A Word about the Master Teacher

 

Today I want to share a word about the Master Teacher as I comment on Mark Chapter 4. Let’s begin by reading verses 1-9:

And he began again to teach by the seaside: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

My wife is a retired educator, and she disagrees with the idea that teaching is an easy profession. She strongly disagrees with the saying, “Those who can do, and those who can’t teach.”  That, as anyone who has ever taught knows, is a false statement.  Teaching isn’t all that easy.  Let me give you a couple of examples:

In every introductory psychology course in college, the students must participate in a laboratory experience where they train a white rat. In my school, we had to train the rat to react to a light by pressing a lever to get a treat.  You would think that training a dumb beast like a rat would be easy for intelligent humans, but that isn’t always the case. Every semester someone, often several students, trained the rat to grab the light instead of pressing the lever.  It isn’t all that easy to be a teacher.

Besides being a hard task, a teacher must be sure to teach the right things.  We often say that “practice makes perfect,” but in truth, “practice makes permanent.”  If you teach the wrong things, you will cause major problems for the students!  For example: A child’s aunt was trying to encourage the boy to learn his times tables. She told him, “You need to just rattle the answers off like snapping your fingers.  Like, you should be able to spit out 8 times 8 equals 72!”

If you didn’t understand that last part, remedial classes will be available soon!

It is not easy to be a teacher, but as we continue review the life and ministry of Jesus, we will find that he was the Master Teacher.  Today we will see the Master Teacher demonstrating His craft, so we need to watch Him and learn. Let’s begin by looking at the Ministry of the Teacher.

THE MINISTRY OF THE TEACHER:

Jesus spent much of His ministry teaching, so much so that, in fact, He was often called “Rabbi,” which literally means, “teacher.” He taught from the beginning of His ministry until the end, and He took every opportunity He had to teach. Jesus taught in many different situations:

• Jesus taught in the synagogue, among religious Jews.

• He taught as He walked and lived day by day with His disciples.

• He taught large crowds who came to see Him.

• He taught people in their homes at meals.

• He taught in the temple, and the scholars were amazed.

• He taught sinners as He showed them God’s love.

• He taught as He healed the sick and opened the eyes of the blind.

He has now passed on the ministry of teaching to us. The Great Commission instructed us to make disciples and to do that we must teach all that we ourselves have been taught. We are blessed that the Holy Spirit has given the gift of teaching to people, and those who have it must use it, but all of us are teachers, either intentionally in a class or with some we are mentoring, or organically, but the way we live our lives. 

Remember, Jesus told us in Acts 1:8 that we will be His witnesses, whether we choose to be or not!

As we teach, others learn about the love of God, and we learn more and more ourselves. In fact, the best way to learn is to teach.  The teacher always learns more than the students.

Next, let’s see the methods of the Teacher.

THE METHODS OF THE TEACHER: 

Mark 4:10-13 tells us:

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.  And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

Different people learn through different techniques. Some people are visual learners, while other learn through hearing. Some are tactile learners, and almost everyone learns through doing. In His ministry, Jesus used the full range of teaching techniques.

He taught didactically, like in the Sermon on the Mount. He taught by example, like when He healed the paralytic. He taught though experience, by sending out His followers to do ministry out two by two. Much of His teaching, however, was through parables.

The basic structure of most sermons includes exposition, explanation, illustration, and application, but a parable is an illustrated sermon. It is not a sermon illustration, but an illustrated sermon. We remember stories when we don’t remember the sermon, so a parable uses a story to teach a truth.

I remember very clearly the time my pastor was preaching a sermon and would up a rift about the consequences of sin by proclaiming, “Be careful, for your sins will find you out, just like how God drowned the Israelites in the Red Sea!” For the record, it was the Egyptians who drowned in the Red Sea, but I will never forget what my pastor said that day about the consequences of sin, even though I don’t remember the rest of his message!

A less frivolous lesson was taught in the fabled “Footprints in the Sand” poem by Mary Stevenson. Many people have learned about God’s care and concern for them through that short, but powerful parable in the form of a poem.

For Jesus, there was a method to this perceived madness. Some people were not ready to hear the truth. and others were actively working against the truth. Using parables was the way that Jesus could teach them best. His method is an example to all of us as we teach God’s truth. For example, missionaries in a country which was closed to the Gospel learned to use the technique of Chronological Bible Storying in their missionary efforts. They were able to continue teach after the local authorities were informed of their presence. These government officials did not feel threatened because, “They are just telling stories.”

Next, let’s see the message of the Teacher.

THE MESSAGE OF THE TEACHER:

Mark 4:14-20 tells us:

The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

Jesus did many things in His ministry: He fed people and turned water into wine. He healed people and he revived the dead. He radically opposed the powers that oversaw Israel. He ate with sinners and tax collectors. Jesus did many things in His ministry, but He had one purpose, to “seek and save that which was lost” through spreading the Gospel message.

Churches and Christians also do many things in our ministry: Some churches are like a kicked-over ant hill, and we have devised all kinds of programs from sports to scrap-booking. Activity for its own sake is not ministry, however. Believers must focus what they do in the way Jesus did. Sadly, purpose, vision, mission, are often all missing. 

The lesson we must learn from the parable is to focus on teaching the Gospel. This is what Jesus did, and it was what Paul did in his ministry as well as told the church at Corinth,

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

Paul also taught them,

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (I Corinthians 13:1-3)

Therefore, as Paul taught us, we should imitate him as he imitated Jesus. That means, if we aren’t teaching the Gospel, then all we are doing is just making noise and wasting time!

Finally, we see the majesty of the Teacher.

THE MAJESTY OF THE TEACHER:

Mark 4:21-29 says,

And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was anything kept secret, but that it should come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

Teaching is hard, unheralded work. Few teachers accrue any fame or glory. In fact, the glory in teaching is seeing the lives of your students changed. Teachers want to see that they are having an impact. They want to see growth occur. They want to see their students be able to do what they couldn’t do before.

Jesus wanted to see lives transformed by the Gospel, and He still does. He wants our lives to shine out lamps. He wants our lives to be open books for God. He wants us to be growing daily in the Gospel.

Are we instruments of transformation in our home? In our workplaces? In our churches? In our communities? If not, we should be and we should do this by teaching the Gospel because when the Gospel changes lives it is a glorious thing! Paul described this effect in Philippians 4:1 saying “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.”

CONCLUSION:

Jesus is the Master Teacher, but have we been diligent students? We need to dedicate ourselves to learning from Him, and if we do, we will have the abundant life He has promised!

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt

A Word about the Master of Repentance

Today I want to share a word about the Master of Repentance as I comment on Matthew Chapter 3.

Let’s Start with Matthew 3:1-6. This passage reads,

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

When I was young, I believed my dad could do anything with his hands. He was a vehicle mechanic by trade, but it seemed he could do most anything. For example:

• When our hot water heater died, he plumbed in the new one himself.
• He built an addition on the back of our house using metal studs that he welded himself on top of a concrete slab that he poured himself. He broke open a wall and installed a door so we could have access to this addition.
• He did his own electrical wiring work and his own carpentry. 
• My mom wanted to divide our breakfast nook from our living room, so my dad built her a paneled room-divider from plans that he developed in his head.
• Later, he and mama built a barn and tractor shed from the timber left over from when his family’s old home place was torn down.

I asked him once about all his skills and he told me, “Son, I’m a jack of all trades, but a master of none.” I had no problem believing the first part, but I did wonder about the last half of his comment. He certainly was a master mechanic if nothing else.

If we review the Biblical record of the ministry of Jesus, we will begin seeing something new. The Old Testament is full of the acts of God as He carefully unfolded His plan to redeem the world, but now we will begin seeing him personally. We will begin seeing the Master of the universe walking amongst His creation and demonstrating His power and control. Today we will see Him as the Master of Repentance.

First, Let’s see the Preacher of Repentance: 

We understand situations based on our perspective. Each of us has a role to play in God’s Kingdom. This is reflected in our spiritual gifts, and it is also reflected in our individual callings. Like a football player who plays only in certain game situations, we too have specific roles to play in God’s Kingdom. Paul taught the Corinthian church about this in 1 Corinthians 3:1-10 and this fact still applies to the church today.

One very important but very difficult role is that of prophet. Prophets forth-tell the Word of God and they often confront sinful humanity with the truth of God. At times, this is not a particularly pleasant task as we see in 1 Kings 18:17 & 18: 

And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?  And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.

It is a pretty tense day when the leader of your country and your people calls you a troublemaker to your face! Still, Elijah did not back down, and he continued to share God’s truth!

In our passage today, we see that John, too, was a prophet of repentance. He was only the next in a long line of prophets. Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and many others had come before he did, and each one made calls to repentance. Like Job, however, John specialized in this call. He knew his calling from God and the task that he was required to perform, and he engaged it with every fiber of his being.

We Also Must See The Need For Repentance:

Matthew 3:7-12 reads,

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Why was John sent to call people to repentance? Because repentance is necessary for salvation. Without repentance there is no salvation as Jesus taught in Luke 13:1-3, which reads:

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

In Acts 3:19 Peter told the Sanhedrin, the Jewish leaders in the Temple and Jerusalem, the same thing: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” 

But what does it mean to repent?

• It does not mean to just feel sorry, nor to try to do penance.
• It does mean to make a decision of the will to do right.
• It means that we agree with God about our sin, and we have decided to seek His help in blotting it out.
• It means deciding to make a “u-turn” in our lives.

Another vital question to ask is, who needs to repent? To answer that, we must consider the Biblical record which would include:

• The people who know that they are sinners, like the woman who anointed Jesus with oil.
• The people who aren’t sure if they need to repent, like the woman at the well.
• The people who don’t think they need to repent, like the Pharisee who prayed arrogantly.

In short, all people need to repent, Romans 3:10-12 tells us: “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

Next, We See The Symbol Of Repentance: 

Matthew 3:13-15 reads,

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Symbols are important, even if they are not important in themselves. They are important because they represent a deeper meaning, like the symbols on a road sign or the symbols on the controls on a car. The symbol of repentance is baptism.

Baptism was a relatively new practice at this time. Converts to Judaism were often baptized as a rite of passage and this might be why a lot of synagogues were located near water. The Essenes, the producers of the Dead Sea Scrolls, also conducted water baptism by immersion. Without the right meaning though, baptism has no effect.

Baptism is an audio-visual symbol of repentance to illustrate that people have decided to repent and allow Jesus to become their Savior and Lord. When you go under water it shows you died to the old life. When you come up it shows you have a new way of life. It is also a symbol of being washed clean of our sin by the shed blood of Jesus.

The proper meaning of baptism is a symbol of repentance & new life in Christ. If there is no internal change in your life before being baptized, then all you have done is gotten wet! However, if you have repented and received new life and are baptized, you have preached a powerful sermon to all who watched!

Finally, Let’s See the Example of Repentance:

Matthew 3:15-17 reads,

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Jesus came to the earth for many reasons. He came to seek and save that which was lost. He came to defeat sin, and death, and hell. He came to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He came to bring light to people walking in darkness. He also came to be a model for our lives, which is why Paul said, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ”

Jesus, being fully God and fully man had lived a sinless life and he did not need to repent. John the Baptist knew this and tried to prevent Jesus. Jesus never sinned and was one with the Father. There was no need for Him to repent because He’s never done wrong. So, what was Jesus doing?

Jesus was leading by example.

Jesus was baptized because it was the right thing to do in His ministry as our spiritual leader. Leadership by example is the best form. The motto of a good leader is, “Follow me and do as I do.” The motto of a bad leader is “Do as I say, not as I do” and this is a poor leadership model. Jesus was baptized to show us what to do. We all need to follow His example.

Conclusion:

Jesus is the master of all things, and in this passage, we see that He is the Master of Repentance. He showed us what we need to do by His example of obedience.

Have you repented of your sin and become a child of God? If you are a child of God, do you have a besetting sin that is holding back your spiritual growth? In either case, Jesus has shown us what to do in these situations, and like John the Baptist, His counsel to us today and forever is: 

Repent!

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt

A Word about the Aaronic Blessing

Today I want to share a word about the Aaronic Blessing as I comment on Numbers 6:22-27. This passage reads, 

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,“Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

I am writing this during the 2023 New Year season, and at times like this we want to be positive.  We want to be positive about our future: the year to come. We want to be positive about the past: the record we wrote last year. We even want to be positive about what is happening in this moment in time.  Sometimes, though we try hard, it is difficult to be positive.

An example of this is what a lady said to her pastor on the way out of church one Sunday.  She said, “Pastor, thank you for sending tapes of our services to the nursing home.  You just don’t know how much your sermons mean to my husband since he lost his mind!” 

Yes, often it is hard to be positive with all the difficulties we face in the world and all the frailties we see in our own lives and the lives of others.  Yet, we should be positive because we have been greatly blessed by God.

Our focal passage for understanding these blessings today is from Numbers 6:22-27. This passage is the blessing that Israel’s priests were told to bestow upon Israel from God.  This blessing is called the “Aaronic,” or “Priestly” benediction or blessing.

The church, as Spiritual Israel, is the inheritor of this blessing.  As we begin the New Year together, let us be blessed by the words of this benediction.

IT IS A BLESSING IN TRIPLICATE:

First, let’s notice that the blessing repeats “Lord” three times. This shows the fullness of God’s blessing. He is blessing us again, and again, and again. The repetition intensifies the blessing unto infinity. It reminds me of the words in Isaiah 6, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty” and of Ecclesiastes which tells us that, “A threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Not only was this blessing intense, but it was also prophetic: this was written for Israel and for the church as well. God had not yet fully revealed Himself as Triune, but He has now. Looking back, we can see the fullness of God in this blessing. This is very much like the Apostolic Blessing in 2 Corinthians 13:14, which says, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

Therefore, some would read it this way:

May God the Father bless you and keep you. May God the Son make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May God the Spirit lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

This is a triple blessing with double the potency. We need a powerful blessing in this day, and like getting a powerful dose of the right medicine, we have been given an intense blessing from the fullness of God.

IT IS A BLESSING WITH AUTHORITY:

This blessing came from God through His priests. A priest stands between God and people making intercession: A priest transmits to God human repentance and in return, he transmits to people God’s forgiveness. A priest, therefore, is like a pipeline, or an internet connection.

The Aaronic Priesthood foreshadowed Christ’s Priesthood as we clearly see in Hebrews 5:5-10: 

So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

The Hebrews passage tells us that Christ is our priest. He is the one who blesses us. Even His last act upon Earth was to bless His people as we read in Luke 24:50 & 52: 

And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.

 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.

Because Jesus is High Priest and God, His blessing has authority. Blessings are intended to invoke the power of God upon people. This is why it was so tragic for Esau that Jacob was able to steal his blessing from his father.  They all believed it had real, spiritual power! If a human blessing could have power, how much more a blessing from God Himself. This is reflected in lines from the song “He touched me”:

He touched me, He touched me, and suddenly, nothing, nothing is the same!

When the God of the universe blesses us, nothing is ever the same again!

IT IS A BLESSING ACCORDING TO OUR NEEDS:

The Lord Bless You: The word “Bless” is found 415 times in the Old Testament. It implies life, health, and prosperity. This covers a multitude of our earthly needs. 

The Lord Keep You: The term “Keep” means to protect. It was used to describe a shepherd watching over his flock and it comes from a word which means to “hedge about”. This would mean today “to secure a perimeter around” and the implication is to “exercise great care over.”

The Lord Make His Face To Shine Upon You: As He shines upon us, we soak up light, joy, and enthusiasm, like feeling the warmth of the sun on a cold day. As we feel His warmth, we begin to draw close to him like a plant turning toward the light. So, like it was when Moses’ face shined when he came down from the mountain, we reflect that light to the rest of humanity.

The Lord Be Gracious To You: "Gracious" means “kind and beneficial.” It means giving us what we need rather than what we deserve. Today, a common cry during civil unrest is “No justice, no peace!” In relationship to the perfect, righteous, and Almighty God of the universe, what we need is grace, not justice!

The Lord Lift Up His Countenance To You And Give You Peace: When we are angry or upset our facial expressions give us away. When we see this in others, we can’t have peace. We need to know that God isn’t angry with us so we can have peace, and the truth is, we need peace most of all.

CONCLUSION:

As we start off this year of 2023, the most important questions for each of us is this: do I have the God in my life that gives blessings like these? Do I receive His blessings every day? To realize His blessings, seek Him and He will find you! When He does, He will give you His greatest blessings!

So, as we begin this New Year,

May the LORD bless you and keep you; 

 May the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; 
  May the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, 
And give you peace.

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt

Note: This devotional was adapted from a sermon on Page 2 of
 Nelson’s Annual Preacher’s Sourcebook, 
2004 Edition, Robert J. Morgan, Editor

A Word about Finding Relief

Today I want to share a word about relief, as I comment on Psalm 4. This passage reads:

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

Sometimes we all need a little relief.  Jerry Clower was a country-boy comedian whose signature story told about going racoon hunting as a child. The humorous tale ended with a fellow called Mr. John being caught in a tall tree with a wildcat.  A fearsome fight ensued between the wildcat and Mr. John, which resulted in him calling out, “Shoot up here amongst us, 'cause one of us got to have some relief.”  

We all need some relief from time to time, and for Christians, that relief comes through the protection we find in God, as a part of God’s family. 

The Psalmist wrote of this protection in Psalm 4.

FROM WHOM DOES GOD PROTECT US?

First, He protects us from ourselves because often we are our own worst enemies. It is instructive to note that fratricide, or “friendly fire” caused more casualties to allied troops in Operation Desert Storm than did the Iraqi armed forces. As the ironic saying among soldiers goes, “Friendly fire isn’t!”

Likewise, we often cause our own spiritual defeats and so we turn God's glory into shame, a word that implies rejection of God and turning away from Him. Like fratricide on the battlefield, these defeats are particularly bruising, like the way both Judas and Peter betrayed Jesus.

God not only protects us from ourselves, but He also protects us from others. They may scoff at us because of our faith in God. They may rely on their own prosperity and power, but God will put a gladness in the hearts of His people that all their “corn and wine” cannot match. 

As Jesus told us, we have an abundant life in Christ, one that those who taunt us will be envious of in their hearts, if not in their words.

HOW DO WE RECEIVE THIS PROTECTION?

The Psalmist provided some very clear guidance about how we can receive this protection. First, we must pray! We need to call upon God when we are in distress, but we also need to have a relationship with Him in the good times as well! We don’t need to be like the neighbor who never calls on us unless he needs help.

We also must guard our passions. Anger is a normal human emotion but is a potentially destructive one. If anger is allowed to build, it will destroy our lives from the inside out. As the old saying goes, “You can only fall on your sword once.”

In addition, the Psalmist told us that we must know God's promises. He has made hundreds! They were made for us! They are present in the Bible! But they are of no use if not claimed!

Finally, we see that we must act like God's children. How do you expect a mule to act?  Like a mule! We must act like who we are and be righteous and fruitful. In Acts 1:8, Jesus told us we would be His witnesses to the uttermost parts of the world, but what kinds of witnesses will we be? Good or bad?

WHAT PROTECTION DOES GOD PROVIDE? 

The good news for His people is that God has set Himself apart for us. He is our God, and He hears us when we pray to Him! This is a factor in the process of finding relief which we must not, cannot, discount!

One of my most frustrating experiences in recent years was when I was locked out of my account with the firm that hosts a web page for me. The only way to contact this giant social media company was through email or a chat feature on the contact page on their website. No phone number was published, no customer service representative was available for me to call. I was unable to resolve my problem for months until finally, one random day my account was restored, with no explanation. I had resigned myself to having to start over with a different hosting company, and even today, I am suspicious that this problem will return. This is not the way it is between God and His people! We can always call upon Him, and He is always available, 24/7/365!

Because we can call on Him, God relieves our stress. When in distress we need relief, and He has mercy upon us, and He helps us. He provides for us exactly what we need when we are in trouble. As He does this, He brings safety to us and the peace that follows. This allows us to rest and sleep in a way that we could not if God was not watching over us!

CONCLUSION 

I think the words of Psalm 27:1-5 are a great way to conclude this devotional thought about finding relief:

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

Every blessing!  

Dr. Otis Corbitt

A Word about our True Identity

Today I want to share a word about our true identity, as I comment on Psalm 8.This passage reads:

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

One of my favorite, but also most embarrassing, memories of returning from Iraq to the United States was when I went to a big box store for the first time after my return stateside. This was during the Christmas Season of that year, and as I was approaching the store, I saw someone standing outside the door in a uniform. I automatically reached into my wallet to pull out my identity card to show him who I was, just as we had to do before going into the post exchange or the dining facility at Camp Victory. To my chagrin, but later amusement, the person standing outside the store was a Salvation Army bell ringer! He would have been glad for me to put money in his kettle, but he wasn't interested in me showing him my ID card.

It is interesting to note that the United States and the United Kingdom are among the few countries in the world that don't require their citizens to always carry a national identity card on their person. This element of personal freedom is an important one for people who prize their liberty, but it brings to us other questions about our personal identity.

Why are we here? Why do we exist? How can my life have meaning? These are enduring questions which have intrigued mankind for centuries. It would be the height of arrogance to claim to have the complete answer to this conundrum, but Christians believe that a satisfactory answer can be found.

Some people have tried to answer these existential questions with many different answers. Some pursue power to give their lives meaning, while others seek out comfort and pleasure. Often, people become altruistic and self-sacrificing to justify their existence to themselves and others. Excessive consumption and prosperity are used by many to dull the ache of not understanding how they relate to the universe. None of these things satisfactorily explain why we are here, so we must look beyond our own intellect to discover our reason for being. We must look to God.

A good place to start is the 8th Psalm, which succinctly describes mankind's place in creation.

People are Created Beings:

Verses three through five of Psalm 8 clearly indicate that God created humans. Along with all of the rest of creation, God spoke, and Adam came into existence. Because God created people, He invested Himself in mankind in a special way, thus giving a special meaning to man's existence. 

First, only God can create. The word translated "create" is a Hebrew word which means to create out of nothing. In other words, God willed humanity to come into existence, and we did. Our existence as people and as individual persons is solely because of a specific and intentional act of Almighty God!

The special impact of being a creation of God is that He also imparted a part of Himself to us. The Book of Genesis tells us that God breathed into Adam's nostrils and brought Him to life. This means that we are similar to God in many aspects. To be like God is to be significant by definition!

People are Glorious Beings:

Because mankind is made in God's image there is a dignity in human existence which is not found in any of God's other creations. This is attested to in Psalm 8:5 as it states that man is "a little lower than the angels" and is crowned with "glory and honor."

An important fact to realize is that the word "angels" is really the Hebrew word "Elohim,” which is usually translated "God." The Psalmist is actually asserting that mankind is just a little bit lower than the Almighty God who created the universe! What an awesome and uplifting thought! And what a challenge as well!

As the works of God, we are His handiwork, and "God don't make no junk!" That's poor grammar, but good theology. It is important to note that Genesis records that God proclaimed His creation "very good" after He'd created Adam, but only stated that the rest of His work was "good."

The best cure for a low self-esteem (which is the root of many human problems) is to know you are the best of God's wonderful creation! No, people are not simply another animal, far from it. We are a special and unique work of God and play a vital role in His creation and His plans. Because He created us, we have meaning, and we must always be aware of our role in the universe. 

People are Steward Beings:

Psalm 8:6-8 sheds a little light on one purpose God had for creating mankind: we are to be His stewards. But what is a steward? This was a common term in Biblical times but has generally fallen into disuse.  James Freeman, in Manners and Customs of the Bible states that the position of steward in a rich man's household was an honorable one. Only old and faithful servants were made stewards, for the steward was ruler of the household and had charge over the rich man's heir.

God has made mankind to be His stewards over creation. As the Psalmist put it, we have dominion, or rule, over all the works of God's hands. We have charge of all the birds, fish, and beasts of the field. This is a great honor and a very large task.

As God's stewards, we are to manage creation for God, and to preserve it for His glory. Unfortunately, we are not doing so well at this vital task, yet it shows just how important mankind is to God. He placed us over some of His most prized possessions, something most of us wouldn't do!

This might be a good place for each of us to pause and ponder what skill or talent God has blessed us with. How can we use that ability to be good stewards and thus bless God? Considering that God took the time and effort to create us, to place us in this wonderful world, and to entrust us with the stewardship of His glorious works, it is the least we can do.

Conclusion:

Humanity stands apart from the rest of the creatures in this universe because of our relationship with God. People are created and glorious beings which have been made a steward over the rest of creation by God. The only, and tragic, blemish on mankind's existence is our sin, a condition which has resulted in both physical and spiritual death and which only God can resolve in our lives.

Mankind's fate and meaning is bound up in our relationship with God. It is powerful to note that the writer of Psalm 8 begins his song and ends it by praising the Lord. Unless our lives are surrounded by God's power and enclosed in His love, they have no meaning. Our meaning can only be found in our God!

Every blessing, 

Dr. Otis Corbitt

A Word about Calling Upon the Lord

Today I want to share a word about calling upon the Lord, as I comment on Psalm 3. This passage reads:

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

The comedy film “Ghost Busters” popularized the phrase “Who ya gonna call?”  Though not proper English, it is a valid question. Who do you call upon in time of trouble?  Do you call on the government?  Do you call on friends?  How about a lawyer?  Each of these are valid, and should be used, but they aren't the ultimate source of our help. When in trouble, despite whomever else we may call upon, we should always call upon God, as did the Psalmist in our passage for today.

THE PROBLEM:

In a word, the Psalmist’s problem was people.  He had people who opposed him. This reminds me of a joke I heard when we served as international missionaries, “Missionary service is wonderful except for two things: the other missionaries and the local believers!” 

David was not alone in having people oppose him. They opposed Jesus also, as He told us in John 15:18-19:

If the world hates you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.  But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

Jesus clearly taught in this passage that the people who oppose Him also will oppose us, because we identify with Him. As I have often said, the way of salvation is narrow, and it seems to be superimposed on the broad way that leads to destruction. As people work their way towards eternal separation from God, they bump into us and jostle us who are heading toward our Lord!

This problem became a real plight for the Psalmist. Every time he faced adversity, every time something went wrong, people would say it was his fault. He must have strayed from God! God had abandoned him, or so it seemed. 

This situation reminds me of the attitude displayed by the test pilots featured in the book and movie, The Right Stuff. Anytime a pilot crashed and died, it was because he didn’t have “the right stuff,” regardless of the true cause of the crash. Even when a mechanical failure occurred, a pilot with that magical “right stuff” would be able to fly his way out of trouble. David was facing this same type of judgmental attitude and it was becoming oppressive to him.

THE PROTECTION:

Although those around him had their doubts, the Psalmist knew where he could acquire the help he needed. It was from God, and from God alone! Only God could shield him from his adversaries. Only God could lift him up and allow him to hold his head high.  Nothing else that David could turn to could do that, but God could.

David’s God was also Paul’s God. It could well be that Paul was thinking of the 3rd Psalm when he wrote to the church at Ephesus about the full armor of God:

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:11-17

Of course, knowing that God can protect us does us no good if we can’t get His attention. Remember how the prophets of Baal danced and shouted and cut themselves on Mount Carmel? Remember also how Baal never said a mumbling word back to them? David knew that Yahweh God heard him, and when He did, He responded! Of course, our God still hears and responds to His people today!

THE PEACE: 

Because Yahweh God is faithful, we can trust Him. Because we can trust Him, we can rest. Ship’s captains cannot rest if they don’t have faith in the other mates in a ship. A young mother out on a date night with her husband can’t enjoy herself if she doesn’t have faith in their babysitter. People about to have surgery can’t rest if they don’t trust their doctor or hospital. David could have peace, because he knew his God, and our God, is faithful.

Since we know that God has our back, we can not only have peace, but we can also be fearless. We admire the sacrifice of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, but David said that ten thousand could not hurt him if God was his protection! That’s why he could stand up against Goliath with only a sling shot and why Samson could fight and kill 1,000 with the jawbone of a donkey. Even should our human fate be to die opposing evil, we can still say with the writer of Hebrews, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

THE POWER:

When he was in trouble, when he needed help, when he saw that he was lost without God, the Psalmist uttered a simple plea: “Arise, O Lord, and save me!” It has been said that the most common and most urgent prayer of all is the simple, “God help me!” David cried out in just that manner in his time of need. We should not be ashamed or too proud to call out in the same way when we need God’s intervention. We know God hears the prayers of His people, however simple or complex they might be, and He acts to bless us.

It is equally important for us to know, as did David, that God has the power to protect us. As Isaiah 59:1 tells us, “Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” 

In fact, not only does He hear our cries and defend us from our enemies, but God also does it with style. He slaps their face, and He breaks their teeth, and He publicly embarrasses the enemies of God’s people. We saw this in the contest on Mount Carmel and David also saw it in his personal life.

THE PARDON:

If we can trust God to save us from our earthly foes, should we not trust God even more to save us from our spiritual foes? Paul knew that our spiritual battles with unseen foes was as real as and even more consequential than our battles with our visible enemies. This is what he told the church at Ephesus: 

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12

Of course, our biggest enemy, our greatest threat, is not external to us, but internal. We are our own worst enemy. We are all lost in our sins, and we know that, as Paul wrote to the Roman church, 

There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Romans 3:10-12

Clearly understanding his own sin, Paul went on to cry out to God like David did in the 3rd Psalm, asking,

O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 7:24-25

Like David, not only did Paul see the problem, but he also knew the answer which he shared with the Ephesians, saying, 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:8-10

This is another way of saying what Peter taught in Acts 4:10-12, 

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

CONCLUSION:

So, who are you going to call upon in your time of need?

• Your family and friends?

• Your lawyer or your doctor?

• The police or the fire department?

Yes, do! But also remember to call upon the Lord who can save us from the things that these others cannot! This includes ourselves and our own self-defeating tendencies!

Who ya gonna call? Like David, call on God! He will answer, He will respond, and He will save!

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt

A Word about Blessed People

 

Today I want to share a word about blessed people, as I comment on Psalm 1.This passage reads:

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

This Psalm vividly describes the distinctive way that blessed people live. To really get a feel for the significance of this Psalm, let’s flash forward to James 4:1-4 in which James, in an equally vivid way, rebukes some members of the early church for their carnality:

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

How are blessed people different from the people that James was correcting?

FIRST, WE SEE THEIR PURITY:

In the first verse, the Psalmist notes that blessed people are distinguished by their purity, which is found in three things that they don’t do. They don't live their lives like the world does. They don't think the same way the world does. They don't talk the way the world does.

Yes, blessed people might fall into the ways of the world at times because they are human, frail, and fallible.  People do make mistakes. The difference is that blessed people don’t make this a way of life. In Hebrew the word seat means dwelling place, the place where one resides. This is like the difference between falling into the mud and wallowing in it.

In short, there is a qualitative difference in the lifestyle of blessed people. It’s not about how much money people have, but what they do with it. It’s not how much people produce, but how good it is. It isn’t how often people do something, but how well they do it that makes all the difference.

SECOND WE SEE THEIR PIETY:

In the second verse, the Psalmist tells us that blessed people have two spiritual emphases: They love to know God's Word and they live it out the best they can!

God's Word is the desire of blessed people. They find pleasure in their pursuit of it, and they want more and more of it. God's Law that the Psalmist refers to here is all God's Revelation and blessed people love studying it, and they never stop being life-long learners about God’s Word.  But, blessed people do more than study the Word, they also meditate on it. 

The word meditate here means literally to mutter, to mumble.  It connotes pondering aloud as one makes decisions. Pilots talk with their copilots and to themselves as they complete checklists and make decisions about takeoffs, landings, and other maneuvers as they fly aircraft. They do this so that they don’t miss something important. In the same way, blessed people remind themselves and their family and friends about what the Word says as they make the Word part of their everyday life.

James 1:22, says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves . . .”  Blessed people study God's Word so that they can live it out.

NEXT, WE SEE THEIR PROSPERITY: 

The third verse tells us that the prosperity of blessed people stems from their way of life. They are pure in their hearts because they follow God's Word. This causes them to be like a tree planted by a river, being refreshed and nurtured by the flow of abundant water.

When I served in Iraq as a chaplain, I had never been in such a dry place before. I traveled all around Baghdad and the surrounding areas and everywhere you looked was a shade of brown or tan. One day, however, we travelled to visit some troops at a camp located on the banks of the Tigris River south of the city. The contrast was amazing. Along the river we saw lush green grass where cows could graze, and where tall sturdy trees grew. Although the rest of our area of operations was barren desert, the Tigris valley was a long, beautiful oasis. Blessed people are like that; they are an oasis of beauty in the barren landscape of the empty and futile way of the world.

We have to understand two important words in this verse. First, season means that prosperity comes in due time, in proper time, which implies in God’s timing. Next, the word does can imply many things (twenty-three synonyms in fact) including: work, labor, toil, create, build, accomplish, earn, acquire, fulfill, happen.

So like King Midas, everything blessed people touch will turn to gold, but in God’s timing.

The prosperity that blessed people will realize comes in two different time frames. We know that in John 10:10, Jesus said that He came to give abundant life to us, and we know that Romans 8:28 tells us that all things are used by God to bless His people. So, from this we can know that blessed people will enjoy both temporal, or earthly abundant life, which is the main emphasis of the Psalmist, and eternal abundant life, which was Paul’s main emphasis in Romans.

In essence, blessed people have the best of both worlds, in the here and now and in the hereafter as well, and so this leads to the Psalmist’s final point.

LAST, WE SEE THEIR PROSPECTS:

The last three verses of this Psalm tell us that the prospects of blessed people are different than those without a relationship with God. 

The Psalmist says that the ungodly are blown away like chaff. When wheat is being threshed, even a light breeze will suffice to separate the grain from the chaff; such is implied here by the term wind which meaning is really more akin to a breath. Those without God can't stand a proper, righteous judgment and their way shall perish. It will face destruction and desolation. They will be like a nation which is utterly defeated.

In contrast the way of blessed people is known by God.  He has a plan for them and a way for them to follow. He has a life for them to enjoy. The children of God are like those of a king whose lives are planned and who have every advantage life brings them.

CONCLUSION:

So, what lessons can we take from this passage? 

• First, to be like the blessed people described by the Psalmist, we must avoid the pitfalls of following the world.  
• Next, we should desire God’s Word and embed it in our beings so that we live it out.  
• Finally, we must trust God and allow Him to bless us instead of struggling to make our own way in the world using the world’s methods and mores.

If we do these things, we will be blessed, both in this world and in the next.

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt