"Mr. Schaeffer's Pecans"

(If you've been with us awhile, you might recall this, a repeat we've sent out a number of times over the years.  I passed by Mr. Schaeffer's house yesterday, and was reminded again of our friend, and our Lord's faithfulness. )

     Each morning during my walk, I pass by the house where we used to live.  Of course, this also takes me past my former next door neighbor's home.  Mr. Schaeffer was an elderly gentleman possessed of what seemed to me a gruff exterior.  I tried to be gracious and polite to him, but for some reason, we never seemed to connect as friends.  Until...

    ...Until one fall, when our eldest children Marie and Noah were small children.  Mr. Shaeffer's pecan trees shed a bumper crop that year.  Many of his limbs hung over our driveway and portions of our backyard.  He knew this, of course, and I remember seeing him peer through the bushes at the thousands of choice nuts that might have fallen from his trees, but which were legally our possession because they fell onto our property.  One morning, I stepped out onto my backsteps to see a gentleman - a friend of Mr. Schaeffer's - picking up pecans in our yard and placing them in his coat pockets.  I knew what was going on, and called out to the man, "Sir, can I help you?"  I tried not to sound peeved, but I was.  He looked at me as if he had been caught doing something he shouldn't have, - which he had.  "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm in the wrong yard" he said with a not too convincing voice.  "I thought I was next door."  

   Sure you did, buddy!  I didn't actually respond with those words, but I wanted to.  I was peeved, put out, perturbed, and determined then and there that Mr. Schaeffer and his henchmen were not going to get MY pecans!  I came back into the house, where Frances and our children were sitting together.  "Frances, you're not going to believe what Schaeffer did!  He sent one of his buddies over here to steal our pecans.  The guy told me he had mistaken our yard for Mr. Schaeffer's.  Likely story!  He was sent over here, and was taking that which is rightfully ours!  Can you believe it???"  I stopped talking in order to allow myself to fume a bit.  Then the inspiration hit.  "You know what we're going to do, Frances?  The kids and I are going to go out there and pick up all our pecans so Mr. Schaeffer can't get them, or send over his friends to do his dirty work!  Because the pecans are ours, they're rightfully ours!"

    I will never forget the Lord's interruption of my journey down Carnality Lane.  Somehow the thought came to me of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of how very differently He handled His earthly life's situations and relationships.    I realized He he had never acted the way I was acting, and that He had willingly given up the glory He so richly deserved in order to redeem us unto the glory we don't deserve.  "He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (II Corinthians 5:21).  It hit me like a ton of holy bricks cast into my unholy looking and acting face.  I realized the horrible example witnessed by my wife and children, and the misery of selfishness and bitterness I had allowed to envelop my heart (and that would have poisoned theirs).  Most of all, I knew the Lord was reminding me of the price He paid on the cross of Calvary to redeem me from such a fleshly and destructive attitude.  And, I knew what I had to do.

    First, I repented, confessed my sin, and thanked our Heavenly Father for His forgiveness and redirection of my waywardness.  Indeed, as you read this, please understand that if the Lord had left me to myself, my family and I would have enjoyed a belly full of pecans that autumn, while suffering from the ravages of my selfishness. God mercifully saved us from such a fate by saving me from my fleshly wrong and insanity.  I confessed to Frances, Marie, and Noah that the Lord had showed me the wrong of such an attitude for one who professed Christ.  "I was wrong, and I am sorry.  There is no excuse for what I said and how I behaved."  I paused for a moment as a thought occurred to me.  "Come on, kids, we have some pecans to gather up!"

     We filled several bags with the choice nuts.  We made our way to Mr. Schaeffer's back door, and knocked.  He took a while to come out, and when he did, his initial look seemed to be one of suspicion.  "Mr. Schaeffer," I said, a bit nervously, but with a smile, "Your pecans have been falling in our yard and driveway.  Marie, Noah, and I picked them up for you, and here they are."  We handed one bag to him, and set the others on his steps.  Suspicion gave way to shock on Mr. Schaeffer's face, and then his countenance softened into the kindness I would often see on the man's face throughout the duration of his life.  In that moment, and always thereafter, I discovered a hidden vein of richness in Mr. Schaeffer.  He couldn't do enough for us.  He frequently invited us over to offer us food, or give toys to the kids, or just to talk.  Moreover, not long after the episode, Mrs. Schaeffer became terminally ill.  We walked with Mr. Schaeffer through that trying time.  And not too long after, Mr. Schaeffer himself passed away.

    I served as a pallbearer at his funeral, held with military honors.  Mr. Schaeffer had served in World War II, where he had been a part of a hellish ordeal known as the Bataan Death March.  I can only imagine what he experienced in that terrible time, but I did come to understand at least a bit of why you had to get to know Mr. Schaeffer before the real person stepped forth.  I'll always count it a great honor to have served in Mr. Schaeffer's homegoing service.  We recently passed by the church where the funeral was held.   I reminded Frances of that long ago farewell.  She remembered, and we both smiled as we thought of our friend.

    We serve a faithful Lord, one who saves us from fleshly tendencies of selfishness as we trust and submit ourselves to Him.  Indeed, left to me, our family would have missed a rich blessing in lieu of a few bags of nuts.  The Lord didn't leave me to myself, however, and blessed me with a gift that still brings joy to my heart and tears to my eyes.  Mr. Schaeffer's pecans.  I love telling or writing the story because it reminds me of our friend long ago departed - and of our Friend forever present, active, and redemptive in our lives.  

"So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee. Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel."

(Psalm 73:22-24)

Weekly Memory Verse

   God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

(II Timothy 1:7)

    

"Living and Written"

   When considering the Word of God, we must understand the two-fold definition declared in Scripture.

    "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:1;14).

    "From a child, thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ.  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (II Timothy 3:15-16).

    The Word of God, both living and written, constitutes our proper devotion to God's communication of Himself and His truth.  From everlasting to everlasting, the Lord Jesus Christ exists as the former; through the prophets and the apostles, God gave to us the latter.  Thus, we may - and must - know Christ in both personal and doctrinal terms.  "God is a spirit, and that they worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).  The Lord Jesus graces every page of the Bible - "they are they which testify of Me" (John 5:39).  The Bible illuminates the person and work of Christ, rightly declaring and defining Him to our hearts and minds.  We open the written Word to discover the living Word, and know the living Word in terms of the written Word.  "In Thy light shall we see light" (Psalm 36:9).

    No greater principle serves to guide our walk with God in life and in truth.  If we seek to know the Lord Jesus apart from the Scriptures, we will inevitable end up following "another Jesus" to our deception and peril (II Corinthians 11:4).  Indeed, plenty of supposed Christs beckon our hearts and minds.  Only one suffices, namely, the Lord Jesus proclaimed in and by the Bible.  "He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38; emphasis added).  If we seek to understand the Bible apart from it's Genesis to Revelation exaltation of Christ, we will miss the main reason for the Bible's existence.  The Apostle Paul wrote that God ultimately purposes to "gather together in one all things in Christ" (Ephesians 1:10).  Such a determination means that if our Heavenly Father writes a book, it will be about His Son.  He did pen such a holy Volume, by His Spirit, through His apostles and prophets, and about the Lord Jesus.  Thus, we read the Book to know the Son, and we know the Son as we read the Book.  Or, in terms of our present consideration, we devote our hearts to the living and the written Word as we seek to love, trust, obey, exemplify, and communicate God and His truth.  

    Human beings possess the God-given capacity for personal knowledge and intellectual understanding.  Such a dual capability enables us to worship God "in spirit and in truth".  Both aspects of His Word present themselves to our hearts and minds as the Holy Spirit leads us to the Scriptures to know Christ, and as He leads us to Christ to know the Scriptures.  Again, "in Thy light shall we see light."  The Word of God, both living and written, beckons to us as a gift of riches unsearchable and love beyond full comprehension…

"Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."

(John 1:17)

Weekly Memory Verse

   God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

(II Timothy 1:7)

    

“Of Power, Love, and Sound Mind"

   Our memory verse this week declares that God gives to His trusting children the Spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind.  Or, He gives to us the Lord Jesus Christ as the power, love, and sound mind of God.

   "Christ, the power of God" (I Corinthians 1:24).

   "The love of Christ, which passeth knowledge" (Ephesians 3:19).

   "We have the mind of Christ" (I Corinthians 2:16).

    Our Lord's power overcomes fear because it assures us that we can face any challenge that comes to us by His strength and enabling.  Any challenge.  His love delivers from insecurity because at the root of all such lack of assurance lies focus upon ourselves rather than God and others (even if our fear seems to be about others).  The wisdom and knowledge of our Lord's mind, revealed in us by the Holy Spirit, banishes fright because it leads us to think in terms of God's presence rather than His absence, His promises rather than our perplexity, and His power rather than our weakness.  "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee" (Isaiah 26:3).  Indeed, let Satan paint the worst possible scenario we could imagine on the canvas of our minds, eliciting feelings of fear, insecurity, dread, and even horror.  The greater truth and reality, by an infinite measure, speaks to us from the pages of Scripture and by the living voice of the Holy Spirit that the Lord Jesus is risen from the dead!  The earthly tomb is empty, the heavenly throne is occupied, and our Savior dwells both with and within us to implement and execute the truth that "in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us" (Romans 8:37).

   Temptations to fear, if embraced, cause unnecessary weakness, selfishness, and downright stupidity when we succumb to the notion that the world, the devil, and the flesh are more honest than God, and more true than His Word.  Along these lines, we close the present consideration in the best manner possible, by remembering just a few the assurances provided by the Bible that shines its Light upon the darkness of fear.  Our Lord leads us into the light of liberty, His liberty of power, love, and a sound mind that delivers us from the unnecessary prison of being afraid.

    "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee" (Isaiah 43:2).

    "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee" (Psalm 56:3).

    "By Thee I have run through a troop.  By my God, I have leaped over a wall" (II Samuel 22:30).

    "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Lord shall raise a standard against him" (Isaiah 59:19).

    "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed and the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea " (Psalm 46:1-2).

    "Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; He will come and save you" (Isaiah 35:4).

    "Neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not" (Numbers 14:9).

    "In God I will praise His Word, in God I have put my trust.  I will not fear what flesh can do unto me" (Psalm 56:4).

    "The Lord is on my side, I will not fear" (Psalm 118:6).

    "In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence" (Proverbs 14:26).

    "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).

    "He is risen, as He said… Ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God" (Matthew 28:6; Colossians 2:12).

    "Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3).

    "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:14-15).

     "There arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.  And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow" (Mark 4:37-38).

     "Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given… the Prince of peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

     "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world" (I John 4:4).

     "In the world ye shall have much tribulation, but be of good cheer.  I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

    "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear" (I John 4:18).

    "We would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: but we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us" (II Corinthians 1:8-10).

    "I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

    "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: and they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever" (Revelation 22:1-5).

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

(Philippians 4:6-7)

Weekly Memory Verse

   God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

(II Timothy 1:7)