Lloyd's Pursuit

In reading today’s Gospel, you can’t help but notice that Matthew did a little math after describing Jesus’s lineage:

¹⁷ The sum of generations is therefore: fourteen from Abraham to David; fourteen from David to the Babylonian deportation; and fourteen from the Babylonian deportation to Christ.

The writer was clearly told to make notice of the fact that fourteen generations passed between each of these fulfillments of some of God’s major Promises to Israel.

E.W. Bullinger writes this about the number fourteen:

being a multiple of seven, partakes of its significance; and, being double that number, implies a double measure of spiritual perfection.

The number two with which it is combined (2×7) may, however, bring its own significance into its meaning, as in Matthew 1, where the genealogy of Jesus Christ is divided up and given in sets of 14 (2×7) generations, two being the number associated with incarnation.

The same principle may be applied to other multiples of seven, and Bible students can find their own illustrations.

Isn’t it wonderful that we get a “double measure of spiritual perfection” in our savior? It makes sense, of course. There is much “duality” in the person of Jesus. He is both God and Man. He is without sin, yet accepts us despite our sins. He died so that we may live!

As you go through Christmas, remember the “double dose” of God’s love that we received in the person of his Son! Merry Christmas. Grace and Peace.

As you’re going through this season of Advent and Christmas; if you are troubled by the pressures of the world, remember this from the prophet Isaiah:

⁶ On this mountain, for all peoples, Yahweh Sabaoth is preparing a banquet of rich food, a banquet of fine wines, of succulent food, of well-strained wines.

⁷ On this mountain, he has destroyed the veil which used to veil all peoples, the pall enveloping all nations;

⁸ he has destroyed death for ever. Lord Yahweh has wiped away the tears from every cheek; he has taken his people’s shame away everywhere on earth, for Yahweh has spoken.

⁹ And on that day, it will be said, ‘Look, this is our God, in him we put our hope that he should save us, this is Yahweh, we put our hope in him. Let us exult and rejoice since he has saved us.’

¹⁰ For Yahweh’s hand will rest on this mountain, and Moab will be trodden under his feet as straw is trodden into the dung-heap.

Of course, Isaiah was talking about Jesus. The real reason we are celebrating this season. He will wipe away every tear from every cheek, destroy death and we will rejoice!

As you go through this season, embrace the joy.

Grace and Peace!

As we enter the fall season, we naturally consider the end of things. It is the end of the year. It is the end of the growing season. It is also symbolically and spiritually the end of times.

If you are like me, and perhaps guys like this, this and this, you might just be hearing the footsteps of the Messiah, walking up the path. You are waiting patiently as possible, just on the other side of your door, listening for even the faintest knock on the door.

With earthquakes, wars and rumors of wars, famine and disease growing in intensity, like birth pains, it is hard for me to even consider that we are not fast approaching the end of times spoken of so clearly in the bible.

To some folks, this concept might be a frightening one. Unfortunately our churches have seemed to leave off some of the “harder” lessons in favor of a “Feel good” word that resembles less our gospel, and more our world. The good book warned us that this too, would happen.

See Matthew 24 for the clearest example I know of what I have written above. The Olivet discourse is the best guidebook I know of to our Lord’s return.

However, you could rebut my assertion, reminding me of 2 Thessalonian 3:7-12.  St. Paul admonished that there could be a long road ahead. That is as true today as it ever was.

Along that vein, what message can we receive from reading the Revelations message to the church, even if the Lord’s return is less than imminent? First, let’s review what the Bible says to us:

¹⁴ ‘Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea and say, “Here is the message of the Amen, the trustworthy, the true witness, the Principle of God’s creation:

¹⁵ I know about your activities: how you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other,

¹⁶ but since you are neither hot nor cold, but only lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth.

¹⁷ You say to yourself: I am rich, I have made a fortune and have everything I want, never realising that you are wretchedly and pitiably poor, and blind and naked too.

¹⁸ I warn you, buy from me the gold that has been tested in the fire to make you truly rich, and white robes to clothe you and hide your shameful nakedness, and ointment to put on your eyes to enable you to see.

¹⁹ I reprove and train those whom I love: so repent in real earnest.

²⁰ Look, I am standing at the door, knocking. If one of you hears me calling and opens the door, I will come in to share a meal at that person’s side.

²¹ Anyone who proves victorious I will allow to share my throne, just as I have myself overcome and have taken my seat with my Father on his throne.

²² Let anyone who can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” ‘

Does that not remind you of our current church? Does that not just convict your heart and soul? Do we not take too much upon ours own efforts today? Just how much are we relying on the Lord for our provisions, rather than our efforts? Have we become soft, and appeasing of the whims of others, regardless of the fruits of their whim?

In that moment in Revelations God is looking right at us, telling us “Pick a side!” Lukewarm doesn’t work. Either be hot with passion for his love, or be cold to him (Certainly NOT something I would recommend!). If we’re lukewarm, we simply are not doing what he desires for us. We are missing so much of his generous, loving provision.

So how do we heat things up? How do we go about moving our faith from a tepid tap water faith to something God truly desires? I don’t know the answer for every individual, it really is a journey that we must each take. I can tell you, what has worked to inflame my heart.

First, Prayer. By opening my heart and my soul in prayer every day and allowing God to work in me, I have felt the warmth growing in me. It wasn’t easy, it was even done begrudgingly at times. I have fallen away and returned. I have spent days in cold darkness with no desire. I have spent days just burning with joy in my heart. It is a journey, and it is one of both pain and happiness, but it is at least not lukewarm.

Reading the bible. Thankfully even our Catholic church has finally come around to the admonition that it is important for us all to be immersed in scripture.

Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.

This above all things has been the largest improvement in my “spiritual temperature” over the last few years. The more time I spend in the Word, the more I desire to spend time in the Word. It is a gentle flame, simmering at times, and boiling at others. It colors and puts context over everything that I see in my life.

Where is your “Spiritual Temperature” today? Are you turning up the heat? How are you doing it?