I was just thinking over the last year and looking forward to next year, and praying about a focus for 2014 and the Lord reminded me of Paul's statement in his letter to the Philippians 3:8-9 NIV:
[8] "What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ---the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith."
Not that we literally have to lose all things, but rather that in the light of Christ Jesus, they become as nothing, as so much garbage, quoting Paul. To know Jesus is of such significance that Paul considered everything else worthless. My desire this year is to move closer to Paul's statement in my own life. I want to grow in my knowledge of Jesus, not my head knowledge, but rather my heart knowledge. I want to be found in Him. The Greek word, here translated found is worth a quick look, for its definition is rich and helpful. The word is Heurisko:
Definition
1. to come upon, hit upon, to meet with
a. after searching, to find a thing sought
b. without previous search, to find (by chance), to fall in with
c. those who come or return to a place
2. to find by enquiry, thought, examination, scrutiny, observation, to find out by practice and experience
a. to see, learn, discover, understand
b. to be found i.e. to be seen, be present
c. to be discovered, recognised, detected, to show one's self out, of one's character or state as found out by others (men, God, or both)
d. to get knowledge of, come to know, God
3. to find out for one's self, to acquire, get, obtain, procure
Such a simple statement -wanting to be found in Him - but the meaning is so much more. Yes, Lord I want to be found in You, I want to meet wth You. I want to discover myself through You. I want come to understand You through inquiry, examination, exploration, observation and experience.
Yes Lord, this is what I want for my New Year's resolution - to be found in You.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Peace Instead of Anxiety
Sorry for the break in flow of entries, I have been severely under the weather the last four days. Hopefully, I am on the mend. - Blessings, Sam
This morning I am reading from Paul's letter to the Philippians 4:6-7 NIV:
[6] "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
This is such an excellent verse to sow into our lives. There is a place where we can live anxiety free and it is found within Christ Jesus, not in a bottle of Xanax. Paul is describing the same principle that Jesus spoke of Matt 11:28-32. If we give Him what we carry, He gives us what He has in return. In this case, if we are carrying anxiety, when we give it to Him, we will receive peace in return.
More importantly this peace will guard our hearts and minds from the onslaught of other things that cause anxiety. As we learn to trust in His peace and presence, we are strengthened in our ability to withstand other sources of anxiety. This has to do with our heart and mind coming to understand the Lord, His ways and how He relates to us. Its ultimately about identity! If we believe that God loves us, has only good planned for us, and is capable of overcoming any difficulty or hardship to bring us blessing we would have no reason to be anxious. If we know that He has already accepted us, has paid with His own life for us, and that nothing can separate us from His love, we should not worry about our salvation. If we know that we are His adopted children, heirs to everything and that all we need to do is ask, we would not worry about our needs being met.
This doesn't mean we won't experience difficult times, but as my honey says its all about our attitude. If we believe all the stuff I mentioned earlier, then when we encounter difficulty, we see opportunities for God to show Himself as our God, bringing Him glory, and blessing us in the process. As we grow in our ability to trust Him, He in turn can trust us with greater things as well.
My encouragement today is to learn to turn to Him constantly, releasing the things that I am carrying that I don't need to carry, so that I can receive from Him the peace, rest and comfort I need. These are the types of heavenly transactions He wants us to learn about and grow in, as we walk out our relationship with Him.
This morning I am reading from Paul's letter to the Philippians 4:6-7 NIV:
[6] "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
This is such an excellent verse to sow into our lives. There is a place where we can live anxiety free and it is found within Christ Jesus, not in a bottle of Xanax. Paul is describing the same principle that Jesus spoke of Matt 11:28-32. If we give Him what we carry, He gives us what He has in return. In this case, if we are carrying anxiety, when we give it to Him, we will receive peace in return.
More importantly this peace will guard our hearts and minds from the onslaught of other things that cause anxiety. As we learn to trust in His peace and presence, we are strengthened in our ability to withstand other sources of anxiety. This has to do with our heart and mind coming to understand the Lord, His ways and how He relates to us. Its ultimately about identity! If we believe that God loves us, has only good planned for us, and is capable of overcoming any difficulty or hardship to bring us blessing we would have no reason to be anxious. If we know that He has already accepted us, has paid with His own life for us, and that nothing can separate us from His love, we should not worry about our salvation. If we know that we are His adopted children, heirs to everything and that all we need to do is ask, we would not worry about our needs being met.
This doesn't mean we won't experience difficult times, but as my honey says its all about our attitude. If we believe all the stuff I mentioned earlier, then when we encounter difficulty, we see opportunities for God to show Himself as our God, bringing Him glory, and blessing us in the process. As we grow in our ability to trust Him, He in turn can trust us with greater things as well.
My encouragement today is to learn to turn to Him constantly, releasing the things that I am carrying that I don't need to carry, so that I can receive from Him the peace, rest and comfort I need. These are the types of heavenly transactions He wants us to learn about and grow in, as we walk out our relationship with Him.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
The Wonder of Christmas
This morning I am reflecting on the wonder of Christmas.
Jesus we are so grateful for Your life, for Your humility in coming to earth and offering Yourself as the eternal sacrifice that paid for our sins and redeemed us all. We are reminded of the mystery of it all, how You became fully man, born of a woman, and yet were the creator of all. We celebrate Your love, affection and mercy, Your humanness and divinity. We celebrate the establishment of Your Kingdom, which has no end, and is ever increasing! Oh the wonder of it all!
Here are the words to a song by Charles Junkin which are quite appropriate:
O the wonder of the story Of the night so long ago, In the glimmer of the starlight And the whiteness of the snow, When the little Prince of Judah In His beauty came to birth, While the angels sang His glory And His sweetness filled the earth!
O the wonder of the story, Of the gladness none can tell, When the shepherds saw the rising Of the Star of Israel, And a light from out the manger, Reaching far and waxing strong Till it touched the darkened shadows And the world was wrapped in song!
O the wonder of the story, Of the tender joy supreme! O the mystery of loving And the sweetness of the dream! For the little head was pillowed On a mother’s loving breast, And the Father’s little children They shall find the perfect rest!
Merry Christmas! May the light of Christ fill your life with joy and peace!
Monday, December 23, 2013
Jesus the Shepherd
Yesterday, during church we were reading the story of Jesus' birth from a children's bible and it spent a bit of time talking about the importance of shepherds. As we were reading and thinking, I was reminded of a verse from Ezekiel that spoke about God coming as a shepherd.
Ezekiel 34:23-24 NIV:
[23] "I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. [24] I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the Lord have spoken."
These verses are an interesting prophetic picture of Jesus. He will be a shepherd, from the house of David. He will be their prince, and he will restore relationship to their God. He will have a servants attitude.
As you read the Gospels you can see each of these fulfilled in Jesus' life, and they start being fulfilled when the first people that see the new-born child are shepherds, who visit him in a manger, a place for the care and feeding of sheep and other animals. The second part is fulfilled when the kings visit and bring him gifts worthy of a prince. This is in some ways a prophetic picture of His life, for his ministry starts with His shepherding, and is followed by His taking His seat of the throne following His resurrection and ascension. I don't think its any coincidence that the Father chose the first moments of His life to identify His Son with shepherds.
Jesus clearly understood his role as a shepherd, and was basically responding to Ezk 34:1-16 when he spoke of being a shepherd in John 10. Her a few of the verses from Ezekiel, 34:2-5 NIV:
[2] “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? [3] You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. [4] You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. [5] So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals."
And Jesus response from John 10:11-16 NIV:
[11] “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. [12] The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. [13] The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. [14] “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--- [15] just as the Father knows me and I know the Father---and I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd."
Yes, Jesus as shepherd is a very appropriate identification. Let us be grateful that He came as a shepherd, showed himself to shepherds and lived the life of a servant. This shows us that the Father's heart toward us is to protect us, feed us, rescue the lost and heal us, and have mercy on us. This is how the Lord wants us to experience Him first, for this is how he revealed Himself to us first. Who would ever have expected that our God would come and embrace such a humble attitude, and pastoral role, when He is the ruler of all? That is one of the great surprises and mysteries of our faith, and one of the reasons Christmas is so important, for it reminds us of the incredible steps God took to show the love He has for us.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
The Vine and Relationships
On Friday night I had an encouragement for some friends out of John 15, and I think they are also great verses that highlight the Lord's focus on relationship with us.
John 15:1-8 NIV
[1] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. [2] He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. [3] You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. [4] Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
[5] “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. [6] If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. [7] If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. [8] This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."
I think its relatively impossible to read these verses and not understand that Jesus is talking about relationships. Remaining in, being connected to, drawing life from, speaking of connectedness. It is a great analogy and so true for us, that it is in connectedness, in relationship wth the Lord that we receive life and bear fruit.
Jesus also speaks of the deposit of His word, remaining in us. He says in John 6:63b... "The words I have spoken to you---they are full of the Spirit and life." His words bring us Spirit and life, and when they remain in us they will bear much fruit, and they will bring an alignment of our wills with His.
If we go back to the vine analogy, in a vine the life essence flows in the sap. The sap, which contains the nutrients and sugars to fuel growth of the vine and the fruit, is what Jesus is saying is the word He speaks to us, which brings life. As the sap flows, the fruit gets larger, the vine grows and develops more fruit, etc. This is only possible if relationship, or connectedness to the vine is established and maintained. The flow of sap in a vine must be constant, and ultimately must increase as the vine grows.
I like that Jesus used a vine for this analogy, for there is really no limit to how big a vine can get. If we were talking about a corn stalk, they only get so big and only produce one ear of corn, and then die. A vine continue to grow, produces fruit season after season, and only needs some small amount of external support (structure) to continue to grow and expand. A vine can produce tons of fruit, and the fruit can grow in unlikely places. This is such a great picture of the potential for our relationship with the Lord.
All of this is possible if we remain in Him, remain in relationship with Him, and allow His word to remain in us and bear fruit.
John 15:1-8 NIV
[1] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. [2] He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. [3] You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. [4] Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
[5] “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. [6] If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. [7] If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. [8] This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."
I think its relatively impossible to read these verses and not understand that Jesus is talking about relationships. Remaining in, being connected to, drawing life from, speaking of connectedness. It is a great analogy and so true for us, that it is in connectedness, in relationship wth the Lord that we receive life and bear fruit.
Jesus also speaks of the deposit of His word, remaining in us. He says in John 6:63b... "The words I have spoken to you---they are full of the Spirit and life." His words bring us Spirit and life, and when they remain in us they will bear much fruit, and they will bring an alignment of our wills with His.
If we go back to the vine analogy, in a vine the life essence flows in the sap. The sap, which contains the nutrients and sugars to fuel growth of the vine and the fruit, is what Jesus is saying is the word He speaks to us, which brings life. As the sap flows, the fruit gets larger, the vine grows and develops more fruit, etc. This is only possible if relationship, or connectedness to the vine is established and maintained. The flow of sap in a vine must be constant, and ultimately must increase as the vine grows.
I like that Jesus used a vine for this analogy, for there is really no limit to how big a vine can get. If we were talking about a corn stalk, they only get so big and only produce one ear of corn, and then die. A vine continue to grow, produces fruit season after season, and only needs some small amount of external support (structure) to continue to grow and expand. A vine can produce tons of fruit, and the fruit can grow in unlikely places. This is such a great picture of the potential for our relationship with the Lord.
All of this is possible if we remain in Him, remain in relationship with Him, and allow His word to remain in us and bear fruit.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Relationship Versus Religion
Yesterday, after my prayer time, I was thinking more about relationships versus religion and rules and so convinced that the Lord is after relationship wth us, not religion, which is basically following a bunch of rules. We like rules because we can follow them and feel like we have achieved something, we can keep track of how we are doing by using a checklist. What real relationship works that way? Every real relationship between two loving people, involves a unique interconnection that is based on their personalities and ways they think and act. Every person is unique and a relationship with each person will have some uniqueness about it. The great news is the Lord created us unique and loves and embraces our uniqueness, and doesn't want us to all look and act the same, but wants to be in relationship with us, as we are now.
Since God is interested in relationship with us, we need to know what He is like. That is the primary reason Jesus came to earth, to reveal the Father (Matt 11:27, Heb 1:3, John 1:18 and pretty much the whole Gospel of John) Secondly, we need to have access to the person we want a relationship with and that is the second reason Jesus came to earth, to establish a way to the Father (John 14:6, Heb 3-10). Finally, we need to understand how to live out that relationship in our daily lives and that is what Jesus showed us as He lived on the earth, and generally what the writers of the epistles were writing about in their letters.
Jesus spent much of His time speaking about the Father, what the Father is like and what living in relationship with Him is like. He spoke of the Kingdom of God constantly, and that would mean under the dominion of the King, under His rule and reign, or one could say 'in relationship'. Although Jesus spoke of the Kingdom, His relational reference was always to the "Father" not to a king. His speaking about the Kingdom was to help us understand authority and power, and the rightful use and representation of these in the Father's house. His constant reference to the Father was to give us insight into what The Father is really like, and establish a relational understanding among His followers. His actions were demonstrations of what someone's life would look like when they were living in right relationship with the Father. Our call to be like Jesus is to learn to follow in His footsteps of a loving, super intimate relationship with the Lord.
This what our Christian walk is supposed to be about, not following a certain set of rules, in the absence of a real relationship. Sometimes it feels like churches are just clubs with a set of rules, made up by the founder (Jesus) and that if we follow the rules we think we are in the club. Being in the club is not the same as being in relationship with the Lord. We could go to the club every Sunday, follow all the rules and never know or meet the founder. We could sit and listen to hundreds of talks about the rules, even about the founder, but if we never meet him we don't have a real relationship. Jesus didn't come to earth to establish a new religious organization, He came to save us all (1 Tim 1:15) and establish relationship with us. He wants us all to step into our rightful relationships as sons and daughters (Gal 3:26, Gal 4:6-7), not club membership.
My thoughts this morning are just the tip of the iceberg concerning this topic of relationships versus religion. We are called to a rich and intimate relationship with God, we must not settle for something less. Lord, help me to explore the fullness of relationship with You.
Since God is interested in relationship with us, we need to know what He is like. That is the primary reason Jesus came to earth, to reveal the Father (Matt 11:27, Heb 1:3, John 1:18 and pretty much the whole Gospel of John) Secondly, we need to have access to the person we want a relationship with and that is the second reason Jesus came to earth, to establish a way to the Father (John 14:6, Heb 3-10). Finally, we need to understand how to live out that relationship in our daily lives and that is what Jesus showed us as He lived on the earth, and generally what the writers of the epistles were writing about in their letters.
Jesus spent much of His time speaking about the Father, what the Father is like and what living in relationship with Him is like. He spoke of the Kingdom of God constantly, and that would mean under the dominion of the King, under His rule and reign, or one could say 'in relationship'. Although Jesus spoke of the Kingdom, His relational reference was always to the "Father" not to a king. His speaking about the Kingdom was to help us understand authority and power, and the rightful use and representation of these in the Father's house. His constant reference to the Father was to give us insight into what The Father is really like, and establish a relational understanding among His followers. His actions were demonstrations of what someone's life would look like when they were living in right relationship with the Father. Our call to be like Jesus is to learn to follow in His footsteps of a loving, super intimate relationship with the Lord.
This what our Christian walk is supposed to be about, not following a certain set of rules, in the absence of a real relationship. Sometimes it feels like churches are just clubs with a set of rules, made up by the founder (Jesus) and that if we follow the rules we think we are in the club. Being in the club is not the same as being in relationship with the Lord. We could go to the club every Sunday, follow all the rules and never know or meet the founder. We could sit and listen to hundreds of talks about the rules, even about the founder, but if we never meet him we don't have a real relationship. Jesus didn't come to earth to establish a new religious organization, He came to save us all (1 Tim 1:15) and establish relationship with us. He wants us all to step into our rightful relationships as sons and daughters (Gal 3:26, Gal 4:6-7), not club membership.
My thoughts this morning are just the tip of the iceberg concerning this topic of relationships versus religion. We are called to a rich and intimate relationship with God, we must not settle for something less. Lord, help me to explore the fullness of relationship with You.
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Living to Please God
Lately I was reading from Paul's First letter to the Thessalonians. As I read the following verses and .looked at the original Greek, it was apparent the NASB translation was more accurate - and that is what follows:
1 Thessalonians 4:1-7 NASB
[1] "Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.
[2] For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. [3] For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; [4] that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, [5] not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; [6] and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. [7] For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.
My reflections are two-fold, first the encouragement to live to please God is such a simple request, but yet so important. Our lives are not our own (Col 3:3), and as such, we should live our lives in attempt to please the Lord, in whom we now live. This is like saying to someone who just got married, to live like they are married now. Our lives have changed and we have joined ourselves to someone (The Lord), and we should live that way now. Living that way includes trying to please the person we have joined ourselves to - simple to understand but sometimes requiring us to die to our own desires and inclinations, in order to please the other person.
This leads me to my second reflection, if we have now joined ourselves to the Lord then we need to live that way in the area of our physical affections as well. Once again the marriage analogy is helpful, as in marriage we are called to limit our affections to the one we have joined yourself to, so here Paul makes the same statement. Sanctification literally means to separate oneself, and that is Paul's encouragement - that we sanctify ourselves, separate ourselves from the way we used to live, as one does when they marry. We are no longer free to seek affections from any one else other than our spouse. We live our lives and limit ourselves in our affections, and that is the heart of what Paul is saying. If we have joined ourselves to the Lord, than He is the one who is offended when we stray, or cause others to stray, and why He will avenge that wrong.
As I have said many times, the core of Christianity is relationship. Where we could apply a very religious and rule orientated view of these passages, I find it much easier to understand in the relationship context. In the first verse, Paul talks about the instructions they gave to help people understand how to live out their faith, in this marriage analogy that would be like receiving pre and post marriage counseling on how to learn to live as a married couple. Although this joining oneself to another seems self-evident, not everything is easy, nor has it been modeled correctly for us all. Instruction is very helpful in all phases of a marriage, and something that even couples married for decades can benefit from in their lives.
So let us live our lives in such a way as they please the one that we have joined our lives to - the Lord.
Monday, December 16, 2013
Grace for the Call
This morning I am reading from Paul's letter to the Galatians.
Galatians 2:7-8 NIV
[7] "On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. [8] For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles."
As I was reading through this chapter where Paul is dealing with the law, grace and an early rift in the Church between Jew's and gentiles, I was drawn to these two verses. I think they identity a very important point, that God does call us for specific tasks, and gives us grace to accomplish these tasks.
There was, recognized in Paul's life, a certain grace, where it was evident that God was at work in His life to help him minister to the gentiles. This grace was present and evident in how God did miraculous works through Paul, in the strengthening and encouragement He gave to Paul, and in the fruit of Paul's ministry. I believe that we all have calling to specific people, to specific tasks, to specific purposes.
Many of us have many spheres of influence in which we operate and live, and I believe that we are called to be representatives of the Lord in those spheres. As Paul was called as an apostle to the gentiles, others were called to be prophets, pastors, teachers, administrators, servers, deacons, and such to the same groups, and so are we called. In general, I believe that we are called to be the Lord's representative to those closest to us, first, then to those who we relate to in our daily lives, before we are called to the larger people groups. However, none of us should think less of our calling than any other. Paul said in verse 6 of this same chapter, "God does not show favoritism". He is just as interested and engaged in our own little ministry spheres as He is with those called to the nations.
In summary, God has called us and has purposes for us all, and will give us grace, help, encouragement and ultimately the power we need to fulfill those calls and purposes. He will make this evident in our lives, and will produce the fruit that provides the evidence of these calls and purposes. Finally, no individual call or purpose is any less important than any other. God does not show favoritism, in other words He favors us all equally and makes the same resources available to us all! Let us press into the Lord, and ask Him to show us His purposes for our lives, and embrace the opportunities we have to represent Him to those we meet daily.
Galatians 2:7-8 NIV
[7] "On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. [8] For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles."
As I was reading through this chapter where Paul is dealing with the law, grace and an early rift in the Church between Jew's and gentiles, I was drawn to these two verses. I think they identity a very important point, that God does call us for specific tasks, and gives us grace to accomplish these tasks.
There was, recognized in Paul's life, a certain grace, where it was evident that God was at work in His life to help him minister to the gentiles. This grace was present and evident in how God did miraculous works through Paul, in the strengthening and encouragement He gave to Paul, and in the fruit of Paul's ministry. I believe that we all have calling to specific people, to specific tasks, to specific purposes.
Many of us have many spheres of influence in which we operate and live, and I believe that we are called to be representatives of the Lord in those spheres. As Paul was called as an apostle to the gentiles, others were called to be prophets, pastors, teachers, administrators, servers, deacons, and such to the same groups, and so are we called. In general, I believe that we are called to be the Lord's representative to those closest to us, first, then to those who we relate to in our daily lives, before we are called to the larger people groups. However, none of us should think less of our calling than any other. Paul said in verse 6 of this same chapter, "God does not show favoritism". He is just as interested and engaged in our own little ministry spheres as He is with those called to the nations.
In summary, God has called us and has purposes for us all, and will give us grace, help, encouragement and ultimately the power we need to fulfill those calls and purposes. He will make this evident in our lives, and will produce the fruit that provides the evidence of these calls and purposes. Finally, no individual call or purpose is any less important than any other. God does not show favoritism, in other words He favors us all equally and makes the same resources available to us all! Let us press into the Lord, and ask Him to show us His purposes for our lives, and embrace the opportunities we have to represent Him to those we meet daily.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Knowing and Glorifying the Father
This morning I read through the 17th chapter of John, which is such and awesome chapter. You could probably meditate on the truths contained in this chapter for years. I was especially impressed by the first few verses this morning:
John 17:1-5 NIV:
[1] "After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. [2] For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. [3] Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. [4] I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. [5] And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."
A couple of quick thoughts:
1) Jesus is given authority over all people, whether they recognize His Lordship or not. He primarily uses this authority to give eternal life to those He has been given by the Father. Some people He needs to set free from the chains of the enemy, patterns of thinking or behaving, but it always to draw them deeper into relationship. The invitation should always be to enter relationship with God, heaven is just were He lives.
2) Eternal life, as Jesus defines it here, is relationship with the Father, and the Son, and as implied earlier, the Holy Spirit. The key is knowing God. The Greek word translated 'know' is Ginosko
Definition
1. to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel a. to become known
2. to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of a. to understand b. to know
3. Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman
4. to become acquainted with, to know
The same word is translated into several others in the New American Standard - - ascertaining, 1; aware, 7; certainty, 1; come to know, 1; comprehend, 1; felt, 1; find, 3; found, 2; kept...a virgin, 1; knew, 13; know, 104; know how, 1; knowing, 3; known, 25; knows, 14; learn, 1; learned, 1; perceived, 1; perceiving, 2; put, 1; realize, 3; recognize, 7; recognized, 1; recognizing, 1; sure, 4; take notice, 1; unaware, 2; understand, 11; understood, 6
So do not take this use of the word to mean just intellectual knowledge, but rather an full understanding, having learned how the individual thinks, acts, moves, etc. In other words relationship. Our entering into and growing in our relationship with God IS the entrance to eternal life. This relationship, like all relationships grows and becomes deeper. I guess we could say its like becoming married and then moving in with your spouse. Its within the confines of this living together that we come to know even more the person we are married too, understanding their thinking, the way they will act in any given situation.
As I was writing this I thought of Heaven as just the final stage, when we get to move in with the Lord permanently, living in His residence.
3). Jesus glorified the Father by completing the work He had been given. That work was settling the debt of the law for us all, forever, and destroying the works and the power of the evil one. This has already been accomplished, the work is completed. It is for us to learn to live in this reality, and by doing s, giving Glory to Jesus and the Father.
Amen Lord! Help us to bring Glory to Your Name.
Monday, December 9, 2013
Build Ourselves Up...Extend Mercy
This morning I have been reading a couple of the shorter letters in the New Testament, and a few verses caught my eye in Jude's letter.
Jude 1:20-25 NIV:
[20] "But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, [21] keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. [22] Be merciful to those who doubt; [23] save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear---hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
[24] To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--- [25] to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Three things stood out to me as I read these verses.
1) We have a personal responsibility to build ourselves up in our faith. We cannot and would not rely on someone else to build us up, feed us and teach us. The scriptures are available to us, there are tins of good books, CDs and videos of awesome men and some of God expounding the realities of our faith. By growing and building ourselves up, in our faith and through the Holy Spirit, we will learn to recognise truth, and hold to it. The church has been under attack and the truth has been perverted by those that would lead the church astray since the earliest days, and that same thing happens today. We need to learn the truth, learn how to spot those who out of line with truth and reject their teaching. We need to stay anchored in God's love, in the truth He revealed to us, and it is by this building ourselves up that we do this.
As I was just rereading these last w sentences I wrote I thought of this as an analogy to weight lifting. As a person grows in strength and has the ability to lift more, they cannot stop lifting and maintain their abilities. If they can lift 400 lbs., they must continue to work out to maintain that ability. This is not a once achieved then always able situation. In the same way our faith just be constantly being built up and strengthened, and that is why Jude encourages us to be continuously building ourselves up.
2) We are called to deal with unbelievers and those who are full of doubt with mercy! It is through love and compassion, kindness that we will draw those who are unaware of the truth into the Body of Christ. While we must learn to defend our faith and grow in our understanding, that does not mean we use this to speak judgement over people. Rather we are called to express mercy, to extend mercy, to love, encourage, understand and help those who have not embraced the Lord.
3) There is a reality in the Lord, where He keeps us from stumbling, and is able to bring us to the throne of God without fault! The Greek word translated without fault, means - 1. without blemish a. as a sacrifice without spot or blemish 2. morally: without blemish, faultless, unblameable. That is an amazing truth, but does not negate our responsibility to build ourselves up in our faith. It is through Jesus blood, His sacrifice, that we can come to the throne without blemish, without spot, blameless. Our responsibility is to be the examples of God's love and mercy extended to those who are not yet in the Body, and to not fall into deception. Jesus is able, literally meaning He has the power and authority, to present us all before the throne without blemish, with great joy.
As I was just writing that last sentence, I started thinking about the joy that the Lord must feel. It is like the last few minutes of a football game, where His team knows they are going to win, and everyone on the sidelines is starting to celebrate already. The game isn't over, but the outcome is assured. That is a small picture of the joy that He has knowing that He will bring us all before His throne without fault or blemish, because He has already paid the price. He has already won!!!!
Jude 1:20-25 NIV:
[20] "But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, [21] keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. [22] Be merciful to those who doubt; [23] save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear---hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
[24] To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--- [25] to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Three things stood out to me as I read these verses.
1) We have a personal responsibility to build ourselves up in our faith. We cannot and would not rely on someone else to build us up, feed us and teach us. The scriptures are available to us, there are tins of good books, CDs and videos of awesome men and some of God expounding the realities of our faith. By growing and building ourselves up, in our faith and through the Holy Spirit, we will learn to recognise truth, and hold to it. The church has been under attack and the truth has been perverted by those that would lead the church astray since the earliest days, and that same thing happens today. We need to learn the truth, learn how to spot those who out of line with truth and reject their teaching. We need to stay anchored in God's love, in the truth He revealed to us, and it is by this building ourselves up that we do this.
As I was just rereading these last w sentences I wrote I thought of this as an analogy to weight lifting. As a person grows in strength and has the ability to lift more, they cannot stop lifting and maintain their abilities. If they can lift 400 lbs., they must continue to work out to maintain that ability. This is not a once achieved then always able situation. In the same way our faith just be constantly being built up and strengthened, and that is why Jude encourages us to be continuously building ourselves up.
2) We are called to deal with unbelievers and those who are full of doubt with mercy! It is through love and compassion, kindness that we will draw those who are unaware of the truth into the Body of Christ. While we must learn to defend our faith and grow in our understanding, that does not mean we use this to speak judgement over people. Rather we are called to express mercy, to extend mercy, to love, encourage, understand and help those who have not embraced the Lord.
3) There is a reality in the Lord, where He keeps us from stumbling, and is able to bring us to the throne of God without fault! The Greek word translated without fault, means - 1. without blemish a. as a sacrifice without spot or blemish 2. morally: without blemish, faultless, unblameable. That is an amazing truth, but does not negate our responsibility to build ourselves up in our faith. It is through Jesus blood, His sacrifice, that we can come to the throne without blemish, without spot, blameless. Our responsibility is to be the examples of God's love and mercy extended to those who are not yet in the Body, and to not fall into deception. Jesus is able, literally meaning He has the power and authority, to present us all before the throne without blemish, with great joy.
As I was just writing that last sentence, I started thinking about the joy that the Lord must feel. It is like the last few minutes of a football game, where His team knows they are going to win, and everyone on the sidelines is starting to celebrate already. The game isn't over, but the outcome is assured. That is a small picture of the joy that He has knowing that He will bring us all before His throne without fault or blemish, because He has already paid the price. He has already won!!!!
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Reflections on the Lion's Den
This morning I am reading out of Daniel once again, and in Chapter 6 is the story of Daniel in the Lion's den (Daniel 6:1-28). Without recounting the whole story, Daniel was living a life above reproach, and was highly successful because of the blessing of God. Others were jealous of his success and favor, and they tried to set him up, knowing there was no other fault they could exploit to cause him harm. They figured the one area that he would never compromise in was his worship of God. They were right, and because of Daniel's integrity before God, he was thrown into the Lion's den.
So a couple of observations:
1) Daniel was above reproach in his life. His witness was consistent and his character unimpeachable. This says much about the man, and the life that he lived in the eyes of those around him, and in private. It was because of this that He rose to authority and influence. Oh that we would learn, and choose to walk in this way before man and God, that our witness would be unimpeachable.
2) Even though Daniel was faithful in all things, the enemy was still able to cause him trouble. There are two incorrect attitudes that exist in the Body of Christ. The first being that God's blessing in our lives will never result in difficulty. The second is closely related, namely that if the first thought is true, than anyone who is experiencing difficulty must be outside of God's will somehow. This story shows that both of the those assumptions are incorrect. I know in my life, when I experience trouble, I am quick to wonder how could this happen to me (first incorrect attitude) followed closely by wondering if I have down something wrong (an indication that I have embraced the second incorrect attitude to some degree). In addition to seeing this in me, I also ran into these same attitudes in the people around me. When I was unemployed the last time, I had several well-meaning but wrong people tell me, or insinuate that it was probably due to some rebellious attitude in my heart or life, that I was unemployed.
3). That in the midst of difficulty, God will rescue His chosen servant and often bring vengeance on the enemy. I find this story very encouraging, as Daniel didn't worry about defending himself, or battle his accusers, but rather rested in God, trusting in His protection. He went through a hellacious night, but was redeemed and restored and avenged in the morning. God was glorified in a way that was impossible to deny, and Daniel was prospered. His integrity and character, and belief in God, not to mention the Angelic help, got him through this experience. I wonder how many times he was tempted to think that God didn't love him, or didn't care for him throughout the night? I wonder how many different ways he thought of defending himself, or exacting his own vengeance? These are the things the enemy wants us to focus on, rather than worshipping God in the midst of our difficulty.
4). Although it probably didn't seem like it at midnight, God had a plan to prosper and bless Daniel through this whole experience. He also had a plan to glorify His own Name. One of my favorite Catholic authors, St. Alphonsus De Ligouri said that in all things God will be glorified and we will be further sancitified, if we turn to God. Often times in the midst of the struggle I don't see either happening, or I have some human idea that doesn't align with God's character or will, usually involving my reaping revenge. If I can turn my eyes to the Lord and entrust myself to Him, my eyes are opened and I can see His provision in the moment, and the unveiling of His greater plan and purpose.
So, if we find ourselves in the midst of the Lion's den, let us be encouraged, God has a plan, and its good!
So a couple of observations:
1) Daniel was above reproach in his life. His witness was consistent and his character unimpeachable. This says much about the man, and the life that he lived in the eyes of those around him, and in private. It was because of this that He rose to authority and influence. Oh that we would learn, and choose to walk in this way before man and God, that our witness would be unimpeachable.
2) Even though Daniel was faithful in all things, the enemy was still able to cause him trouble. There are two incorrect attitudes that exist in the Body of Christ. The first being that God's blessing in our lives will never result in difficulty. The second is closely related, namely that if the first thought is true, than anyone who is experiencing difficulty must be outside of God's will somehow. This story shows that both of the those assumptions are incorrect. I know in my life, when I experience trouble, I am quick to wonder how could this happen to me (first incorrect attitude) followed closely by wondering if I have down something wrong (an indication that I have embraced the second incorrect attitude to some degree). In addition to seeing this in me, I also ran into these same attitudes in the people around me. When I was unemployed the last time, I had several well-meaning but wrong people tell me, or insinuate that it was probably due to some rebellious attitude in my heart or life, that I was unemployed.
3). That in the midst of difficulty, God will rescue His chosen servant and often bring vengeance on the enemy. I find this story very encouraging, as Daniel didn't worry about defending himself, or battle his accusers, but rather rested in God, trusting in His protection. He went through a hellacious night, but was redeemed and restored and avenged in the morning. God was glorified in a way that was impossible to deny, and Daniel was prospered. His integrity and character, and belief in God, not to mention the Angelic help, got him through this experience. I wonder how many times he was tempted to think that God didn't love him, or didn't care for him throughout the night? I wonder how many different ways he thought of defending himself, or exacting his own vengeance? These are the things the enemy wants us to focus on, rather than worshipping God in the midst of our difficulty.
4). Although it probably didn't seem like it at midnight, God had a plan to prosper and bless Daniel through this whole experience. He also had a plan to glorify His own Name. One of my favorite Catholic authors, St. Alphonsus De Ligouri said that in all things God will be glorified and we will be further sancitified, if we turn to God. Often times in the midst of the struggle I don't see either happening, or I have some human idea that doesn't align with God's character or will, usually involving my reaping revenge. If I can turn my eyes to the Lord and entrust myself to Him, my eyes are opened and I can see His provision in the moment, and the unveiling of His greater plan and purpose.
So, if we find ourselves in the midst of the Lion's den, let us be encouraged, God has a plan, and its good!
Friday, December 6, 2013
Living Like Sons and Daughters
This morning I felt encouraged to read from Paul's letter to the Galatians. My focus is on the following verses - Galatians 4:4-7 NIV:
[4] "But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. [6] Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba , Father.” [7] So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir."
These are amazing verses concerning our identity and how God sees us. Starting in verse 6, Paul refers to our relationship to God as his children three times. It is because we are His children that He has called us and sent His Holy Spirit to live in us. We are not servants, not slaves, but His child. Because we are His child, we have been given access to the inheritance from our Father.
I know I don't fully comprehend this statement, nor do I think anyone this side of Heaven can, for we don't fully grasp the reality of God, how great He is, what He has available at His beck and call. We don't fully grasp the concept of an inheritance so vast. Baker's Evangelical Dictionary states: "In the theological sense, to inherit means to "receive an irrevocable gift" with an emphasis on the special relationship between the benefactor and the recipients. Unlike legal inheritance, the benefactor, God, does not die, yet he provides material and spiritual blessings for his people." So in common terms, God's gift of an inheritance to us is good forever, and is an indication of His love and affection for us!
In the new testament sense, Paul writes about our inheritance many times. Usually he was talking about eternal life, and the Kingdom of God present here on earth. Additionally, Baker's dictionary continues: "Generally, the promise refers to the possession of salvation (Heb 1:14). The believer's inheritance is described more specifically as eternal and joyful existence with God. Believers are promised "an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:4). Inheriting the "world to come" is a guarantee for all those who belong to God's family."
The important point of all this being that the inheritance is supposed to exist for us in heaven, but is also present here on earth, which Paul is specifically addressing. The inheritance of Abraham, which was experienced here on earth, was the context out of which Paul was speaking in these verses. Our inheritance is meant to be experienced now, today, while we live on the earth. In addition there is a heavenly inheritance, which really is just a continuation of our inheritance here on earth, living as God's children. We are meant to experience the fullness of the Kingdom of God here, for we are heirs of the Kingdom, or using royal terms, princes and princesses, who are directly related to the King.
None of us, once called and saved, are relegated to servanthood, but rather we are all full sons and daughters. We are not some lesser son or daughter, one who does not receive the full blessing the full inheritance. God is not an unfair Father, who favors one child over another. God is not a distracted Father, who has so many children that He barely knows our name. God is not an angry Father who expresses His disappointment in our failures by punishing us or taking away our inheritance. We were not in competition for a bigger piece of the inheritance, for God has more than enough for us all, and then some, because He is infinitely powerful and has ALL good things.
Finally, in the next verse Paul encouraged the Galatians to remember who they were, sons and daughters of God, not living like they used to live in ignorance and as slaves to other things. I think that is a worthy reminder for us all. We are sons and daughters, princes and princesses, and we should live like we are every day. The fullness of the Kingdom is ours for the asking. As Jesus recounted in the story of the prodigal son, the Father replied to the elder son, “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours." Luke 15:31
Amen Lord!
[4] "But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. [6] Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba , Father.” [7] So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir."
These are amazing verses concerning our identity and how God sees us. Starting in verse 6, Paul refers to our relationship to God as his children three times. It is because we are His children that He has called us and sent His Holy Spirit to live in us. We are not servants, not slaves, but His child. Because we are His child, we have been given access to the inheritance from our Father.
I know I don't fully comprehend this statement, nor do I think anyone this side of Heaven can, for we don't fully grasp the reality of God, how great He is, what He has available at His beck and call. We don't fully grasp the concept of an inheritance so vast. Baker's Evangelical Dictionary states: "In the theological sense, to inherit means to "receive an irrevocable gift" with an emphasis on the special relationship between the benefactor and the recipients. Unlike legal inheritance, the benefactor, God, does not die, yet he provides material and spiritual blessings for his people." So in common terms, God's gift of an inheritance to us is good forever, and is an indication of His love and affection for us!
In the new testament sense, Paul writes about our inheritance many times. Usually he was talking about eternal life, and the Kingdom of God present here on earth. Additionally, Baker's dictionary continues: "Generally, the promise refers to the possession of salvation (Heb 1:14). The believer's inheritance is described more specifically as eternal and joyful existence with God. Believers are promised "an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:4). Inheriting the "world to come" is a guarantee for all those who belong to God's family."
The important point of all this being that the inheritance is supposed to exist for us in heaven, but is also present here on earth, which Paul is specifically addressing. The inheritance of Abraham, which was experienced here on earth, was the context out of which Paul was speaking in these verses. Our inheritance is meant to be experienced now, today, while we live on the earth. In addition there is a heavenly inheritance, which really is just a continuation of our inheritance here on earth, living as God's children. We are meant to experience the fullness of the Kingdom of God here, for we are heirs of the Kingdom, or using royal terms, princes and princesses, who are directly related to the King.
None of us, once called and saved, are relegated to servanthood, but rather we are all full sons and daughters. We are not some lesser son or daughter, one who does not receive the full blessing the full inheritance. God is not an unfair Father, who favors one child over another. God is not a distracted Father, who has so many children that He barely knows our name. God is not an angry Father who expresses His disappointment in our failures by punishing us or taking away our inheritance. We were not in competition for a bigger piece of the inheritance, for God has more than enough for us all, and then some, because He is infinitely powerful and has ALL good things.
Finally, in the next verse Paul encouraged the Galatians to remember who they were, sons and daughters of God, not living like they used to live in ignorance and as slaves to other things. I think that is a worthy reminder for us all. We are sons and daughters, princes and princesses, and we should live like we are every day. The fullness of the Kingdom is ours for the asking. As Jesus recounted in the story of the prodigal son, the Father replied to the elder son, “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours." Luke 15:31
Amen Lord!
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Merciful and Kind to All
This morning I felt I should read from Luke 6:35-36 NIV:
[35] "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. [36] Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
As I was reading these verses, I thought of the fact that these verses explain one of the significant ways God is different than us. We often like to ascribe human character and thinking to God, but these verses demonstrate a very non-typical behavior, that of treating enemies and ungrateful people kindly. In fact if we take the thought a bit further, God is kind and merciful to people who hate Him, who deny Him, who are completely ignorant of His existence, and those that have been deceived and are worshipping some other god. God is merciful to all and He paid for the sin of all people whether good or bad.
God is also eternally optimistic. We might, in our humanness, give someone the benefit of a doubt if they are confronted with love or the correct path and make a bad choice. We might even try to love them, or extend them mercy and forgiveness for a few months, maybe even a few years before we give up on them and cut them out of our lives. But God is merciful every day of our lives. He extends His love to us everyday, and is never willing to give up on a person. He treats all of us with kindness, those that love Him and those that are ungrateful and wicked.
Finally to be merciful, literally means to be full of mercy. Here is the common translation of mercy, from Webster's dictionary:
1 a : compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power; also : lenient or compassionate treatment b : imprisonment rather than death imposed as penalty for first-degree murder
2 a : a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion b : a fortunate circumstance
3 : compassionate treatment of those in distress
The operative word in all three definitions is compassion - which according to Webster is a "sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it." In these verses, Jesus is talking about the wicked and ungrateful, those we don't like, and our enemies, and a call to us to extend compassion to them. We are called to treat them as we would a loved one, to have compassion for them, to be sympathetic towards their difficulties and to do what we can to help! Wow - that stretches me outside my comfort zone!
Oh Lord, I will need Your help to walk in this. The good news is that You are this way everyday, and so You have plenty of practice and can offer plenty of help!
[35] "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. [36] Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
As I was reading these verses, I thought of the fact that these verses explain one of the significant ways God is different than us. We often like to ascribe human character and thinking to God, but these verses demonstrate a very non-typical behavior, that of treating enemies and ungrateful people kindly. In fact if we take the thought a bit further, God is kind and merciful to people who hate Him, who deny Him, who are completely ignorant of His existence, and those that have been deceived and are worshipping some other god. God is merciful to all and He paid for the sin of all people whether good or bad.
God is also eternally optimistic. We might, in our humanness, give someone the benefit of a doubt if they are confronted with love or the correct path and make a bad choice. We might even try to love them, or extend them mercy and forgiveness for a few months, maybe even a few years before we give up on them and cut them out of our lives. But God is merciful every day of our lives. He extends His love to us everyday, and is never willing to give up on a person. He treats all of us with kindness, those that love Him and those that are ungrateful and wicked.
Finally to be merciful, literally means to be full of mercy. Here is the common translation of mercy, from Webster's dictionary:
1 a : compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power; also : lenient or compassionate treatment
2 a : a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion b : a fortunate circumstance
3 : compassionate treatment of those in distress
The operative word in all three definitions is compassion - which according to Webster is a "sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it." In these verses, Jesus is talking about the wicked and ungrateful, those we don't like, and our enemies, and a call to us to extend compassion to them. We are called to treat them as we would a loved one, to have compassion for them, to be sympathetic towards their difficulties and to do what we can to help! Wow - that stretches me outside my comfort zone!
Oh Lord, I will need Your help to walk in this. The good news is that You are this way everyday, and so You have plenty of practice and can offer plenty of help!
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Restoration and Blessing
This morning I am reading from the Book of Nehemiah, and came across some interesting facts.
Nehemiah 7:70-72 NIV
[70] "Some of the heads of the families contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls and 530 garments for priests. [71] Some of the heads of the families gave to the treasury for the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. [72] The total given by the rest of the people was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver and 67 garments for priests."
What I find interesting about the amount of money that was donated, is that they were coming out of a place of exile, from Babylon. When they were carried away, they didn't bring family wealth with them. They had been in Babylon for 70+ years, which is not much time, yet were bearing significant wealth. In today's value the Gold and Silver given by the people would have been greater than 550 million dollars, figured by weight. I haven't been able to find a good valuation of these numbers in that day, but suffice it to say that it was a bunch, enough to pay the wages of thousands for years.
I remembered God's command to the people who were being went into exile - as written in Jeremiah 29:4-7, 10 NIV:
[4] "This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: [5] “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. [6] Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. [7] Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
[10] This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place."
And the promises of God to restore them, one which is found in Jeremiah 32:42-44 NIV:
[42] “This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them. [43] Once more fields will be bought in this land of which you say, ‘It is a desolate waste, without people or animals, for it has been given into the hands of the Babylonians.’ [44] Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed and witnessed in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, because I will restore their fortunes, declares the Lord.”
I was just thinking about the merciful heart of God. He sends the Jewish people into exile, but rather than punish them with harsh treatment, He decides to bless them, and prosper them, even in the land of their exile. That is the character of God always choosing to bless, always choosing to prosper his people, always choosing to restore, often times more than was taken away or lost. God will be faithful to His promises, even when it seems like there is no way possible for Him to bring them to fulfillment.
He sent the Jews into exile as slaves, and when He brings them back to Jerusalem 70+ years later, they bring with them vast amounts of wealth. He plundered Egypt when He set them free from their slavery there. He means to bless and prosper us always, regardless of how bad our situation seems. If we embrace God wherever we find ourselves, seeking Him, letting Him lead and guide us, His blessing will be poured out on us, for that is His nature, His character, shown over and over again.
My encouragement this morning is to entrust myself to God, regardless of my circumstances. He will be true to His nature because He is faithful! He will pour forth blessing, mercy, grace and forgiveness!
Amen!
Monday, December 2, 2013
Listen, Forgive and Act
This morning I thought I would read a bit in the book of Daniel. In Chapter nine is one of the great instances of intercession described in the Bible, as Daniel was reading the book of Jeremiah, and realized that all that God had said through Jeremiah had been fulfilled. He realized there was also a promise that the time in Babylon would only last 70 years, and he realized those 70 years had elapsed. At that realization he started praying, asking God to fulfil the rest of His word, that of restoration to Jerusalem. The verse that caught my attention are from then end of his prayer as follows: Daniel 9:17-19 NIV:
[17]“Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. [18] Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. [19] Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”
Daniel has the correct perspective, recognizing that God is merciful, and that although they were not righteous, that God could still choose to act for the sake if His name, and the fulfillment of His promises. His plea was not that God look at the good things and penance that the people had done, but rather that He look at His word and promises and the state of His people.
The reality is that none of us is righteous, nor can we attain the righteousness required by God. None of us is worthy of God's intervention, yet He intervened and made a way for us, just like He did for the Jewish people in captivity. He made us all righteous through Jesus death, and welcomed us into relationship with Him through Jesus' sacrifice, death and resurrection. We have been restored and redeemed. God did listen, forgive and act on our behalf.
Thank You Lord for the great gift of salvation! Thank You Lord for Your mercy and forgiveness! Thank You Lord for acting on our behalf, for making a way for us all to be in relationship with You!
[17]“Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. [18] Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. [19] Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”
Daniel has the correct perspective, recognizing that God is merciful, and that although they were not righteous, that God could still choose to act for the sake if His name, and the fulfillment of His promises. His plea was not that God look at the good things and penance that the people had done, but rather that He look at His word and promises and the state of His people.
The reality is that none of us is righteous, nor can we attain the righteousness required by God. None of us is worthy of God's intervention, yet He intervened and made a way for us, just like He did for the Jewish people in captivity. He made us all righteous through Jesus death, and welcomed us into relationship with Him through Jesus' sacrifice, death and resurrection. We have been restored and redeemed. God did listen, forgive and act on our behalf.
Thank You Lord for the great gift of salvation! Thank You Lord for Your mercy and forgiveness! Thank You Lord for acting on our behalf, for making a way for us all to be in relationship with You!
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Submission...?
This morning I opened up my Bible to Paul's letter to the Ephesians and started reading in the fifth chapter. These verses grabbed my attention and required additional study:
Ephesians 5:21-22 NIV
[21] "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. [22] Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord."
The Greek word translated submit (hupotasso), means so much more than that - here is the definition: Hupotasso
Definition
1. to arrange under, to subordinate
2. to subject, put in subjection
3. to subject one's self, obey
4. to submit to one's control
5. to yield to one's admonition or advice
6. to obey, be subject
A Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader".
In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden".
In other words, Paul is talking about a learning to work together, cooperating and giving up our own wants for the greater good of the Body of Christ. This is often times read with the military mindset, but in the Body of Christ this wouldn't be accurate.
The second verse, while it appears to say similar things about husbands and wives, uses a completely different Greek expression, and no where does Paul use 'hupotasso'. He simply says the wife should relate to her husband as one who has authority. The word he uses is Kurios:
Definition
1. he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord
a. the possessor and disposer of a thing
1. the owner; one who has control of the person, the master
2. in the state: the sovereign, prince, chief, the Roman emperor
b. is a title of honour expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants greet their master
c. this title is given to: God, the Messiah
Now when I read this definition, I am tempted to think that Paul had some sort of hardcore idea about wives, submitting to their husbands like they were her master, or owner, and women were some sort of property That is why we can never just look at a verse out of context, nor accept a meaning that completely goes against all the other teaching and scriptural precedence.
Paul, in verses 25 and 28 says that husbands must love their wives like they love their own bodies, and like Christ loved the church, giving His life for it. Elsewhere it talks about how the husband and wife become one flesh when they are married. In the old testament we have the stories of Abraham and Sarah, and Jacob and Rachel, as examples of how husbands loved their wives and protected them and desired to provide for them. Jesus had many women friends and followers, and even went out of His way to rescue and save women who were living sinful lives (woman at the well and woman caught in adultery) and he wasn't afraid of having His own reputation affected by His dealings with them. He recognized them, gave them significance, and welcomed them into the body of His followers. No where else does scripture say that its right for a husband to act like he owns his wife, and that the wife has to be in total submission to her husband. So we cannot take Paul's statement out of context, or remove from it the greater witness of the whole scriptures and teach some aberrant teaching on how wives must obey their husbands like he was their master.
At the end of the Book of Revelation, John writes the following: "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. [19] And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll." Revelation 22:18-19. It interesting that he mentions both the adding to the words, or taking words away from the scroll. That is exactly what taking a verse out of context and out of the witness of all the scriptures does, it takes words away, and thus gives a less than whole understanding of the truth, as it is set forth in the complete witness of scripture.
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