Dr H Reflections

How to hug

How to hug

But while he was still a long way from home, his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him. – Luke 15:20

Luke 8:42-48

42 [Jesus] was surrounded by the crowds.

43 A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure.

44 Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped.

45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.”

46 But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.”

47 When the woman realized she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees before him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed.

48 “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

The story goes that a 15-year-old high school student visited the school library for the first time. Walking through the stacks, he was surprised to find a book with the words “How to Hug” on the spine. Intrigued, he took it off the shelf and flipped through the pages. However, to his surprise, the book contained no advice or illustrations on how to hug. It turned out that he had mistakenly picked up the ninth volume from an encyclopedia set.

The 7 Types of Hugs & What They Mean (Abby Moore)

1. Side Hug indicates you’re not fully committed to the embrace.

2. A Friend Hug quick hug is non-sexual and non-romantic and is typically shared between friends.

3. Hugging from Behind is often seen in couples; this hug signifies bonding and the message, “I’ve got your back.”

4. Hugging Around the Waist: This intimate embrace is romantic.

5. Bear Hug (Tight Hug with a Squeeze) is suitable for close friends, romantic partners, and family members, signifying deep affection.

6. A One-Sided Hug allows one to receive comfort or support simply.

7. Heart-to-Heart Hug starting from the left side; this hug is intimate and often shared by couples seeking closeness.

New research has recognized that human touch is very therapeutic and helpful for reducing physical and emotional pain. An article from The Week magazine explains.

The healing magic of touch

“Physical touch – from a handshake to a hug – can bring significant benefits for both mind and body, lessening depression, anxiety, and even pain. That’s the conclusion of a large new analysis of research on the subject, covering 212 studies involving nearly 13,000 people, reports The Guardian (U.K.).”

“To their surprise, the researchers found that objects such as robots or weighted blankets provided similar physical benefits as human touch, although for mental health, humans were better. Women benefited more than men, and the sick or those in pain more than the healthy. Newborns benefited in particular, and a parent’s skin-to-skin contact helped them more than that of a stranger.”

“The study also found that the type and duration of touch wasn’t important, but the frequency was . . ..”

Co-author Helena Hartmann says: “More consensual touch events throughout our day can help alleviate or potentially buffer against mental and physical complaints” (The Week, April 26, 2024).

Why are touch and hugging so important? Hugging promotes emotional closeness, well-being, familiarity, and love. Hugging also releases the neurotransmitters oxytocin and serotonin, which help lower stress by reducing cortisol levels.

REFLECT & PRAY

No one ever reaches out and touches the Lord Jesus Christ without Him knowing it. Yet, the untold story is that He constantly reaches out to us. All we need to do is reach back.

Father thank You for reaching out to me, taking me in Your loving arms, and embracing me despite all my rebellion and defiance. Abba, I love You.

INSIGHT

The Story of the Prodigal Son illustrates the themes of repentance, forgiveness, and unconditional love. The fact that the Father sees his son when he is a long way off (Luke 15:20) indicates that he’s eagerly awaited his return. The father’s immediate reaction is sympathy and love. He runs to meet him. It is very undignified and unusual for an elder to run. This indicates his tremendous joy and eagerness to be reconciled. When the Father reaches his son, even before the son can express regret or make a plea for mercy, he hugs and embraces his lost son and kisses him.

Hugging and kissing symbolize the father’s unconditional love and readiness to forgive. This physical embrace reassures the son of his place in the family and exemplifies the theme of grace. It demonstrates that the father’s love remains steadfast regardless of the son’s past actions.

This intense moment encapsulates the essence of the parable: the father’s boundless, forgiving love mirrors God’s unlimited love for humanity, always ready to welcome back those who repent and seek forgiveness.

The touch of the Lord Jesus Christ is without equal. It shows His unlimited power over nature, sickness, and death. He multiplied food to feed thousands and walked on water. His touch cured people of various infirmities and restored life to the dead (Buckwalter).

But there’s more.

The Lord Jesus Christ was a supernatural source of health and life. During His time on earth, He routinely performed miraculous feats. He healed the lame, the mute, the blind, and various diseases, and He even raised the dead. Wherever there was sickness and death, He brought health and life, as seen in the healing of the centurion’s servant and the raising of Lazarus.

In Luke 8:46, Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” A woman who had suffered from constant bleeding for twelve years came to Lord Jesus Christ in desperation. She snuck through the crowd, approached Him from behind, and touched the fringe of His robe. Instantly, Jesus felt His healing power pulse out from Him, and she was healed immediately.

Jesus then spoke to her, saying, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace” (Luke 8:48).

How did He do this? Perhaps the Lord Jesus Christ functioned like a modern-day battery. Instead of being charged with electrical energy, He was a repository of life and health. He discharged health, like a battery that transfers energy to operate devices like cell phones or tablets. A mere touch was all that was needed, like receiving a shock from static electricity today.

A lovely, enchanting facet of this story is that from the moment Lord Jesus Christ was face to face with the woman, it seems that no one else existed but the two of them. Despite being in the midst of a crowd, the crowd faded away, and the Lord Jesus Christ spoke to her as if she were the only person in the world. She was a poor, unclean, socially isolated, seemingly insignificant sufferer. Jesus devoted all His attention and care to her alone (Barclay).

The woman’s twelve years of suffering ended abruptly by simply reaching out to Jesus in faith.

He touched me

Shackled by a heavy burden, ‘Neath a load of guilt and shame.

Then the hand of Jesus touched me, And now I am no longer the same.

He touched me, Oh He touched me, And oh the joy that floods my soul!

Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole.

Since I met this blessed Savior, Since He cleansed and made me whole,

I will never cease to praise Him, I’ll shout it while eternity rolls.

He touched me, Oh He touched me, And oh the joy that floods my soul!

Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole.

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Who is the image of the invisible God? ∙

Who is the image of the invisible God? ∙

You alone are the LORD. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you. – Nehemiah 9:6

Colossians 1:15-19

15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,

16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see – such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.

19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ.

Since the dawn of time, people have pondered the origins of Earth, the stars, human and animal life. How did it all begin? Who created the heavens and the earth? Across the globe, various religious beliefs suggest less than satisfying answers. The Scriptures answer emphatically that God is the creator of everything.

The truth of the Scripture is infinitely layered. It has been revealed progressively over roughly 2000 years. It begins with a simple statement.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

In simple, unambiguous language, God is the creator of all that exists. Considered the supreme being, God created everything with a simple word.

Genesis 1:1 is a one-line summary. It introduces the rest of Scripture, where the details are elaborated. For example, Genesis 1 covers the six days of creation, while Genesis 2 focuses on the creation of Adam and Eve.

Psalms 33:9 For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command.

Isaiah 45:11-12

11 This is what the LORD says – the Holy One of Israel and your Creator . . ..

12 I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it. With my hands, I stretched out the heavens. All the stars are at my command.

The Old Testament reveals God’s triune nature, though the Son and the Holy Spirit are somewhat veiled and elusive. Most attention is given to the Father, who is often called the Lord, Yahweh, or God.

The New Testament elucidates further, revealing that the Trinitarian Godhead is a unity of distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

REFLECT & PRAY

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation. – Colossians 1:15

Father thank You for the clarity You have provided regarding creation and the Lord Jesus Christ. While hard to grasp, knowing and understanding that the Lord Jesus Christ is the visible expression of the invisible God is astonishing yet marvelously true.

INSIGHT

John 1:3 and Hebrews 1:2 hint at a rather astonishing and previously undisclosed truth: The Father created everything through the Son.

John 1:3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

Hebrews 1:2 God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son, he created the universe.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the member of the Trinitarian Godhead responsible for the creation and maintenance of all that is.

Colossians 1:15-19

15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,

17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

The Father God brought all creation into being through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Further, the Lord Jesus Christ holds all of creation together. Historically, theologians have referred to Him as the agent of creation. He is the one through whom everything came into existence.

But there’s more.

Colossians 1:15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation.

Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

What does the phrase mean, “The Lord Jesus Christ is the firstborn of all creation?” This is not about His physical birth. But instead, the relationship between the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father. He is the eternal Son and heir of the heavenly Father. “The use of the word ‘born’ or ‘begotten’ emphasizes the unique relationship between God and Jesus, which is best expressed in terms of father and son; unlike all other human beings, Jesus’ relation to God is not expressed in terms of creature and creator” (UBS).

This expression is translated in many ways. The World English Bible (WEB), an updated revision of the 1901 American Standard Version (ASV), renders it “He takes precedence over all the created universe.” The New English Bible NEB translates it as “his is the primacy over all created things.” Lightfoot paraphrases: “He is the Firstborn and as the Firstborn, the absolute Heir and sovereign Lord, of all creation.” The term firstborn emphasizes the position of the Lord Jesus Christ as the heir of His heavenly Father.

The Greek word translated as firstborn is prototokos. Prototokos is derived from protos – first and tikto – to bear, bring forth. Prototokos is “often used in the literal sense of the first to come from the womb, takes on a metaphorical significance based on the ancient attribution of preeminence to the first to be born” (Moo).

When people seek to know what God is like, the answer is the Lord Jesus Christ. To see Jesus is to see the Father.

John 14:9 He who has seen Me has seen the Father.

We gain insight into God’s character and essence as we get to know the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul gets even more specific, explaining this truly extraordinary fact.

Colossians 1:15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.

If you want to see the Father, look at the Son.

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How large is the love of Christ? ∙

How large is the love of Christ? ∙

May you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. – Ephesians 3:18

Ephesians 3:16-20

16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.

17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Webster defines “incomprehensible” as something “impossible to comprehend.” Can we truly understand what is deemed incomprehensible? Throughout history, meaningful efforts have been made to decode the incomprehensible through the arts. Artists have managed to convey messages without the use of words, utilizing a variety of art forms. Consider the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Art predominantly communicates through the language of visual imagery, converting profound and lofty concepts into accessible symbols that encapsulate these ideas.

Art gives the imagination free rein, allowing you to experience the surrounding world differently and then record how you feel about it without relying on words (study.com). Georgia O’Keeffe explained, ‘‘I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.’’

Poetry is an exception. Unlike the reliance on nonverbal imagery typical of other art forms, poetry crafts verbal imagery to evoke mental pictures. T.S. Eliot famously said, “Genuine poetry is able to communicate something to us even before it is understood.” Ponder that for a moment.

Elliott elaborated, “The task of the poet, in making people comprehend the incomprehensible, demands immense resources of language; and in developing the language, enriching the meaning of words and showing how much words can do, he is making possible a much greater range of emotion and perception for other men, because he gives them the speech in which more can be expressed . . ..”

Elliott proposes that comprehension via logical reasoning takes a back seat to conveying ideas through artistic expression.

Comparably, the Scriptures introduce a different approach to understanding, involving prayer and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called . . ..

Ephesians 3:18-19

18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Paul prays that the children of the King comprehend the breadth, depth, length, and height of the love of Christ. “It is as if Paul invited us to look at the universe – to the limitless sky above, to the limitless horizons on every side, to the depth of the earth and of the seas beneath us, and said: ‘The love of Christ is as vast as that’” (Barclay).

Paul was granted the ability to handle concepts that surpass human understanding: the infinite, eternal attributes of the Father, the living God. He sketches a verbal image to convey the immeasurable extent of the love of Christ. In doing so, he achieves the seemingly impossible. Paul “puts God in a box.” He prays for the ability to comprehend the incomprehensible width, length, height, and depth of Christ’s love.

REFLECT & PRAY

“The Four Magnitudes – width, length, height, and depth – are poetic expressions for the infinitude of God’s love” (Hughes).

Father, I recognize how little I understand. May I rely on You to empower me to grasp Your boundless, multi-faceted love. May Your Spirit truly enlighten me in all things.

INSIGHT

What is the magnitude of Christ’s love? This deliberately provocative question defies easy answers. Paul encourages us to seek the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to grasp the infinite, which is definitely beyond our limited, finite abilities.

“Just as Christ’s riches are unsearchable (Ephesians 3:8), so is his love too great for us to grasp completely. Like children who have seen the ocean for the first time, we should never cease to marvel at the magnitude of the love of Christ. Without the divine assistance that Paul requests for us, we would never be able to understand the love of Christ beyond a superficial level” (Boles).

The original Greek is somewhat terse. It simply reads, “In order that you may be strong to grasp/comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth” (Boles).

The Greek word translated as strong is exischuo. Exischuo is only used once in the entire New Testament. It connotes the idea of being able to grasp, lay hold of, possess, or seize. It literally means to have full strength (ATR) and has the sense of “being fully able to grasp” (UBS). Paul is interceding for thechildren of the King to be fully able to rise to the challenge and comprehend the incomprehensible. We are to grasp that which is just too big to grasp.

The Greek word for grasp, comprehend, and understand is katalambano. Katalambano means “to take hold firmly for oneself, especially to comprehend with the mind.” It means to be able to understand, perceive, or learn the meaning of something.

Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we can grasp what seems beyond understanding. Our own limited human insight and abilities fall short, but through the remarkable empowerment of the Holy Spirit, what was once impossible becomes possible.

John 14:26 When the Father sends the Helper as my representative – that is, the Holy Spirit – he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

How immense is the love of God? A.W. Tozer explained, “God is self-existent, His love had no beginning because he is eternal, his love can have no end because he is infinite it has no limit because he is holy it is the quintessence of all spotless purity because he is immense, his love is an incomprehensibly vast, bottomless, shoreless sea . . ..”

Paul’s prayer transforms an impossible task into a responsibility for every child of the King. Knowing that it is humanly impossible, “He calls us to this grand spiritual exercise for the health of our souls. It is to be our life’s occupation. Have we seriously devoted time to thinking about and trying to understand his love? Have we contemplated his love in, say, the Incarnation? – the cross? – great passages such as this one which extol his love? If not, we have failed in our duty” (Hughes).

Each child of the King is tasked to pray for the ability to comprehend the incomprehensible. We are to pray that God will empower us with inner strength through His.

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Remaining calm in life’s storms

Remaining calm in life’s storms

You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you calm them. – Psalms 89:9

Mark 6:41-52

41 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share.

44 A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed from those loaves!

45 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home.

46 After telling everyone goodbye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.

47 Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land.

48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them,

49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost.

50 They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!”

51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed,

52 for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.

“It was Christmas Eve, 1875, and Ira Sankey was traveling by steamboat up the Delaware River. It was a beautiful, starlit evening, and many passengers were on deck who encouraged the famous evangelist to sing.” “Sankey, who was leaning against one of the steamship’s great funnels gazing at the stars in silent prayer, consented, intending to sing a Christmas song, but felt compelled to sing William Bradbury’s ‘Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us.’”

“There was a deep stillness as his baritone floated across the quiet river that Christmas Eve. When he had finished, a man stepped from the shadows and said: ‘Did you ever serve in the Union Army?’”

“‘Yes,’ Mr. Sankey answered, ‘in the spring of 1860.’

‘Can you remember if you were doing picket duty on a bright, moonlit night in 1862?’

‘Yes,’ Mr. Sankey answered, very much surprised.”

“‘So did I, but I was serving in the Confederate Army. When I saw you standing at your post, I raised my musket and took aim. I was standing in the shadow, completely concealed, while the full light of the moon was falling upon you. At that instant, just as a moment ago, you raised your eyes to heaven and began to sing. ‘Let him sing his song to the end,’ I said to myself. ‘I can shoot him afterwards . . ..’”

“‘But the song you sang then was the song you sang just now. I heard the words perfectly: ‘We are Thine, do Thou befriend us. Be the Guardian of our way.’

‘Those words stirred up many memories. I began to think of my childhood and my God-fearing mother. She had many times sung that song to me . . ..’”

‘‘When you had finished your song, it was impossible for me to take aim again. I thought, ‘The Lord who can save that man from certain death must surely be great and mighty.’ And my arm of its own accord dropped limp at my side.’”

“Oblivious to any danger, Ira Sankey was spared certain death. A coincidence? Hardly! It was God’s sovereign power which arranged for him to sing that particular song on that night, the exact familiar strain to evoke tender memories in his would-be slayer and stay his hand (Hughes).”

The Father is ceaselessly active, wielding His sovereignty to fulfill His divine plans. His extraordinary ability to protect and provide brings solace to those who are children of the King. Yet, within the Gospel narratives, it is clear that the disciples were obtuse and often struggled to grasp this. Despite witnessing the works of the Lord Jesus Christ firsthand, their understanding fell short; their perception was dulled. They were slow to catch on. They did not internalize the implications of His words and actions. They heard life-changing truths, but they had little impact. It made little or no imprint on their consciousness.

The miracle of feeding 5,000 people demonstrated the Lord Jesus Christ’s power over nature, but the disciples didn’t get it. This event is closely followed by the account of the Lord Jesus Christ walking on water. “Walking on the sea is not something Jesus did just to amaze the disciples, but rather it is a powerful, visible demonstration of Jesus’ sovereignty over the world that he created” (ESV Notes).

It’s crucial for every child of the King to recognize, appreciate, believe, and implement the truths revealed by Him. In the midst of life’s tumultuous storms, the Lord Jesus Christ offers His peace and confidence.

REFLECT & PRAY

“Jesus promised his disciples three things: ‘they would be entirely fearless, absurdly happy, and that they would get into trouble’” (W. Russell Maltby).

Father I long to grasp and apply the profound life lessons of the Scriptures. Remove the dullness from my heart, enabling me to understand and absorb Your life-changing truths.

INSIGHT

Mark 6:45-46

47 Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land.

48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.

The Sea of Galilee was infamous for its abrupt and violent storms. “The water is 600 feet below sea level, and the land to the east is considerably higher. As warm air rises from the lake, it creates a vacuum that the air on the west rushes in to fill. This brings strong winds down on the lake with little warning” (Constable).

Even seasoned fishermen like Peter and his fellow disciples, accustomed to Galilee’s temperamental nature, were overwhelmed by the intensity of one such storm. Yet the ferocity of the squall was so severe that they were terrified and feared for their lives. Matthew employs the Greek word seismos, which is commonly associated with earthquakes. “The Greek word is used for a furious storm or hurricane. It never refers to a single gust, nor a steadily blowing wind, however violent, but to a storm breaking forth from black thunderclouds in furious gusts, with floods of rain, and throwing everything topsy-turvy” (Wuest).

Hughes vividly captures the scene: “It was as though the lake was being shaken. On port and starboard great dark mountains of water rose and washed over the boat. At any moment they would be swamped to a watery grave” (Hughes).

However, the storm ceased with the arrival of Jesus Christ. His walking on water served as a powerful object lesson of His dominion over His creation.

The question arises: Why were the disciples gripped by fear? Despite witnessing the miracle of feeding 5,000 people, they hadn’t absorbed the deeper lesson. They failed to learn because their faith was weak. Their hearts were insensitive and tragically unreceptive. Their understanding was shallow, and their faith was defective. They had not gained insight from the words and deeds of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark 6:51-52

51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed,

52 for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.

The disciples had heard Jesus’ words and seen His wonder-working power but they failed to get the underlying message. The multiplying of the loaves revealed the Lord Jesus Christ’s true identity as God, but the disciples did not gain this deeper insight from the miracle.

The essence of faith is trust, seeing the unseen (Hebrews 11:1). Faith and trust are not placed in an idea but in a person. To trust a person, you must know who they are and what they are capable of. Knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord is necessary to truly trust HimHe has complete authority over all creation.

This story provides insight into faith. Faith is like a muscle that is to be built up and strengthened over time by repeated use. The children of the King are responsible for actively engaging in learning and strengthening their faith. This is precisely where the disciples failed.

Faith and fear are mutually exclusive. They cannot coexist.

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Dealing with truculent opponents

Dealing with truculent opponents

The LORD forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! – 1 Samuel 26:12

1 Samuel 26:7-12

7 David and Abishai entered Saul’s camp and found him asleep . . ..

8 “God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time!” Abishai whispered to David. “Let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t need to strike twice!”

9 “No!” David said. “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the LORD’s anointed one?”

10 “Surely the LORD will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle.”

11 “The LORD forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed!”

The spotlight on the unethical behavior of leaders and supervisors has intensified over time, revealing a troubling history of abuse and misconduct. Significant moral failures in various religious groups have been uncovered, with initiatives like #MEtoo playing a pivotal role in bringing these issues to light. The complexity of the situation escalates with the infusion of personal biases or conflicts rooted in differences in ideology, faith, and political views. It’s easy to find oneself deeply aligned with one side or the other, leading to highly polarized confrontations. Many are out for blood.

In the wake of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, a grassroots movement quickly emerged to challenge the election’s results. This phenomenon was repeated in 2020, though with the roles reversed, showcasing the susceptibility to feeling threatened and the tendency towards defensiveness across the political spectrum.

Whether we like it or not, in good times or bad times, whether “our leader” is in or out, all authority is delegated authority. The Father has the ultimate say in who leads and who does not.

Daniel 2:21 He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings.

It is tough to do what is right when we are convinced that those in charge are doing what is wrong. But all children of the King are called to live by a different standard.

Historically, civilizations like the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Mongols were known for their barbarity. Today, the cruelty and maliciousness exhibited by modern nations and groups can seem unprecedented. We live in very difficult, perilous, fierce, savage, unprecedented times, as described in 2 Timothy 3:1.

The Bible offers us guidance, though its teachings can sometimes be difficult to accept. Frankly, they are hard to take. The Roman Empire was cruel and merciless. Living under Roman rule and during Emperor Nero’s reign, Paul penned words that continue to challenge us today.

Romans 13:1-7

1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.

2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.

7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

It’s common to question what we read, but it’s crucial to recognize that these are the inspired words of God that we’re reflecting upon. Through Paul’s writings, the Father reaches out to each of us personally, urging us to understand the messages conveyed and to base our decisions on the truths and principles imparted.

Paul’s wisdom doesn’t exist in isolation. In their own words, Peter and Paul retell the enduring lessons the Father has woven throughout the Scriptures.

Titus 3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed.

1 Peter 2:13-14

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,

14 or to governors as sent by him to punish evildoers and praise those who do right.

When confronted with questions about paying taxes, the Lord Jesus Christ adroitly answered those who would entrap Him.

Matthew 22:17-21

17 Now, tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?

18 But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” he said. “Why are you trying to trap me?”

19 “Here, show me the coin used for the tax.” When they handed him a Roman coin,

20 he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”

REFLECT & PRAY

The United States has been thrust into a period characterized by evil, controversy, and turmoil. Each child of the King faces critical decisions regarding their response to those whom the Father has placed in positions of power and authority who behave contrary to the truth found in the Scriptures.

Father may my heart be right before You and aligned with Your will. Enable me to act according to Your revealed Word, even in these savage times.

INSIGHT

In the Old Testament, all the kings of Israel and Judah were anointed and placed into their positions by the Father. Many were wicked and did evil “in the sight of the Lord.” However, they were still His “anointed” leaders.

This creates a dilemma for all children of the King. How do we respond to leaders that the Father has anointed but act in a dastardly fashion? David shows us the way. King Saul was the first Jewish king. His reign had not worked out too well. He was selfish, insecure, and defiant. His rule was riddled with personal failings and rebellion against divine directives. Eventually, the Father had enough. While Saul was still king, the Father had Samuel, the prophet, discreetly anoint David as his replacement. There was a new king in town.

Saul was furious and went into overdrive. David became a marked man. Saul relentlessly pursued David. Time and again, David eluded capture and certain death. He skillfully avoided Saul’s attempts on his life.

Recall that David had six hundred mighty men of valor who were loyal and devoted to him. They did not take too kindly to their beloved leader being hunted down for assassination. To them, Saul was nothing more than a threat to be eliminated. However, David’s view of Saul was profoundly different. Even in the face of persecution, David saw Saul through the Father’s eyes. David looked at Saul and saw “the Lord’s anointed.”

More than once, David had the opportunity to kill Saul. The Father delivered Saul into David’s hands. Saul was totally vulnerable, defenseless, and at David’s mercy. But David would not take his life nor allow others to do so. David was convinced that the Father would remove Saul in His own time, in His own way.

The question becomes, how do the children of the King respond to their enemies? If their heart is right with the Father. They will seek to do the right thing.

“David’s aide saw the opportunity as a divine blessing, but David saw it as a test. He would wait for God to act in His own time.” (Stanley).

David based his decisions and actions on truth and godly principles, not serendipitous circumstances. David knew it was wrong to lay hands on the Father’s anointed, even though King Saul was not serving the Father as he should. No doubt, David had little respect for Saul, the man. But David had absolute respect for the Father and the position of King. The Father had given the office of King to Saul.

This principle is illustrated in the final episode of the war drama “Band Of Brothers,” when Major Winters tells Captain Sobel, “We salute the rank, not the man.” Winters expresses a fundamental principle of military respect and protocol. This statement underscores the idea that individuals in the military salute the position or rank a person holds rather than the personal merits or character of the individual occupying that position. It reflects the importance of responsibilities and roles over personal relationships or animosities.

Are any of your enemies “anointed?” Perhaps it’s a test.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 9-22-1

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