The Monday Memo from John Stanko

Memo 950: Luke

This week, we look at a Proverbs 31 man whose name is only mentioned three times (maybe four) in the New Testament, but his literary fingerprints are found throughout. His name is Luke, the "dear friend and doctor" (Colossians 4:14), whose two books named Luke and Acts provide insight into the life of Jesus and the early church that no one could have provided like Luke did. 

Luke is the only Gentile writer in the Bible. Being a doctor who wrote with the best Greek style due to his education, Luke provided an orderly account, conducting extensive research and interviews for his gospel account. Luke's gospel was written for a Gentile audience and highlighted Jesus' treatment of and care for women, something the Jewish writers would have been less apt to emphasize. Luke also gave us a firsthand account in much of Acts, as signified by his use of the first person plural pronoun we.  Let's look at what else we can learn about Luke that is applicable to our pursuit of principles that could qualify us to be Proverbs 31 men (or women).

WHO WAS THIS MAN?

We don't know much more about Luke except that he was probably the man mentioned in Acts 13:1, "Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul." If Luke is indeed the same man as Lucius in this verse, then he was present at the start of Saul's call to Gentile missions work (and that would be the fourth mention of his name). Who better to later accompany Paul on his journeys than the man who was there and heard the Spirit's voice call Saul into such a mission?

Keep in mind that Saul's ministry was always viewed with some suspicion by the leaders in Jerusalem. What's more, when believing Jews heard about Paul's teaching among the Gentiles, they fed the suspicion as we learn from Luke's report in Acts 21:20b-22:

Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs."

It would make sense that Luke began traveling with Paul as first reported in Acts 16:10 to bear witness to and record the validity and importance of Paul's work to those who questioned it. Luke's testimony would have verified the Spirit's presence in Paul's ministry work and addressed the concerns of Jerusalem, who would have had a closer relationship with Barnabas and John Mark—both of whom had to part ways with Paul when they tried to work together. Yet there was perhaps an even more important role that Luke played in helping take the gospel to his own people, the Gentiles, and that was he became Paul's friend.

CLOSER THAN A BROTHER

Paul reported in 2 Timothy 4:11 that "only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you because
he is helpful to me in my ministry." Luke became friends with a man who was not easy to be friends with (ask Barnabas or Mark). Luke traveled with Paul, sometimes as his only companion, and probably helped him with practical things, always keeping an accurate journal so he could tend to his literary calling. When Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea for two years before he went to Rome, Luke undoubtedly visited him in prison while he also conducted his research for his gospel. Then when Paul went to Rome, Luke wrote,

When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us (Luke 27:1-2, emphasis added).

Luke traveled the world with Paul and ended up on that ill-fated ship that ran aground on its way to Rome. He had to make it to shore like everyone else, finding something that would help him float as he swam to safety. Like Paul, Luke's life was in danger, all to fulfill Proverbs 18:24: "One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (emphasis added). When Paul lived in Rome in rented quarters for two years, in all probability, Luke was there with him.

Luke was a Proverbs 31 man, for he ensured that Jerusalem and then posterity would recognize and honor the importance of Paul's work. Luke could have been a "local elder" but instead he became a "floating" assistant whose office as pastor was carried out as a writer and historian. Luke submitted his intelligence, education, and calling to the service of one man and one cause, and God has honored him with a place among the heroes of the faith, almost all of whom were Jewish—except for Luke, the beloved physician. May we all, men and women, submit our lives to the service of God and others as Luke did, and may God grant us the strength to see that commitment through to the end, for His glory and the good of his church. Have a blessed week.

Memo 949: Sons of Thunder 2

Last week, we looked at the Apostle John and this week we look at his brother, James, whom Jesus nicknamed the sons of thunder (see Mark 3:17). Luke told us that the bothers were Simon's business partners (see Luke 5:10).We are profiling them because they are Proverbs 31 men, which is the title of this series, because they fulfilled one or more of the characteristics found in Proverbs 31 for the husband of a Proverbs 31 woman:

1. Using leadership power to benefit and not harm those who are weaker.
2. Being concerned for social justice.
3. Honoring women.
4. Serving in leadership capacities as "elders at the gate," where wisdom and justice are dispensed.

Let's get started.

THE MOTHER  

Some have conjectured that the sons of thunder reference was not concerning the brothers but their mother, whom some believe was a woman named Salome who was often part of Jesus' traveling entourage (see Mark 15:40-41 and Mark 16:1). Others maintain that Salome was Mary's sister, which would have made her Jesus' aunt and the brothers his cousins. Whoever this woman was and whatever her relationship was to Jesus, she came to him with a "thunderously" bold request:

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father" (Matthew 20:20-23).

Her boys were right next to Salome, kneeling before Jesus, as they attempted to undercut the others
and secure a special seat in the Kingdom as they understood it. Jesus did not honor the request, but He did ask the brothers a question, which they answered without realizing the scope or implications of their response. He asked if they could drink from His cup, which they said they could. Perhaps they thought the cup was some kind of inconvenience or annoyance. Instead, it was their cross that they were required to pick up daily and follow Jesus. Those brothers could and did indeed drink the cup but when they answered, they had not a clue as to its contents.

In a sense, Jesus did grant the request of this bold woman, for both her sons went on to play an important role in Jesus' Kingdom, one for a long time but the other for much shorter than what anyone, including either brother, would have expected. Let's look at what happened to James and you will see what I mean.

A TIMELY DEATH

Jesus took James with Him as one of His most trusted disciples at critical times, like His transfiguration, the raising of a dead girl, and His time of prayer in the Garden before His betrayal. It would seem that James was heading for a significant earthly role in the Kingdom of God, until we read what happened in Acts 12:1-2: "It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword." James did drink the cup of Jesus by dying a martyr's death, the first death of an apostle who stayed loyal to Jesus (we won't count Judas' death). By the say, the Herod who killed James was the nephew of the Herod who had killed John the Baptist.

James' brother by all accounts lived many more years in faithful service to Jesus, but it would seem that James went home to glory early—or least earlier than we would have expected. Yet his death undoubtedly shook up the apostolic party who had delayed obeying Jesus' command to go by staying in Jerusalem for a few years after Jesus' Ascension. With James killed, one of Jesus' inner circle, the men knew their own days were numbered and one by one, tradition tells us that they all went out and fulfilled Matthew 28:19-20, all but John his brother joining James as martyrs.

You may ask, "How does that qualify James to be a Proverbs 31 man?" My response is that Herod knew exactly where to find James because he was accessible and available in Galilee as a leader in the church, serving the Lord's people. James did not use his special status and favor with Jesus to build his own kingdom or establish his own power base, but used it as a means to serve the Lord and His cause. James' death served as an incentive for his band of brothers to get up and get going. 

Jesus is still seeking men (and women) who will put aside their own ambitions, as James and John did, to serve His purpose in their generation. He is recruiting men who will drink the cup and suffer, flying into the wind of their culture that says they must be men who love sports, gambling, leisure, and personal hobbies. I am hoping to stir up a cadre of Proverbs 31 men who will serve the Lord and His people in this day when men have shooed away from the Church, or who have found other interests that occupy their time and energy. May the Spirit of the sons of thunder come upon us all and may we drink from the cup and yield our lives to spread and establish His kingdom on earth. Have a blessed week.

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948: The Sons of Thunder 1

As we continue our search for examples of what I am referring to as Proverbs 31 men, this week and next we want to consider two brothers, James and John, starting with John. I could write much about John, especially if we assume that he wrote the epistles and the three letters of John, but I am going to focus on John in the gospels. Don't confuse John the disciple and apostle of Jesus with John the Baptist who was Jesus' cousin. This John's mother's name was Salome but she will figure into our discussion next week, so let's get started.

THE BACKGROUND

John was a fisherman, as was his brother and father: "Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him"(Matthew 4:21-22). Soon thereafter, Jesus gave the brothers a nickname: ". . . James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”) . . . (Mark 3:17).

Some believe Jesus gave them this nickname because of their thunderous temper; others maintain it is because they were more like "sons of windbags," for they made a lot of noise but they could not always produce the lightning. It could have been combination of both: anger that caused them to speak before they thought through what they said. 

In Mark 9, we see that John was upset that someone was doing good deeds even though they were not among their apostolic band of brothers: "Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us" (Mark 9:38). Later, John suggested that unfriendly fire consume those who had insulted Jesus and His team: 

And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them (Luke 9:52-55).

Let's summarize: John had an anger problem that caused him to lash out when wronged and seek revenge on his enemies, especially the Samaritans, who he despised like all good Jews were required to do.

THE TRANSFORMATION

In Luke 9, we learned that John was ready to nuke the Samaritans. Then we read this extraordinary account of John's ministry work in Acts:

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit" (Acts 9:14-17).

Not only did John go to Samaria, he laid his hands on the Samaritans! That is a remarkable transformation. After that encounter, Luke wrote, "After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages" (Acts 9:25). John overcame his racism and his anger to become an apostle, no longer representing his own feelings and opinions, but representing the Lord in the power of His Spirit. John not only went to the Samaritans, he made physical contact with them.

The Church needs more Proverbs 31 men like John who are more committed to the Kingdom than to their race or culture. We need more Proverbs 31 men who, like John, have an encounter with the Spirit that allows them to be sent to where the Spirit is working and moving, even if it is to a culture they previously hated or avoided. We need men who are not just thunderous windbags or blowhards, but who can lay hands on others and see God touch them. We need more Proverbs 31 men who will own up to their anger, apologize for where and to whom it did harm, and then direct their passion not toward sports, business, or meaningless things but to the matters of God's Kingdom. 

If John could transform so dramatically, then we can, too--and that includes men and women. Next week, we will look at the other brother, but for this week, I urge you to face your own limitations, yield them to the Spirt for Him to transform you, and then become a Proverbs 31 man who can seek justice for all and not just those in his own little world of like-minded or like-looking people. Have a blessed week.

Memo 947: Philip the Evangelist

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For several months, we have been studying examples from the Bible of what I am referring to as Proverbs 31 men, who meet one or more of these criteria:

1. Using leadership power to benefit and not harm those who are weaker.
2. Being concerned for social justice.
3. Honoring women.
4. Serving in leadership capacities as "elders at the gate," where wisdom and justice are dispensed.

This week, let's look at a man named Philip who has an entire chapter devoted to him in Acts. We first meet Philip in Acts 6:5 when the church elected their first deacons: "This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism." We learn from this verse that others recognized the presence of the Spirit in his life that manifested in wisdom for the benefit of others. What else do we know about this man that qualifies him to be a Proverbs 31 man?

WISDOM AND THE SPIRIT

The next time we read about Philip is in Acts 8:

Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city (Acts 8:4-8).

Once again, Philip endeared himself to others by serving their needs in the power of the Spirit and the practicality of his wisdom. He had the foresight to go to Samaria after the persecution following Stephen's death, and he had the people's undivided attention as he addressed their spiritual and physical needs. The result was great joy in the city. That's what I want my legacy to be, that people were helped and healed when I came around, which resulted in great rejoicing in the Lord. But that's not all Philip did, for he is perhaps best known for the next encounter he had with an Ethiopian eunuch:

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked (Acts 8:26-30).

Philip explained the passage from Isaiah to the eunuch and shared "the good news about Jesus" (Acts 8:35). He baptized the eunuch, but then "the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:39). Once again, Philip's presence was the source of great joy for someone else. We are told from there, Philip "traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea" (Acts 8:40b). Then Philip disappears from Acts until much later when we learn what is perhaps his most important role that qualified him as a Proverbs 31 man.

WHAT ELSE?

Luke reported in Acts 21:8-9, "Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied." We read in Acts 8 that Philip went to Caesarea and in Acts 21 we find out what he was doing there: evangelizing and raising four girls who followed in their father's footsteps by being full of the Spirit and wisdom. They spoke the words of God to others and we can be sure they brought joy to the hearts of others just like their father had done on numerous occasions. Philip raised four women who served as prophetic voice, which eventually brought them into the presence of Luke and the Apostle Paul.

Philip was a Proverbs 31 man who met all four criteria we find in Proverbs 31 as mentioned above. He was a servant leader extraordinaire who met the needs of many people, helped launch Christianity in Ethiopia, and honored the equality of women in the things of God. Good things happened to others no matter where Philip went. We need more men like Philip in the church today who devote their lives not to entertainment or frivolous issues but rather to the distribution of wisdom and joy in the power of the Holy Sprit. I want to follow in Philip's footsteps and I invite my brothers to join me so that we can impact our generation like Philip did his. Have a blessed week!

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Memo 946: Aquila

We continue or Proverbs 31 men series this week by taking a look at the male part of the most famous New Testament ministry duo: Priscilla and Aquila. This couple was obviously a dynamic team, so to separate them to determine what they did individually is almost impossible. What's more, in most cases, Priscilla's name is listed first when they are mentioned, which leads some to believe that she was the more gifted of the two for ministry, but God saw fit to join her to a Proverbs 31 man who would protect, nurture, and release her ministry purpose. We first encounter Aquila in Acts 18:1-3:

After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.

ROVING HOSPITALITY

Last week, we saw that Aquila and his wife brought Apollos into their home to teach him more about the Way, and now we see that they had done the same for Paul. Paul then wrote in Romans 16:3-5,

Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house.

Once again we see that Aquila made his home available for one or many and of course Priscilla was a willing accomplice. Did you notice from these few verses that the couple lived in Rome, Corinth, and then back in Rome again, after a journey to Syria and a stay in Ephesus: 

Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews (Acts 18:18-19).

Not only did the couple offering hospitality by opening their home to God's people, they moved their home to wherever God needed them to be. Then they made themselves useful wherever they were. At some point, their service to Paul put their own lives in danger but they willingly volunteered for duty even though some danger was involved.

It also seems that this couple had a knack to recognize "talent," if that is the right word, for they allied themselves first with Paul and then Apollos to help those men become more effective at what God had called them to do.

THE QUALIFICATIONS

I have defined a Proverbs 31 man as someone who does one or all of the following:

1. Using leadership power to benefit and not harm those who are weaker.
2. Being concerned for social justice.
3. Honoring women.
4. Serving in leadership capacities as "elders at the gate," where wisdom and justice are dispensed.

How does Aquila qualify? Of course, he honored his wife by being willing as a Jewish man to partner in ministry with her, even giving her the preeminence according to the Spirit's will. He also served as an elder at the gate of the Church, but that "gate" moved from city to city. Aquila did not need a title, a physical office, or a title. He just needed the opportunity and he made himself useful according to the need of the moment. He also used his leadership power to empower others, first Paul, then Apollos, and then those who were in his house church.

My goal in this series is to stir up more men to be involved in society and the church by finding and fulfilling their purpose. I want to see them as passionate for the Lord as they are for sports, career, and making money. Aquila was a man whose household was sold out for the Lord. His wife was not the more spiritual of the two even if she was the more gifted. Aquila contributed what he could and was devoted to the cause of the Kingdom, so much so that he risked his life and sacrificed his career to be God's agent. He was not concerned about building up equity in a house; he was interested in building up equity in heaven through his continual service. May more men catch the spirit and vision of Aquila and may they use all that is at their disposable to serve the saints and the Kingdom as God directs. Have a blessed week!

Memo 945: Apollos

In case you are just joining this series, we have been looking at what I am referring to as examples of Proverbs 31 men in the Bible. So far, we have looked at men like Mordecai, Amos, Onesiphorus, Ezra, and Matthew, just to name a few. What qualifies a man to be labeled as such is one or more of the following traits as found in Proverbs 31, which are

1. Using leadership power to benefit and not harm those who are weaker.
2. Being concerned for social justice.
3. Honoring women.
4. Serving in leadership capacities as "elders at the gate," where wisdom and justice are dispensed.

This week, let's look at a man named Apollos, who is prominently mentioned in the books of Acts seven times and in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians.

WHO WAS THIS MAN?

We are first introduced to Apollos in Acts 18:24: " Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures." If there is one designation I would covet in my career, it would be as a man who was competent in the Scriptures as another translation put it. Apollos was a Jew from Egypt and he was a traveling teacher, not an uncommon thing in his day: "He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue" (Acts 18:25-26a).

The problem was that what Apollos taught was accurate but incomplete, which was sort of like taking algebra one, which is true and complete, but is not the full picture without algebra two. Apollos had only heard about John's baptism so he was probably preaching a message of repentance and heart preparation for the coming of the Lord's Messiah. Luke then tell us that "when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately" (Acts 18:26b). Apollos humbled himself and received the missing pieces of his message, which he obviously received eagerly and with gladness, for Paul did not hesitate to endorse and draw on Apollos' ministry assistance: "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow" (1 Corinthians 3:6). 

HIS PROVERBS 31 QUALIFICATIONS

What qualified Apollos to be considered a Proverbs 31 man for the purposes of this study? First and foremost, he made his teaching gift available to the body of Christ free of charge: 

When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah (Acts 18:27-28).

He served as an elder at the gate, so to speak, and made his wisdom known to build up his listeners. There are some who conjecture that he contributed to or perhaps even wrote the letter to the Hebrews. He used his leadership power, which derived from the exercise of his teaching gift and his years of studying God's word, to empower others in the knowledge of God's purpose in Christ. We could even make a case that he honored women for he received instruction from both Priscilla and Aquila, and most credit Priscilla with the more prominent ministry of the two because her name is always mentioned first.

You don't have to be a great teacher like Apollos or have a public ministry at all to be considered a modern Proverbs 31 man. What will qualify you is recognizing your spiritual gifts, perfecting them through use and practice, and then making them available to as many people as possible. What's more, Apollos didn't seem like he waited for an invitation to go somewhere; he just went! A Proverbs 31 man doesn't wait to be invited, but when he sees a need and has the ability to address it, he does so. Of course, the same is true for Proverbs 31 women.

Where have you been holding back your gift and presence in the church or society? Where have you allowed fear or misplaced priorities to render God's deposit in your life ineffective? Has devotion to sports, career, or family detracted from your devotion to Christ and your ability to serve? It appears that Apollos lived a life of faith, trusting the Lord for his provision as he traveled and taught. Not only did God provide for his physical needs but the Lord also gave him the insight he needed to be even more effective as he served the Lord. It's time for men everywhere to stand up, declare "this is who I am and what God has equipped me to do," and then do it. The need has never been greater but the rewards are the same: hearing the words "Well done, good and faithful service" at the end of a life devoted not to personal comfort but selfless service. Have a blessed week.

944: Levi

There was no more hated class of Jewish citizens in Jesus' day than the tax collectors. These men were employed by Herod to collect taxes for Rome and for Herod's projects, and anything that was "left over" belonged to the collectors. These men had a franchise that empowered them to legally loot their own people and thus the reason for the animosity toward them. The Jews could think of no greater insult to hurl at Jesus than this: "Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners" (Luke 7:34). it is not surprising then that Jesus would call one of these men to become a disciple and also a good example of a Proverbs 31 man, the subject of my current series.

THE CALL

Jesus' ministry was based in the region of Galilee by the large lake where some of His disciples made their living as fishermen. Levi was there to collect business taxes from those men but then one day Jesus walked by and this is what happened: "After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him" (Luke 5:27:28). My theory is that this was not the first encounter between these two men. Perhaps Levi and Jesus had previously conversed or maybe Levi had watched Jesus' public ministry.

That being said, when Levi heard the call, he abandoned his lucrative occupation and followed Jesus. After that, whenever the apostles were named, Levi was included but was identified by his other name of Matthew:

When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor (Luke 6:13-16).

Matthew abandoned his wealth and his source of revenue to follow and fellowship with Jesus. The reason I believe Matthew was acquainted with Jesus is because of what Matthew did after he followed Jesus: "Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them" (Luke 5:29). Matthew knew that Jesus' mission was to reach people just like him so he used his connections to spread the word and give his peers the same chance that he had to encounter Jesus of Nazareth. 

THE LESSONS

Levi had been rejected by the scribes of his day, but Jesus chose him to be His scribe. Matthew went on to write a gospel directed toward his people the Jews, explaining and proving that Jesus was their Messiah. Matthew displayed two of the four traits of a Proverbs 31 man: 1) using leadership power to benefit and not harm those who are weaker; and 2) serving in a leadership capacity as an elder at the gate where he could dispense wisdom and justice.

To become a Proverbs 31 man, Levi had to display courage and walk away from his occupation. He had to embrace his past, be forgiven, and then bear fruit consistent with his new life. Because he did, he is still serving the Lord and blessing the people of God though his writing and teaching. Is Jesus calling you to be a Proverbs 31 man? It may not be necessary to walk away from your work, but then again, it may. If that is what He is asking you to do, you will not do it alone, for He is calling you to walk with Him so that together you may redefine your role, not according to what others think, but according to His purpose and plan for you. I urge you not to let anything—money, occupation, sports, relationships, or fear—keep you from being a Proverbs 31 man who is able to accept a new role not only as a breadwinner for your family but a soul winner for Christ. Have a blessed week!

943: Another Joseph

There are a few men named Joseph included in biblical narratives. One is the Old Testament Joseph of Egypt fame. Then there is Joseph, the father of Jesus, and also Joseph in Acts 4 who was given the nickname of Barnabas. There is one other Joseph that I want to focus on this week in my Proverbs 31 Men series and that is Joseph of Arimathea.

In case you are just tuning in, I am well into a series I am referring to as the Proverbs 31 Men, which is a collection of Memos that manifest the characteristics of men described in Proverbs 31, which of course also contains the well-known description of what we call the Proverbs 31 woman. You can read one of the first Memos that describes the Proverbs 31 man in full here or go back and read all the Memos so far that have looked at men like Amos, Mordecai, Onesiphorus, Ezra, and Simeon. In short, the characteristics I am looking for are:

1. Using leadership power to benefit and not harm those who are weaker.
2. Being concerned for social justice.
3. Honoring women.
4. Serving in leadership capacities as "elders at the gate," where wisdom and justice are dispensed.

My goal is to stir up modern men to take their place as Proverbs 31 men. Based on my experience in my church or from my travels, this is not happening.

WHAT DO WE KNOW?

I find four references to Joseph of Arimathea:

1. He was a disciple and follower of Jesus: "When evening came, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, one of Jesus’ followers, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new rock-hewn tomb, and rolled a great stone across the entrance as he left" (Matthew 27:57-60).
2. He was a bold man who was looking for God's kingdom: "It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb" (Mark 15:42-26).
3. He had not consented to how the Council treated Jesus: "Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment" (Luke 23:50-56).
4. Even though bold, Joseph was a secret disciple because he feared the Jewish leaders: "Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there (John 19:38-42).

WHAT ARE THE LESSONS WE CAN LEARN?

Here are some things that stand out about Joseph that can help you be a Proverbs 31 man (or woman).

1. He was not a perfect man, for he was a secret disciple because he feared the backlash of his culture. God still used him and honored him with his story being told in all four gospels.
2. Jesus' death, rather than causing him to shrink back deeper into fear, caused him to come out and identify with the dead Jesus.
3. He was not a primarily a Jewish man or a synagogue man. His loyalty was not ultimately to his people or his church, but to the Kingdom of God.
4. His courage drew out Nicodemus who we must also assume was a "secret" disciple.
5. The women followed Joseph to learn what he had done and where Jesus was so they could follow up with their own devotion to the dead Jesus when the Sabbath was over.
6. Joseph used his wealth to help the poor, for he gave his expensive tomb to a man who could not pay him for it. Anyone who knows Jewish culture knows how important a burial is for the Jews.
7. While Joseph was a secret disciple, he publicly disagreed with the mistreatment of Jesus and the unjust sentence of the Council.

Here are some questions to ask yourself in light of what we just read and learned. Where is fear keeping you a "secret" disciple of Jesus? Are you bound by your wealth or love of money? Are you bold for the cause of Christ? Are you more committed to your church or your race than you are to the Kingdom and its values? Do women follow your leadership? Are you impacting others to be bold in their faith? Do you have the courage to speak up to disagree with less-than-godly decisions made at work, in your church, or in your family? I pray that God will grant you the grace to answer these questions honestly and then give more grace to become the Proverbs 31 person that Joseph of Arimathea was. Have a blessed week! 

942: In The Spirit

In our Proverbs 31 Men series, so far we have looked at Mordecai, Onesiphorus, Amos, and Ezra, examining what made these characters stand out as men of purpose. Let's move on in our series to look at a man named Simeon, of which we know very little, but what we do know tells us a lot:

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2:25-35).

There is on phrase that stands out in those verses, so let's begin our study there as we examine what it was like for Simeon to be a man of the Holy Spirit.

IN THE SPIRIT

Notice that we learn three things about Simeon and the Holy Spirit:

1. The Holy Spirit was on him.
2. The Holy Spirit had revealed something to him.
3. The Holy Spirit moved him to go to the Temple to meet the baby Jesus.

Obviously, the Holy Spirit was active and working in Simeon's life, but we are not told how or why. We do not know if there were any other Spirit manifestations or activities that distinguished Simeon from other men. We do not know that he was "righteous," which would describe his relationship with others, and he was "devout," which describes his relationship with God. It is often assumed that Simeon was old, but if you look at the account carefully, Luke did no tell us that for sure. We don't know how long he carried God's promise that he would see the Messiah. All we know is that the Spirit revealed something to him, which Simeon accepted in faith and then waited.

Jerusalem was a busy city with lots of activity, especially around the Temple. It would have been easy for Simeon to miss his encounter with Jesus. Jesus would not have been in the Temple with His parents for very long and Simeon could have been in the general vicinity but still missed Him, except that the Spirit was ordering his steps. We see from this that Simeon was sensitive to the Spirit or perhaps the Spirit had done such a deep work in his life that he had a thought that he needed to be somewhere and followed that thought in faith.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

There seem to be two pictures that people hold in their minds when we say someone is in the Spirit. We either think of a wide-eyed, eccentric person who walks around with his (or her) head cocked to one side, listening for a voice that no one else can hear. Or there is the person who only does what "the Spirit" tells him (or her) to do, and thus takes no initiative on his (or her) own unless God speaks. I am not sure either of those would adequately describe Simeon. Paul is the one who gives us the best picture for what someone in the Spirit is like:

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you (Romans 8:5-11).

It seems that the presence of the Spirit is most active in the area of our minds and the business of our minds is thinking. Therefore, those who are in the Spirit are those whose thought process and eventual thoughts themselves are subject to the work of the Spirit. A Proverbs 31 man is one whose mind is not set on sports, or business, or gambling, or sex, or trivial or wasteful hobbies. The Proverbs 31 man's mind is not hostile to God or His will but submits to God's will as revealed in His word and through His Spirit. There is an abundance of instruction in the epistles that describes the behavior and thinking of a man led by the Spirit. Perhaps it would be a good study to look at what those writers had to say as a follow up to this Memo.

If the mind governed by the flesh is death, then the mind ruled by the Spirit is life and that life is contagious and must be shared with others. That means men who are in the Spirit are teaching and encouraging others, just like Simeon did with Joseph, Mary, and Jesus in the Temple. Are you a man (or woman) of the Spirit? If so, you don't have to follow the expectations of those who think you must be spooky spiritual if you have a close relationship with the Spirit. You can be supernaturally natural and still be a man or person of the Spirit. I encourage you to reflect on this concept this week and see if your mind is indeed a source of life for others, or a source of contention or useless pursuits that don't amount to anything in the eternal economy of God. Have a blessed week!

941: Ezra

We continue with our Proverbs 31 Male series with a look at an obscure Old Testament priest named Ezra. The purpose of this series is to look at men who modeled certain behaviors described in Proverbs 31, which include:

1. Using leadership power to benefit and not harm those who are weaker.
2. Being concerned for social justice.
3. Honoring women.
4. Serving in leadership capacities as "elders at the gate," where wisdom and justice are dispensed.

Ezra does not qualify on all the points above, a topic we will not discuss in this Memo, but he did excel in leading his people because of his superb knowledge of the Word, which will be the focus of our discussion.

WHO WAS THIS MAN?

Ezra was a priest who was in Babylon taken there under the same conditions as Daniel:

After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—this Ezra came up from Babylon (Ezra 7:1-6a).

Ezra was selected to lead the contingent returning to Jerusalem having distinguished himself as a man of the Word:

• He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given (Ezra 7:6b).
• This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the Lord for Israel: Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, teacher of the Law of the God of heaven (Ezra 7:11-12).
• Now I, King Artaxerxes, decree that all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates are to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you (Ezra 7:21).

The Persian king had heard of Ezra because Ezra had distinguished himself as a man who knew the Word and could teach others the word:

And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appointmagistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment (Ezra 7:25-26).

Ezra had so completely given himself to the study of God's word that he was known not only among the Jews but also among the heathen as a learned man. On that basis he was chosen to serve his people by leading them back to rebuild Jerusalem, the city of their fathers. 

MEN OF THE WORD

I recently met with someone who told me they studied the Word of God two to three hours almost every day. When I asked why, this person said, "So I can know the Word." While I was impressed with this person's diligence and commitment, I challenged them to be more than a man of the Word. I urged them to become a teacher of the Word, for that is what a Proverbs 31 man needs to be. If we are to dispense justice and lead people, we must not only know the Word but also obey and then teach the Word. 

I am concerned because so few men are involved in their churches teaching others, especially children. I am concerned that men seem more entranced by sports and other "manly" activities than they are immersed in the Word—but not just immersed to build themselves up but to teach others as well. I am concerned that I see men more activated by politics on social media who are sharing their political insights rather than their insights into God's word (including pastors)

Ezra had a wonderful reputation as a man of wisdom as the king stated in his memo: "And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess . . ." (Ezra 7:25a). Where are the men of wisdom today? Where are the men who are available to be drafted to lead God's people because they know the Word, not because they are successful businessmen or sports trivia champions?

I go back to the song I quoted in the first entry of this series, titled Rise Up, Oh Men of God. The stanzas go like this:

Rise up O men of God, Have done with lesser things. Give heart and soul and mind and strength,  to serve the King of Kings.

 

Rise up O men of God, His Kingdom tarries long, Bring in the day of brotherhood, and end the night of wrong.

 

Rise up O men of God, The Church for you doth wait. Send forth to serve the needs of men In Christ our strength is great,

Lift high the Cross of Christ, Tread where His feet have trod. As brothers of the Son of Man, rise up O men of God,

 

How many men will commit to be people of the Word to not only obey it but also to teach it. If you are ready to make that commitment, then the time to start is now for every day counts as we rise up to serve this generation as God would have us do. Have a blessed week.