, yet not be in full possession of it.  A few years back, the city of Phoenix had a freeway construction project planned that brought this to light for many homeowners in the area.  They came to realize that they had purchased property that was merely part of a "land lease" - the house belonged to them, but the property upon which it was built was really not their own.  It belonged to the city - just leased to them to build upon.  This never seemed like an issue until the one who owned it wanted full possession of it!

When Jesus asks for full possession of our lives - body, soul and spirit - he is asking for access to not only our spirit, but all that gets "built" into our character.  He is like the city - he wants the land AND the house - for the special purpose of building what he sees as most important in our lives.  It is possible for us to be in relationship with the Lord and still not be fully his.  We go about building into our lives what we think is important - exclusive of what he wants for us.  When we do this, we remain slave to the pulls of our flesh - responding to the sin nature that drives us.

We are bought out of slavery to our sin nature - the price for our sin being paid, we are to live in service to the one who paid the price - responding to the new nature he places within.  We are to be of use to him - responding to him as he desires.  What was accomplished in the payment of the "purchase price" is to have an affect on our entire being - nothing held back for our own purposes.  Paul reminds us that our bodies are to reflect the work of Christ.  People are to see the image of the Creator in us.  In other words - if God wants the "land of our lives" for a freeway - so be it!

Tomorrow, we will consider what it means to be "owned by Christ".  Today, consider what areas of your life you are maintaining control over (building what you want to see built).  It is possible that God is receiving honor from those things.  Getting an education is an honoring thing to God - applying ourselves to learning is not a sinful thing in and of itself.  Yet, getting that education with the intent that we climb a career ladder exclusive of God's direction in our  lives can be sinful.  God wants to be in the decisions of our lives, central in our focus, creating what will bring him the greatest honor.  As owner of our lives, he wants to direct the outcomes of our steps.