This morning I continued reading through Paul's letter to the Romans.
If you don't ever read large sections of scripture, I would suggest that you try doing that with Paul's letter to the Romans. There is so much depth in the individual verses, that we can become a bit myopic, just focusing on one or two verses. I remember the first book in the Bible I really read all the way through was this very letter. I remember having a completely different perspective upon finishing, as if I had really understood Paul's thought process and grasped it in a way I never had before. This morning, I was reminded of that as I read chapters 7-12 in this letter.
I wanted to think a bit more about the following verses, for they capture well Paul's idea about how we should live and serve each other in the Body of Christ, something that is good to think upon.
Romans 12:3-16 NIV:
[3] "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. [4] For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, [5] so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. [6] We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; [7] if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; [8] if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."
[9] "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. [10] Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. [11] Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. [12] Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. [13] Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."
[14] "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. [15] Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. [16] Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited."
For me the most significant parts are as follows:
1) We all belong to the same Body of Christ - there is only one.
2) Many of us have different gifts, different functions, but we are all supposed to work together.
3) No one gift is better than any other.
4) Each of us belongs to all the others.
5) We are called to love and serve each other, and thus serve the Lord.
6) We are called to walk side by side with each other, rejoicing with those rejoicing, mourning with those that are mourning, being there for each other.
7) We are called to love and serve all, showing no favoritism, willing to associate with everyone.
Lord, help me to live my life this way! I want to serve You and the rest of Your Body, to whom I belong. Help me to faithfully function as You have called me, and increase my faith that I might serve more effectively.
Amen!
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Sunday, April 26, 2015
God's Awesome Love
This morning I felt like reading from Romans, chapter 8, what a great chapter. There is so much in this single chapter, we could probably spend the better part of a year, working through and understanding everything that Paul writes about in this chapter. I am going to focus on the end of the chapter this morning as this is very much in line with the main theme of my prayer lately, namely God's favor. Here are the verses - Romans 8:31-39 NIV:
[31]"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all---how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? [33] Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. [34] Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died---more than that, who was raised to life---is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? [36] As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
[37] "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
In the verses before this section Paul was talking about God chose us and justified us. His logic continues into these verses, if God chose us and justified us, who can possibly stand against us and bring accusations? The term justification that He uses is speaking of the law which Jesus fulfilled completely. Since He effectively cancelled the law's effects on us, how can anyone go back to that law and bring charges or accusations?
Paul continues to drive this point home, as the whole of this discussion is founded on God's love for us. Earlier in the chapter he talked about the Father putting into us the spirit of adoption, and how He sees us as His son's and daughters, His heirs. He has done everything for us, because of His love for us. His love is what hold's onto us, not the other way around. His love is greater than anything else in the world.
I love verse 32, "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all---how will he not also, along with him (Jesus), graciously give us all things?" When we think about God's favor, it is evident in Jesus' love! His love for us, indicates His favor, His grace, His mercy, His compassion, His choice and His justification. It is His love for us that is foundation for everything else.
If God Loves you, who can be against you? The biggest hurdle many of us face is our own inability to believe this message. We try to disqualify ourselves for a number of reasons, but in truth none of those reasons stands a chance against the love of Christ. Let us work to still the lies and accusations in our own minds and hearts that are counter to this message of God's love.
Face the facts, He loves us, each and everyone of us. He died on the cross and by His blood purchased for us forgiveness from every one of our sins. If He loved us that much while we were still sinners, how would He ever love us less now that we know Him? It is all about His awesome love.
[31]"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all---how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? [33] Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. [34] Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died---more than that, who was raised to life---is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? [36] As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
[37] "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
In the verses before this section Paul was talking about God chose us and justified us. His logic continues into these verses, if God chose us and justified us, who can possibly stand against us and bring accusations? The term justification that He uses is speaking of the law which Jesus fulfilled completely. Since He effectively cancelled the law's effects on us, how can anyone go back to that law and bring charges or accusations?
Paul continues to drive this point home, as the whole of this discussion is founded on God's love for us. Earlier in the chapter he talked about the Father putting into us the spirit of adoption, and how He sees us as His son's and daughters, His heirs. He has done everything for us, because of His love for us. His love is what hold's onto us, not the other way around. His love is greater than anything else in the world.
I love verse 32, "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all---how will he not also, along with him (Jesus), graciously give us all things?" When we think about God's favor, it is evident in Jesus' love! His love for us, indicates His favor, His grace, His mercy, His compassion, His choice and His justification. It is His love for us that is foundation for everything else.
If God Loves you, who can be against you? The biggest hurdle many of us face is our own inability to believe this message. We try to disqualify ourselves for a number of reasons, but in truth none of those reasons stands a chance against the love of Christ. Let us work to still the lies and accusations in our own minds and hearts that are counter to this message of God's love.
Face the facts, He loves us, each and everyone of us. He died on the cross and by His blood purchased for us forgiveness from every one of our sins. If He loved us that much while we were still sinners, how would He ever love us less now that we know Him? It is all about His awesome love.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
The Way IS Open, The Sacrifice Has Been Made!
This morning I felt led to read from Leviticus, an unusual place for me to read, to say the least. I have read all of the Bible, and once in a while read from the major prophets or Psalms, but rarely the pentateuch. Anyway, I was reading and the following verses caught my eye - Leviticus 9:22-24 NIV:
[22]"Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. And having sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the fellowship offering, he stepped down.
[23] Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. [24] Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown."
This chapter records the first time the Aaron and his sons offer the sacrifices as described by Moses, who received them from the Lord. The significance for us of all of those sacrifices was that they were a foreshadowing of the sacrifice that Jesus offered on our behalf. The letter to the Hebrews goes through all of that in much greater detail (Chapters 7-10). The following verses from Chapter 10 summarize this well - Hebrews 10:1-7 NIV:
[1] "The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming---not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. [2] Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. [3] But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. [4] It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
[5] Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; [6] with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. [7] Then I said, 'Here I am---it is written about me in the scroll---I have come to do your will, my God.' ”
- and -
Hebrews 10:11-18 NIV:
[11] "Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. [12] But when this priest [Jesus] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, [13] and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. [14] For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."
[15] "The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: [16] “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”
[17] "Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”
[18] "And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary."
The point of this all is that the sacrifice HAS been made for us, by Jesus. Our sins are forgiven, and any sacrifice for sin is NO LONGER necessary. In other words, to quote Jesus, "It is finished!" (John 19:30). This never needs to be revisited, redone or added to, it is complete.
The real point I felt the Lord make this morning is what happens immediately following the first sacrifice, "the Glory of the Lord appeared to all the people" (Lev. 9:23). If the Glory of the Lord appeared to all the people after that first sacrifice, how much more after Jesus' perfect sacrifice. We see that first expression in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Interestingly the Holy Spirit appeared as flames of fire, much the same as the Presence of God in the first sacrifice.
It seems to me there is some significance in that. The fire consumed the sacrifice in the first ritual, but at Pentecost, the perfect sacrifice had already been made, and the fire just rested on and empowered the people. The people were filled with the Holy Spirit, and although it does not say it specifically, I am sure they were over-joyed. In fact in Acts 2:13 some people accused them of being drunk - sounds like they were filled with joy to me.
Anyway, back to the main point, after the sacrifice, God visited His people! God wants to visit His people, and show Himself real! Imagine the relief when the fire came from the presence of God and consumed that first sacrifice! Imagine the relief and joy of the people gathered in that upper room, when God visited them with power! God wants to show Himself real, and He wants to empower us, and He wants to be present to us. With the sacrifice of Jesus, the way is open, never to be shut again! Our sins have all been paid for, His sacrifice completed the work, and the way is open.
God desires to visit us, to show Himself real, to invite us into His joy and life. He made Jesus the perfect sacrifice so that everyone of us would have every opportunity to experience His presence, and be in relationship with Him. His desire to show Himself real is every bit as strong today as on the day of the first sacrifice, or the day of Pentecost!
As the author of the Letter to the Hebrews writes - Hebrews 10:19-25 NIV:
[19] "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, [20] by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, [21] and since we have a great priest over the house of God, [22] let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. [23] Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. [24] And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, [25] not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another---and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Amen!
[22]"Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. And having sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the fellowship offering, he stepped down.
[23] Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. [24] Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown."
This chapter records the first time the Aaron and his sons offer the sacrifices as described by Moses, who received them from the Lord. The significance for us of all of those sacrifices was that they were a foreshadowing of the sacrifice that Jesus offered on our behalf. The letter to the Hebrews goes through all of that in much greater detail (Chapters 7-10). The following verses from Chapter 10 summarize this well - Hebrews 10:1-7 NIV:
[1] "The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming---not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. [2] Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. [3] But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. [4] It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
[5] Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; [6] with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. [7] Then I said, 'Here I am---it is written about me in the scroll---I have come to do your will, my God.' ”
- and -
Hebrews 10:11-18 NIV:
[11] "Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. [12] But when this priest [Jesus] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, [13] and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. [14] For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."
[15] "The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: [16] “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”
[17] "Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”
[18] "And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary."
The point of this all is that the sacrifice HAS been made for us, by Jesus. Our sins are forgiven, and any sacrifice for sin is NO LONGER necessary. In other words, to quote Jesus, "It is finished!" (John 19:30). This never needs to be revisited, redone or added to, it is complete.
The real point I felt the Lord make this morning is what happens immediately following the first sacrifice, "the Glory of the Lord appeared to all the people" (Lev. 9:23). If the Glory of the Lord appeared to all the people after that first sacrifice, how much more after Jesus' perfect sacrifice. We see that first expression in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Interestingly the Holy Spirit appeared as flames of fire, much the same as the Presence of God in the first sacrifice.
It seems to me there is some significance in that. The fire consumed the sacrifice in the first ritual, but at Pentecost, the perfect sacrifice had already been made, and the fire just rested on and empowered the people. The people were filled with the Holy Spirit, and although it does not say it specifically, I am sure they were over-joyed. In fact in Acts 2:13 some people accused them of being drunk - sounds like they were filled with joy to me.
Anyway, back to the main point, after the sacrifice, God visited His people! God wants to visit His people, and show Himself real! Imagine the relief when the fire came from the presence of God and consumed that first sacrifice! Imagine the relief and joy of the people gathered in that upper room, when God visited them with power! God wants to show Himself real, and He wants to empower us, and He wants to be present to us. With the sacrifice of Jesus, the way is open, never to be shut again! Our sins have all been paid for, His sacrifice completed the work, and the way is open.
God desires to visit us, to show Himself real, to invite us into His joy and life. He made Jesus the perfect sacrifice so that everyone of us would have every opportunity to experience His presence, and be in relationship with Him. His desire to show Himself real is every bit as strong today as on the day of the first sacrifice, or the day of Pentecost!
As the author of the Letter to the Hebrews writes - Hebrews 10:19-25 NIV:
[19] "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, [20] by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, [21] and since we have a great priest over the house of God, [22] let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. [23] Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. [24] And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, [25] not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another---and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Amen!
Friday, April 24, 2015
Reflections On The Greatness Of God.
Last night I was talking about the Lord with one of my best friends, which is always a great way to spend a Thursday evening. One of the things He was talking about was the counter-intuitive nature of the Lord.
The Lord is not like us, so trying to figure Him out is challenging in our life. For example, it is not through striving or working hard, but rather through surrender that we see Him move more powerfully in and through our lives. It is not through our hard work or service that He gives us gifts, then they would be called wages. Instead He gives us gifts, just because we are His sons and daughters and He loves us.
Continuing this counter-intuitive theme, I think these verses where Jesus speaks of losing one's life make good sense - Matthew 10:38-40 NIV: "Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. [39] Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. [40] “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me."
We spoke of the fact that being flesh and blood, with little sensitivity to the spiritual realm, we have a very hard time grasping the realities of God. His love is beyond comprehension, understanding or even expression. Whatever we have experienced is such a small part of the reality, there is always more. Paul wrote about that in his letter to the Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV:
[16] "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, [18] may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, [19] and to know this love that surpasses knowledge---that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Continuing that thought, Paul adds the following verses - Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV:
[20] "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
I like that - "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine". God is indeed not like us, nor can we fully grasp how great and good and full of love He is! When He speaks a word, He is speaking from His point of reference, His perspective. We understand His words from our perspective. Between the two perspectives there is a huge difference. There are so many people who in their judgement of God (not a good idea ever) think they have figured out His motivations or actions and find Him guilty of some human limited way of thinking or acting. That is really laughable, for He is beyond any of our comprehension, or even the combined comprehension of us all. The words of Isaiah are so true here - Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. [9] “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Really when we look at God, even those things that He has revealed in His Word, we don't fully comprehend His meaning. His words are perfect in Eternity, for He is perfect and that is where He dwells. At our very best we somewhat grasp the notion of eternity, but never can grasp perfection within that reality. His Words provide us endless revelation, for we can never grasp the fullness of His meaning in them, but we can grow in our understanding of His meaning. His Words are a fountain of life. I am reminded of a few verses. The first set come from Psalm 36:5-9 NIV:
[5] "Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
[6] Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
[7] How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
[8] They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.
[9] For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light."
The second set come from Proverbs 13:14 NIV: "The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death." Jesus spent His time here on earth revealing the character and nature of God, representing Him in word and deed, and we are well served to meditate and reflect on His words and teaching, for they are a fountain of life!
So I am encouraged today to pursue greater revelation and understanding of God. He is so much bigger, so much grander, so much more loving than I can ever imagine. He is worthy of my constant attention and even my life.
Amen!
The Lord is not like us, so trying to figure Him out is challenging in our life. For example, it is not through striving or working hard, but rather through surrender that we see Him move more powerfully in and through our lives. It is not through our hard work or service that He gives us gifts, then they would be called wages. Instead He gives us gifts, just because we are His sons and daughters and He loves us.
Continuing this counter-intuitive theme, I think these verses where Jesus speaks of losing one's life make good sense - Matthew 10:38-40 NIV: "Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. [39] Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. [40] “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me."
We spoke of the fact that being flesh and blood, with little sensitivity to the spiritual realm, we have a very hard time grasping the realities of God. His love is beyond comprehension, understanding or even expression. Whatever we have experienced is such a small part of the reality, there is always more. Paul wrote about that in his letter to the Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV:
[16] "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, [18] may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, [19] and to know this love that surpasses knowledge---that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Continuing that thought, Paul adds the following verses - Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV:
[20] "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
I like that - "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine". God is indeed not like us, nor can we fully grasp how great and good and full of love He is! When He speaks a word, He is speaking from His point of reference, His perspective. We understand His words from our perspective. Between the two perspectives there is a huge difference. There are so many people who in their judgement of God (not a good idea ever) think they have figured out His motivations or actions and find Him guilty of some human limited way of thinking or acting. That is really laughable, for He is beyond any of our comprehension, or even the combined comprehension of us all. The words of Isaiah are so true here - Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. [9] “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Really when we look at God, even those things that He has revealed in His Word, we don't fully comprehend His meaning. His words are perfect in Eternity, for He is perfect and that is where He dwells. At our very best we somewhat grasp the notion of eternity, but never can grasp perfection within that reality. His Words provide us endless revelation, for we can never grasp the fullness of His meaning in them, but we can grow in our understanding of His meaning. His Words are a fountain of life. I am reminded of a few verses. The first set come from Psalm 36:5-9 NIV:
[5] "Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
[6] Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
[7] How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
[8] They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.
[9] For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light."
The second set come from Proverbs 13:14 NIV: "The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death." Jesus spent His time here on earth revealing the character and nature of God, representing Him in word and deed, and we are well served to meditate and reflect on His words and teaching, for they are a fountain of life!
So I am encouraged today to pursue greater revelation and understanding of God. He is so much bigger, so much grander, so much more loving than I can ever imagine. He is worthy of my constant attention and even my life.
Amen!
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Favor And Upgrades!
So I am continuing to press into understanding the Lord's favor, and how that should be experienced and lived out in my life, and more importantly what He really means when He speaks about His favor.
It is a common prayer in my portfolio to ask for favor with the people whom I meet or work. Favor provides an avenue to do things, and acceleration for things that normally take longer, and the ability to overcome difficulties that does not exist without it (favor). Being in favor means that I am liked and that the people I am with want to help me. In the business world, favor is huge. It is built on trust, truth and demonstration. In other words, the individual(s) understands that they can trust you because you are telling the truth, and you do what you say you will do. Another word for this might be integrity.
I find this is also very critical in the Body of Christ. I believe the Lord is looking for those that He can trust with His Truth and authority. Those who can walk in integrity with great authority and responsibility. The Lord uses the example of the talents (bags of gold in my new NIV) in Matt 25:14-30 to convey His Father's thinking about entrusting responsibility to someone. The focus is on that which was entrusted to the servants, and what they did with it. Those that prospered it, and managed it well received more. In Jesus' words this is how the master (Father) responds to those that have managed well what they have been entrusted, “His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' Matthew 25:23 NIV.
When I hear those words "well done, good and faithful servant" I hear the Master expressing His favor. It is interesting to note that the response is to entrust more to the one who has found favor in the Master's eyes. It is also interesting to note that servant was acting in a way they knew the Master would act, and thus faithfully representing Him. I believe this is exactly what the Father looks for in us, and when He finds it, He extends His favor!
Again, going back to my time with the Lord this last Saturday, His favor is really much greater than we can possibly imagine. So when I look at the Lord extending His favor, that is a very significant occurrence! When He extends His favor, He is also inviting you to a place of greater responsibility and authority. In Luke 19:11-27 Jesus provides a similar story (it might be the same, just remembered differently) and here He speaks of rewarding the one who has managed His money well with a position of authority over 10 cities. That is a huge increase in responsibility and authority. Here is the King's statement - Luke 19:17 NIV: “ 'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'"
Wow - that is HUGE favor. As my friend Byron Easterling ( http://www.byroneasterling.com/) would say, "he just got upgraded"! The individual the master is speaking to goes from being a servant in the master's household, to being the ruler over ten cities. I am convinced that the Lord, wants us all to walk in and experience this kind of favor! He wants to promote us and upgrade us! He wants to be able to entrust more and more to us, because we are faithfully representing Him, and embracing His heart for His children.
Again, when the Lord is speaking about favor, He is speaking in His terms, not ours. My normal thought would be if the servant did well, he might get the rest of the day off, or maybe a nice bonus check, but he would still be a servant. This is not the way the Lord thinks, and we need to understand that. I have a good friend who faithfully managed a group of housing maintenance workers who got upgraded to being a pastor! He went from toilets and plumbing to pastoring a vibrant church. That is a small example of the way the Lord grants favor.
Heidi Baker is another who has experienced His extreme favor. She and her husband faithfully worked in the mission fields of Mozambique for years, with very little fruit. However, one day the Lord extended His scepter of favor over her and asked if she wanted the nation of Mozambique. After He powerfully filled her with the Holy Spirit, she went back to Mozambique and has now planted 10,000+ churches and seen more than one million people converted to Christ, including wondrous miracles and signs and wonders. That was a significant upgrade. For more on her experience and ministry you can go to https://www.irisglobal.org/.
The Lord is about releasing His favor in unprecedented ways, and I, for one, want to be found to be one of His faithful servants who experience His favor! Its not that I want greater responsibility or authority, but I want His favor! I want to be found faithful in everything I do because I love Him and take joy in serving Him. Whether I get upgraded or not, I want to share in His happiness (Matt 25:23).
Amen!
It is a common prayer in my portfolio to ask for favor with the people whom I meet or work. Favor provides an avenue to do things, and acceleration for things that normally take longer, and the ability to overcome difficulties that does not exist without it (favor). Being in favor means that I am liked and that the people I am with want to help me. In the business world, favor is huge. It is built on trust, truth and demonstration. In other words, the individual(s) understands that they can trust you because you are telling the truth, and you do what you say you will do. Another word for this might be integrity.
I find this is also very critical in the Body of Christ. I believe the Lord is looking for those that He can trust with His Truth and authority. Those who can walk in integrity with great authority and responsibility. The Lord uses the example of the talents (bags of gold in my new NIV) in Matt 25:14-30 to convey His Father's thinking about entrusting responsibility to someone. The focus is on that which was entrusted to the servants, and what they did with it. Those that prospered it, and managed it well received more. In Jesus' words this is how the master (Father) responds to those that have managed well what they have been entrusted, “His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' Matthew 25:23 NIV.
When I hear those words "well done, good and faithful servant" I hear the Master expressing His favor. It is interesting to note that the response is to entrust more to the one who has found favor in the Master's eyes. It is also interesting to note that servant was acting in a way they knew the Master would act, and thus faithfully representing Him. I believe this is exactly what the Father looks for in us, and when He finds it, He extends His favor!
Again, going back to my time with the Lord this last Saturday, His favor is really much greater than we can possibly imagine. So when I look at the Lord extending His favor, that is a very significant occurrence! When He extends His favor, He is also inviting you to a place of greater responsibility and authority. In Luke 19:11-27 Jesus provides a similar story (it might be the same, just remembered differently) and here He speaks of rewarding the one who has managed His money well with a position of authority over 10 cities. That is a huge increase in responsibility and authority. Here is the King's statement - Luke 19:17 NIV: “ 'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'"
Wow - that is HUGE favor. As my friend Byron Easterling ( http://www.byroneasterling.com/) would say, "he just got upgraded"! The individual the master is speaking to goes from being a servant in the master's household, to being the ruler over ten cities. I am convinced that the Lord, wants us all to walk in and experience this kind of favor! He wants to promote us and upgrade us! He wants to be able to entrust more and more to us, because we are faithfully representing Him, and embracing His heart for His children.
Again, when the Lord is speaking about favor, He is speaking in His terms, not ours. My normal thought would be if the servant did well, he might get the rest of the day off, or maybe a nice bonus check, but he would still be a servant. This is not the way the Lord thinks, and we need to understand that. I have a good friend who faithfully managed a group of housing maintenance workers who got upgraded to being a pastor! He went from toilets and plumbing to pastoring a vibrant church. That is a small example of the way the Lord grants favor.
Heidi Baker is another who has experienced His extreme favor. She and her husband faithfully worked in the mission fields of Mozambique for years, with very little fruit. However, one day the Lord extended His scepter of favor over her and asked if she wanted the nation of Mozambique. After He powerfully filled her with the Holy Spirit, she went back to Mozambique and has now planted 10,000+ churches and seen more than one million people converted to Christ, including wondrous miracles and signs and wonders. That was a significant upgrade. For more on her experience and ministry you can go to https://www.irisglobal.org/.
The Lord is about releasing His favor in unprecedented ways, and I, for one, want to be found to be one of His faithful servants who experience His favor! Its not that I want greater responsibility or authority, but I want His favor! I want to be found faithful in everything I do because I love Him and take joy in serving Him. Whether I get upgraded or not, I want to share in His happiness (Matt 25:23).
Amen!
Living A Life Of Favor
I woke up yesterday morning thinking about being in the Lord's favor. I know this is a really significant message for me, and really for all of us. It is about our true identity in Him.
Lord, I ask that You will lead me in this area and fill me with understanding of what this all means. It is so critical that we all understand who we really are! Lord, I know that You desire more than anything that we would walk in this, for when we do, we effectively represent You to the World.
I understand, ever so slightly, that favor has to do with authority, and access. I imagine that learning to walk in my true identity means I will have greater responsibility, but also greater authority and reach. You desire sons and daughters who can effectively and accurately represent You here Lord. As Your Kingdom increases, You need Kingdom representatives to guide and direct and bring the new members of the Kingdom to a place of maturity (Kind of like how a company, when they open up new territory, needs to have representatives cover that new territory).
I also understand that much of the demonstration of the Kingdom realities comes from a place of identity, having faith in the authority that has been given, and understanding how to operate within, and with that authority. Authority without a proper heart attitude leads to abuses of that authority. That is where the servants heart comes in, authority is supposed to be for service, not ruling over a group. Authority and representation are all about the care and nurturing of our fellow brothers and sisters, bringing them to a place of maturity. It is not to boss them around and make them do stuff. It is not to create mini-me's, but rather sons and daughters after the heart of the Father.
I go back to Jesus' statement in Mark 10:42-45 NIV:
[42] "Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. [43] Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, [44] and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. [45] For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Also His statement about children in Matthew 19:13-15 NIV:
[13] "Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. [14] Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” [15] When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there."
And the explanation of the 5-fold ministries in Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV:
[11] "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, [12] to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [13] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
[14] "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. [15] Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. [16] From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
It is for works of service that we are called to a place of maturity (V12). We are all called to a place of service, but not as servants, but as sons and daughters. Think of it like this, we are helping the Father run the family business. We are supposed to represent Him, and His primary characteristics, to those around us. He is a God of mercy, compassion, love and faithfulness (Ex 34:6). He loves sinners and had sent His Son to redeem them, that all might be reconciled and restored to rightful relationship with Him (John 3:16-17, Rom 5:10) . We are His representatives in this endeavour - His ambassadors of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:20).
Lord, I ask that You will lead me in this area and fill me with understanding of what this all means. It is so critical that we all understand who we really are! Lord, I know that You desire more than anything that we would walk in this, for when we do, we effectively represent You to the World.
I understand, ever so slightly, that favor has to do with authority, and access. I imagine that learning to walk in my true identity means I will have greater responsibility, but also greater authority and reach. You desire sons and daughters who can effectively and accurately represent You here Lord. As Your Kingdom increases, You need Kingdom representatives to guide and direct and bring the new members of the Kingdom to a place of maturity (Kind of like how a company, when they open up new territory, needs to have representatives cover that new territory).
I also understand that much of the demonstration of the Kingdom realities comes from a place of identity, having faith in the authority that has been given, and understanding how to operate within, and with that authority. Authority without a proper heart attitude leads to abuses of that authority. That is where the servants heart comes in, authority is supposed to be for service, not ruling over a group. Authority and representation are all about the care and nurturing of our fellow brothers and sisters, bringing them to a place of maturity. It is not to boss them around and make them do stuff. It is not to create mini-me's, but rather sons and daughters after the heart of the Father.
I go back to Jesus' statement in Mark 10:42-45 NIV:
[42] "Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. [43] Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, [44] and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. [45] For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Also His statement about children in Matthew 19:13-15 NIV:
[13] "Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. [14] Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” [15] When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there."
And the explanation of the 5-fold ministries in Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV:
[11] "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, [12] to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [13] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
[14] "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. [15] Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. [16] From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
It is for works of service that we are called to a place of maturity (V12). We are all called to a place of service, but not as servants, but as sons and daughters. Think of it like this, we are helping the Father run the family business. We are supposed to represent Him, and His primary characteristics, to those around us. He is a God of mercy, compassion, love and faithfulness (Ex 34:6). He loves sinners and had sent His Son to redeem them, that all might be reconciled and restored to rightful relationship with Him (John 3:16-17, Rom 5:10) . We are His representatives in this endeavour - His ambassadors of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:20).
Amen Lord! Help me to fully grasp and live this in my life!
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Today Is The Day Of The Lord's Favor!
This morning I had an interesting experience. As I was just waking up, I must have been asking for God's favor, and I felt like He said the following - "Unless I tell you otherwise, it is safe to assume that you are always under my favor!"
I asked for some greater understanding, and felt like HE replied - "You don't really understand my favor, it is much greater than you think. You are thinking in human terms about favor, and I am not Human. As my sons and daughters, you are always under my favor. I don't have favorites like humans due, you are all my favorites."
I asked him about repentance that often times precedes or is a part of revivals - He said, "Repentance happens when they see themselves, compared to me. It is not a sign of my displeasure. It allows people to come into right relationship with Me."
It is like in the Book of Esther - when she approaches the King, and he extends his scepter, indicating she had his favor.
Esther 4:11 NIV
“All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”
Esther 5:1-3 NIV
[1] "On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. [2] When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. [3] Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”
Notice the favor of the King is indicated by His willingness to have Esther approach His Throne. When she arrives at his feet, He is ready to give her up to half of his kingdom! Talk about extreme favor!
We always have the Lord's favor, if we are in relationship with Jesus, for we can always approach His throne of Grace with confidence knowing that we are in His favor. Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV says:
[14] "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are---yet he did not sin. [16] Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
The earliest use of favor in scripture is from Genesis 6:7-8 NIV:
[7] So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created---and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground---for I regret that I have made them. ” [8] But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord."
The Hebrew word used here is Chanan, its Definition is the following:
1) to be gracious, show favour, pity
2) (Qal) to show favour, be gracious
3) (Niphal) to be pitied
4) (Piel) to make gracious, make favourable, be gracious
5) (Poel) to direct favour to, have mercy on
6) (Hophal) to be shown favour, be shown consideration
When we think about Noah, we must understand what God did for Noah, not focus on the rest of story. He saved Noah in the midst of the whole world. He saved Noah's family. He made Noah the ruler of the earth (battle field promotion). He was given dominance over all. Here are the verses where God's favor is recognized, after the flood recedes - from Genesis 9:1-3, 8-11 NIV:
[1] "Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. [2] The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. [3] Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything."
[8] "Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: [9] “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you [10] and with every living creature that was with you---the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you---every living creature on earth. [11] I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth. ”
God effectively gives Noah the whole earth, dominion over all living things, and makes a covenant with him. That is what God's favor looks like. That is a picture of His favor to us. He saves us out of a sinful world, He extends His favor over our families, He invites us into His covenant (the new covenant) and relationship.
Here are some other significant verses dealing with God's favor -
Romans 2:10-11 NIV: "but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. [11] For God does not show favoritism."
In other words, He shows favor to us all.
2 Corinthians 6:2 NIV: "For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."
Amen to that!
James 4:6 NIV: "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
The humble here, are those that come to Jesus and receive His salvation. It is in relationship with Him, and because of Him that we receive God's favor. When He looks at us, He sees His children, Hidden in Jesus. How can He do anything but show us favor?! Recognizing and living in this reality, is what we are invited into through relationship with the Lord. Really, experiencing the Lord's favor is directly related to our understanding our identity in Him, as His sons and daughters.
As an added confirmation of this theme, when I opened up my bible and the first chapter it opens to is James 2 - titled favoritism is forbidden - James 2:1-9 NIV:
[1] "My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. [2] Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. [3] If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here's a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” [4] have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
[5] Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? [6] But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? [7] Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
[8] If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. [9] But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers."
As brothers and sisters in the Lord, we are encouraged to practice the same attitude towards each other, that the Lord has towards us, no favorites, but rather everyone enjoying His favor equally. Our treatment of each other is supposed to mirror or reflect His attitude towards us.
So let us be encouraged, today and every day is the day of the Lord's favor. Now, is the time of the Lord's favor in our lives. Let listen to His words in our hearts and embrace them, for we truly are His sons and daughters, each and every one of us.
I asked for some greater understanding, and felt like HE replied - "You don't really understand my favor, it is much greater than you think. You are thinking in human terms about favor, and I am not Human. As my sons and daughters, you are always under my favor. I don't have favorites like humans due, you are all my favorites."
I asked him about repentance that often times precedes or is a part of revivals - He said, "Repentance happens when they see themselves, compared to me. It is not a sign of my displeasure. It allows people to come into right relationship with Me."
It is like in the Book of Esther - when she approaches the King, and he extends his scepter, indicating she had his favor.
Esther 4:11 NIV
“All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”
Esther 5:1-3 NIV
[1] "On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. [2] When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. [3] Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”
Notice the favor of the King is indicated by His willingness to have Esther approach His Throne. When she arrives at his feet, He is ready to give her up to half of his kingdom! Talk about extreme favor!
We always have the Lord's favor, if we are in relationship with Jesus, for we can always approach His throne of Grace with confidence knowing that we are in His favor. Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV says:
[14] "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are---yet he did not sin. [16] Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
The earliest use of favor in scripture is from Genesis 6:7-8 NIV:
[7] So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created---and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground---for I regret that I have made them. ” [8] But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord."
The Hebrew word used here is Chanan, its Definition is the following:
1) to be gracious, show favour, pity
2) (Qal) to show favour, be gracious
3) (Niphal) to be pitied
4) (Piel) to make gracious, make favourable, be gracious
5) (Poel) to direct favour to, have mercy on
6) (Hophal) to be shown favour, be shown consideration
When we think about Noah, we must understand what God did for Noah, not focus on the rest of story. He saved Noah in the midst of the whole world. He saved Noah's family. He made Noah the ruler of the earth (battle field promotion). He was given dominance over all. Here are the verses where God's favor is recognized, after the flood recedes - from Genesis 9:1-3, 8-11 NIV:
[1] "Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. [2] The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. [3] Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything."
[8] "Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: [9] “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you [10] and with every living creature that was with you---the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you---every living creature on earth. [11] I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth. ”
God effectively gives Noah the whole earth, dominion over all living things, and makes a covenant with him. That is what God's favor looks like. That is a picture of His favor to us. He saves us out of a sinful world, He extends His favor over our families, He invites us into His covenant (the new covenant) and relationship.
Here are some other significant verses dealing with God's favor -
Romans 2:10-11 NIV: "but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. [11] For God does not show favoritism."
In other words, He shows favor to us all.
2 Corinthians 6:2 NIV: "For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."
Amen to that!
James 4:6 NIV: "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
The humble here, are those that come to Jesus and receive His salvation. It is in relationship with Him, and because of Him that we receive God's favor. When He looks at us, He sees His children, Hidden in Jesus. How can He do anything but show us favor?! Recognizing and living in this reality, is what we are invited into through relationship with the Lord. Really, experiencing the Lord's favor is directly related to our understanding our identity in Him, as His sons and daughters.
As an added confirmation of this theme, when I opened up my bible and the first chapter it opens to is James 2 - titled favoritism is forbidden - James 2:1-9 NIV:
[1] "My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. [2] Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. [3] If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here's a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” [4] have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
[5] Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? [6] But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? [7] Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
[8] If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. [9] But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers."
As brothers and sisters in the Lord, we are encouraged to practice the same attitude towards each other, that the Lord has towards us, no favorites, but rather everyone enjoying His favor equally. Our treatment of each other is supposed to mirror or reflect His attitude towards us.
So let us be encouraged, today and every day is the day of the Lord's favor. Now, is the time of the Lord's favor in our lives. Let listen to His words in our hearts and embrace them, for we truly are His sons and daughters, each and every one of us.
Friday, April 17, 2015
When God Looks At Us, What Does He See?
This morning I am reading from Paul's letter to the Roman's. He is talking about Israel and the fact that they were unable to achieve righteousness on their own. This really is a continuation of my meditation yesterday, on whether God uses sinners. Here are the verses of focus - Romans 9:30-32 NIV:
[30] "What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; [31] but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. [32] Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone."
Paul sums up nicely the difference between faith and religion, for religion is what Israel practiced - works based righteousness. Religion does not lead to righteousness, nor can it. It is only through faith that true righteousness is available to us. If works (religion) could achieve righteousness, Christ would not have needed to come and offer Himself and perfectly fulfill the requirements of the law. Paul says earlier, "...no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." (Rom 3:20) All the Law and works did was make us aware of our sin and our own inability to achieve righteousness.
If this is the case, if our own works (religion) are unable to earn for us righteousness, why would we think that they count, or earn for us anything, now that we have experienced salvation? Our sins are all forgiven in Christ, by His sacrifice, not ever by our actions. It is through faith in Him that we are considered righteous, because as we come under His blood (which purchases our forgiveness) His righteousness gets applied to us (Heb. 9:22). It is never our actions, but always His that achieves our righteousness. This is the message of grace. It is through faith in Him that His sacrifice is applied to our lives, and we become hidden in Him (Col. 3:3)
Thus, when the Father looks at us, He sees Jesus' righteousness applied to our lives, and we are righteous in His sight. This never changes. We don't become more righteous because of our works, move favored in His sight because of our sacrifices or good deeds. When the Father looks at us, He sees us for who we are in Christ, righteous. In other words, He doesn't see our sins, He sees Jesus sacrifice. That is just mind-blowing. This is the reason that God uses sinners, because He doesn't see them as sinners. He sees them for who they are in Christ, His righteous children (2 Cor 5:21)
Concerning religion and works, an analogy that just popped into my head is one of pole-vaulting (I used to do that in my younger days). It is like this - Jesus qualified us and His best is applied to our lives. It is as if He jumped 100ft. (attained righteousness) and we all get the same jump height assigned to us in the record books. Yet, somehow we believe that by doing works (religion), jumping our little 15ft. jumps, somehow we achieve something more than what Jesus already did for us. Paul writes about this thinking in his letter to the Galatians (Chap. 3-5). He even calls them foolish for trying to attain their goal (righteousness) by human effort (Gal 3:3). If we have already been awarded 100ft as our jump height, why do we keep trying to earn the right to claim that height? Or if we have already been rewarded with Jesus righteousness, why do we keep trying to earn it through our works?
Lest we get carried away, this does not negate the effects of sin in our lives, nor the call to purity in our lives. The point of all of that is that we are called to be like Him, through relationship with Him. The more we know Him and relate with Him, the more we see areas in our lives where we aren't like Him, or see that we are doing things that are apart from His will and purpose. This is through relationship, entered into through faith. Our lives should be lived in such a way to show gratitude for this incredible gift of grace and mercy, and in relationship with the one who gave these gifts. The Lord doesn't want to an anonymous donor, He wants relationship with us all. It is in the place of relationship that we are encouraged by Him to change the way we think about ourselves and the way we act, (repentance) to enable us to experience the optimal joy and life available to us. He so much desires relationship with us that He empowers us through the Holy Spirit, and makes His dwelling with us.
Let us embrace the Lord, this awesome gift (salvation) that He has purchased for us through His blood, and believe through faith that we are seen as righteous in the Father's eyes. This really is the Good News, we have been redeemed and set free all by the works of Jesus. We can cease our striving through works and instead embrace relationship with the One who loves us, and in whom we are hidden. We are God's righteous ones, and that is how He sees us.
[30] "What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; [31] but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. [32] Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone."
Paul sums up nicely the difference between faith and religion, for religion is what Israel practiced - works based righteousness. Religion does not lead to righteousness, nor can it. It is only through faith that true righteousness is available to us. If works (religion) could achieve righteousness, Christ would not have needed to come and offer Himself and perfectly fulfill the requirements of the law. Paul says earlier, "...no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." (Rom 3:20) All the Law and works did was make us aware of our sin and our own inability to achieve righteousness.
If this is the case, if our own works (religion) are unable to earn for us righteousness, why would we think that they count, or earn for us anything, now that we have experienced salvation? Our sins are all forgiven in Christ, by His sacrifice, not ever by our actions. It is through faith in Him that we are considered righteous, because as we come under His blood (which purchases our forgiveness) His righteousness gets applied to us (Heb. 9:22). It is never our actions, but always His that achieves our righteousness. This is the message of grace. It is through faith in Him that His sacrifice is applied to our lives, and we become hidden in Him (Col. 3:3)
Thus, when the Father looks at us, He sees Jesus' righteousness applied to our lives, and we are righteous in His sight. This never changes. We don't become more righteous because of our works, move favored in His sight because of our sacrifices or good deeds. When the Father looks at us, He sees us for who we are in Christ, righteous. In other words, He doesn't see our sins, He sees Jesus sacrifice. That is just mind-blowing. This is the reason that God uses sinners, because He doesn't see them as sinners. He sees them for who they are in Christ, His righteous children (2 Cor 5:21)
Concerning religion and works, an analogy that just popped into my head is one of pole-vaulting (I used to do that in my younger days). It is like this - Jesus qualified us and His best is applied to our lives. It is as if He jumped 100ft. (attained righteousness) and we all get the same jump height assigned to us in the record books. Yet, somehow we believe that by doing works (religion), jumping our little 15ft. jumps, somehow we achieve something more than what Jesus already did for us. Paul writes about this thinking in his letter to the Galatians (Chap. 3-5). He even calls them foolish for trying to attain their goal (righteousness) by human effort (Gal 3:3). If we have already been awarded 100ft as our jump height, why do we keep trying to earn the right to claim that height? Or if we have already been rewarded with Jesus righteousness, why do we keep trying to earn it through our works?
Lest we get carried away, this does not negate the effects of sin in our lives, nor the call to purity in our lives. The point of all of that is that we are called to be like Him, through relationship with Him. The more we know Him and relate with Him, the more we see areas in our lives where we aren't like Him, or see that we are doing things that are apart from His will and purpose. This is through relationship, entered into through faith. Our lives should be lived in such a way to show gratitude for this incredible gift of grace and mercy, and in relationship with the one who gave these gifts. The Lord doesn't want to an anonymous donor, He wants relationship with us all. It is in the place of relationship that we are encouraged by Him to change the way we think about ourselves and the way we act, (repentance) to enable us to experience the optimal joy and life available to us. He so much desires relationship with us that He empowers us through the Holy Spirit, and makes His dwelling with us.
Let us embrace the Lord, this awesome gift (salvation) that He has purchased for us through His blood, and believe through faith that we are seen as righteous in the Father's eyes. This really is the Good News, we have been redeemed and set free all by the works of Jesus. We can cease our striving through works and instead embrace relationship with the One who loves us, and in whom we are hidden. We are God's righteous ones, and that is how He sees us.
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Can God Use Sinners?
This morning I was lead back to John's Gospel and the story of the man born blind, who was healed by Jesus. There is an interesting question being discussed in the midst of that story that I need to think more about. Here are the verses of focus- John 9:13-17, 24-27, 30-33 NIV:
[13] "They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. [14] Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath. [15] Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”
[16] Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. [17] Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”
The man replied, “He is a prophet.”
[24] A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”
[25] He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
[26] Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
[27] He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”
[30] The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. [31] We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. [32] Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. [33] If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
So the question(s) is whether or not it was a sin to break the Sabbath, and whether someone who was a sinner could be used of God to great things like healing a man born blind? Although we don't usually put this question in these simple terms, we find that this type of thinking is actually quite prevalent in the church. We know that Christ never sinned, so its not really a question as to whether or not He is a sinner, but it is clearly a question that is significant for every other Christian, for scripture makes it clear that we are all sinners.
The first question was whether or not it was a sin to do "work" on the sabbath. The Sabbath was created by God, and the basic law came from Him (see Ex 31:14-16 for an example). However, the definition of work and the religious observance of the Sabbath had mostly been developed by man. The purpose of the Sabbath was to cause the Israelites to cease from their own labors, and reflect and recognize that it was the Lord God who made them Holy, set them apart and provided for them, and all of that was not due to their own works. Here is Jesus, representing the Father and showing the people that God was still present, providing for them and interacting with them, and they couldn't get past the religious mind-set that was created by man teaching man's interpretations of God's laws (religion). Jesus was embracing the very definition of the Sabbath and so clearly not sinning.
The proper definition of sin is doing something that is outside of the will of God. The term used most frequently speaks of missing the mark. It was a term associated with archery, and I know that whether I miss the target completely, or only by inches, I still have missed the mark. Jesus lived His life in perfect obedience to the Father's will. Every word He spoke, every action He did was coming from the direction of the Father. He was sinless, in other words He was always hitting the mark in everything, every moment of every day! No one else that has ever lived is sinless, so we are all "sinners" (Rom 3:23). If we are all sinners than we know that if God wants to continue to do His work on earth through us, than He must use sinners.
The second question is very interesting and although we might agree to the statement above, that God has no choice but to use sinners, we tend to believe that God's choice to do powerful works through someone is a sign that this person is Holy, and some would argue, not in sin. This is not true if we are all sinners, and the proper definition of sin is anything that is not in the perfect will of God. I have said this before, but it is worth revisiting, having read the lives and writings of many people who we would consider Holy, even saintly, everyone one of them was more and more and more convinced of their sinfulness the closer they came to being like the Lord. One could say that in the light of Christ, all sin becomes exposed and as you draw closer to Him, the more every little speck of sin is exposed by His increasing light. Now these people lived exemplary lives, but from their own perspective of looking to Christ, they saw their own weakness and sin, and were never convinced of their own purity and holiness.
This would be the opposite of the thinking that is being presented in this story and that is prevalent in the church. It is common to see an equating of a person's holiness and purity with their ability to do miraculous works. This can get us, and the people who God is using powerfully, into some trouble if we start believing the results are a sign of their purity and sinlessness. I have seen some people convinced that their ability to do mighty works is a sign that there is no sin in their lives, and God is thus using them. The problem with this thinking is that it isn't true! (Look to scripture for plenty of examples of people doing mighty works, while having sin, or plenty of wrong ideas in their lives - all sinners by definition). If we hold this view about someone else, we will be convinced that everything they are doing and saying is from God, even things that would normally be considered questionable, and this is very dangerous. If we are the person God is using, we can become convinced that as long as God is doing mighty works through us, that we aren't sinning, and everything in our lives is ok by God, and this is very dangerous, as well.
We see the results of this type of thinking regularly in our churches. It is unfortunate how many great ministers, representatives of God who are doing great things, having significant areas of sin exposed publicly. The interesting thing is that their ministry did not seem affected by their sin, which is what this type of thinking that we are examining this morning would require. Often times the minister is seeing significant moves of God occur through them, and because of that they think they are not sinning, or maybe that God isn't applying the same rules to them as to everyone else. The people who follow them are shocked, and then wonder if God was actually even at work, since these ministers were clearly sinful. That is the exact same thing the Pharisees and teachers were arguing about Jesus, they thought He couldn't possibly be representing God, because He was clearly sinning.
By no means am I saying that our obedience to the Lord is of no consequence, nor that we shouldn't pursue purity and holiness. I am saying that we cannot assume the state or condition of one's heart (even our own) before God looking purely at their actions and God's apparent blessings in their lives, as evidenced by the works He does through them. Some of the greatest saints who have ever lived, ones that saw amazing miracles worked through their prayers, have also been convinced of their absolute unworthiness and sinfulness. Back to the analogy of sin, even the best archers in the world are upset when they miss the bulls-eye, even if its just by a hair. In the same way these saintly individuals did not dwell on the fact that the majority of their former sinful tendencies are gone, but rather that in the light of Christ they still had much they could improve upon.
Two things that I take away from this discussion:
1) God uses sinners and if I am a sinner I can't disqualify myself from being used by God, even in miraculous ways.
2) I need to guard my heart and thoughts from prideful, unbalanced and potentially dangerous thinking like this that would convince me that sin isn't sin if God is doing awesome stuff through me, or others.
Lord help us all!
Just a couple of things for further consideration -
1) Look at the spirit of pride that was evidently in the apostles hearts, even while they were healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, opening blind eyes and raising the dead - see Luke 9.
2) Look at Mark 10:13 - the discples are keeping the little children from coming to Jesus, and He is indignant (clearly, they missed the mark)
3) Peter was rebuked by Paul because he was acting wrong (sinning) concerning the message of grace - Gal 2:11-16
[13] "They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. [14] Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath. [15] Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”
[16] Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. [17] Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”
The man replied, “He is a prophet.”
[24] A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”
[25] He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
[26] Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
[27] He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”
[30] The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. [31] We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. [32] Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. [33] If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
So the question(s) is whether or not it was a sin to break the Sabbath, and whether someone who was a sinner could be used of God to great things like healing a man born blind? Although we don't usually put this question in these simple terms, we find that this type of thinking is actually quite prevalent in the church. We know that Christ never sinned, so its not really a question as to whether or not He is a sinner, but it is clearly a question that is significant for every other Christian, for scripture makes it clear that we are all sinners.
The first question was whether or not it was a sin to do "work" on the sabbath. The Sabbath was created by God, and the basic law came from Him (see Ex 31:14-16 for an example). However, the definition of work and the religious observance of the Sabbath had mostly been developed by man. The purpose of the Sabbath was to cause the Israelites to cease from their own labors, and reflect and recognize that it was the Lord God who made them Holy, set them apart and provided for them, and all of that was not due to their own works. Here is Jesus, representing the Father and showing the people that God was still present, providing for them and interacting with them, and they couldn't get past the religious mind-set that was created by man teaching man's interpretations of God's laws (religion). Jesus was embracing the very definition of the Sabbath and so clearly not sinning.
The proper definition of sin is doing something that is outside of the will of God. The term used most frequently speaks of missing the mark. It was a term associated with archery, and I know that whether I miss the target completely, or only by inches, I still have missed the mark. Jesus lived His life in perfect obedience to the Father's will. Every word He spoke, every action He did was coming from the direction of the Father. He was sinless, in other words He was always hitting the mark in everything, every moment of every day! No one else that has ever lived is sinless, so we are all "sinners" (Rom 3:23). If we are all sinners than we know that if God wants to continue to do His work on earth through us, than He must use sinners.
The second question is very interesting and although we might agree to the statement above, that God has no choice but to use sinners, we tend to believe that God's choice to do powerful works through someone is a sign that this person is Holy, and some would argue, not in sin. This is not true if we are all sinners, and the proper definition of sin is anything that is not in the perfect will of God. I have said this before, but it is worth revisiting, having read the lives and writings of many people who we would consider Holy, even saintly, everyone one of them was more and more and more convinced of their sinfulness the closer they came to being like the Lord. One could say that in the light of Christ, all sin becomes exposed and as you draw closer to Him, the more every little speck of sin is exposed by His increasing light. Now these people lived exemplary lives, but from their own perspective of looking to Christ, they saw their own weakness and sin, and were never convinced of their own purity and holiness.
This would be the opposite of the thinking that is being presented in this story and that is prevalent in the church. It is common to see an equating of a person's holiness and purity with their ability to do miraculous works. This can get us, and the people who God is using powerfully, into some trouble if we start believing the results are a sign of their purity and sinlessness. I have seen some people convinced that their ability to do mighty works is a sign that there is no sin in their lives, and God is thus using them. The problem with this thinking is that it isn't true! (Look to scripture for plenty of examples of people doing mighty works, while having sin, or plenty of wrong ideas in their lives - all sinners by definition). If we hold this view about someone else, we will be convinced that everything they are doing and saying is from God, even things that would normally be considered questionable, and this is very dangerous. If we are the person God is using, we can become convinced that as long as God is doing mighty works through us, that we aren't sinning, and everything in our lives is ok by God, and this is very dangerous, as well.
We see the results of this type of thinking regularly in our churches. It is unfortunate how many great ministers, representatives of God who are doing great things, having significant areas of sin exposed publicly. The interesting thing is that their ministry did not seem affected by their sin, which is what this type of thinking that we are examining this morning would require. Often times the minister is seeing significant moves of God occur through them, and because of that they think they are not sinning, or maybe that God isn't applying the same rules to them as to everyone else. The people who follow them are shocked, and then wonder if God was actually even at work, since these ministers were clearly sinful. That is the exact same thing the Pharisees and teachers were arguing about Jesus, they thought He couldn't possibly be representing God, because He was clearly sinning.
By no means am I saying that our obedience to the Lord is of no consequence, nor that we shouldn't pursue purity and holiness. I am saying that we cannot assume the state or condition of one's heart (even our own) before God looking purely at their actions and God's apparent blessings in their lives, as evidenced by the works He does through them. Some of the greatest saints who have ever lived, ones that saw amazing miracles worked through their prayers, have also been convinced of their absolute unworthiness and sinfulness. Back to the analogy of sin, even the best archers in the world are upset when they miss the bulls-eye, even if its just by a hair. In the same way these saintly individuals did not dwell on the fact that the majority of their former sinful tendencies are gone, but rather that in the light of Christ they still had much they could improve upon.
Two things that I take away from this discussion:
1) God uses sinners and if I am a sinner I can't disqualify myself from being used by God, even in miraculous ways.
2) I need to guard my heart and thoughts from prideful, unbalanced and potentially dangerous thinking like this that would convince me that sin isn't sin if God is doing awesome stuff through me, or others.
Lord help us all!
Just a couple of things for further consideration -
1) Look at the spirit of pride that was evidently in the apostles hearts, even while they were healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, opening blind eyes and raising the dead - see Luke 9.
2) Look at Mark 10:13 - the discples are keeping the little children from coming to Jesus, and He is indignant (clearly, they missed the mark)
3) Peter was rebuked by Paul because he was acting wrong (sinning) concerning the message of grace - Gal 2:11-16
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
The Right Place At The Right Time
This morning I am reading from Acts 17:24-28 NIV:
[24] “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. [25] And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. [26] From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. [27] God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. [28] 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'"
The verse that has always stood out to me from this selection is verse 26. My older version of the NIV translation reads a bit differently - "From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live." I like that perspective, that the Lord has determined and set our times (When we live) and exact places where we should live. Our lives are not random, and where we live is significant to the Lord. He has placed us here and now with purpose, and if we will let Him, He will guide our steps to make us the most effective during our lives.
Looking back at my life, I can see the Lord's hand all over my life, guiding and directing me, putting me in the right place at the right time. I remember one such incidence from last summer. I was flying from DC back to KC, and flying through Atlanta. My flight was delayed and so I decided to get some ice-cream. I made a quick stop by my gate and then started walking towards the Ice cream store. As I was walking, a man walked across my path and I realized I recognized him. He was an old friend from MN, who still lived in MN. I couldn't believe that we just "happened" to run into each other in one of the busiest airports in the world. As we quickly caught up, he said he was flying back from a job training for a new position He was taking in AL, and was unsure about whether that was the Lord's will. In general, he was in a tough place having been laid-off for close to a year. As we were talking, I had a sense the Lord wanted to bless him with a better job and even received a word of encouragement for him. I asked him if we could pray and did right there and then. As I prayed over him what I had heard, it was clear that the word of encouragement was exactly what he needed to hear at that moment. I then was reminded of a specific scripture and quoted it to him and He just beamed, and told me that was the very scripture that he had been holding onto for the last year, quoting it to himself and his wife as verse to hold onto in the midst of their great struggle! He and I both walked away from that experience greatly encouraged! He ended up getting another job offer that was far better for him and his family, and I knew that the Lord had used me in a significant way.
As I reflect on that occurrence, I am convinced that I was directed by the Lord to be there at exactly that moment, in the B terminal in Atlanta to meet my old friend. I might not have been cognizant of the Lord's directing hand, but there cannot be any coincidence in my meeting him and having the perfect word of encouragement. It was because God love's my friend so much that he wanted him to know that He knew exactly where he was, and had a perfect plan for his life. God loves each of us this way, and we will encounter His love in amazing ways as we open ourselves up to seeing, hearing and understanding His ways.
More recently, we were blessed to be able to be a part of God's intimate touch in another friend's life. The Lord had been setting up this little surprise for years, and neither of us knew that was the case, but at just the right time and place, we were able to bless this friend with something the Lord put in his heart back when He was a kid! This surprise from the Lord spoke deeply to our friend and was a concrete confirmation of the Lord's plans to move him into a new season. The Lord knows exactly what we need, and when we need it! It is so awesome to see Him orchestrate our lives to bring blessing and encouragement in our lives and the lives of our friends and families.
So, this morning I am more encouraged by the intimate Love of God in my life. He loves to bless and encourage each of us. I am further convinced that my life and purpose and the place I am is part of God's beautiful plan and all orchestrated by Him. He clearly has set my times and exact places where I live. He has me at the right place at the right time!
Amen!
[24] “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. [25] And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. [26] From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. [27] God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. [28] 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'"
The verse that has always stood out to me from this selection is verse 26. My older version of the NIV translation reads a bit differently - "From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live." I like that perspective, that the Lord has determined and set our times (When we live) and exact places where we should live. Our lives are not random, and where we live is significant to the Lord. He has placed us here and now with purpose, and if we will let Him, He will guide our steps to make us the most effective during our lives.
Looking back at my life, I can see the Lord's hand all over my life, guiding and directing me, putting me in the right place at the right time. I remember one such incidence from last summer. I was flying from DC back to KC, and flying through Atlanta. My flight was delayed and so I decided to get some ice-cream. I made a quick stop by my gate and then started walking towards the Ice cream store. As I was walking, a man walked across my path and I realized I recognized him. He was an old friend from MN, who still lived in MN. I couldn't believe that we just "happened" to run into each other in one of the busiest airports in the world. As we quickly caught up, he said he was flying back from a job training for a new position He was taking in AL, and was unsure about whether that was the Lord's will. In general, he was in a tough place having been laid-off for close to a year. As we were talking, I had a sense the Lord wanted to bless him with a better job and even received a word of encouragement for him. I asked him if we could pray and did right there and then. As I prayed over him what I had heard, it was clear that the word of encouragement was exactly what he needed to hear at that moment. I then was reminded of a specific scripture and quoted it to him and He just beamed, and told me that was the very scripture that he had been holding onto for the last year, quoting it to himself and his wife as verse to hold onto in the midst of their great struggle! He and I both walked away from that experience greatly encouraged! He ended up getting another job offer that was far better for him and his family, and I knew that the Lord had used me in a significant way.
As I reflect on that occurrence, I am convinced that I was directed by the Lord to be there at exactly that moment, in the B terminal in Atlanta to meet my old friend. I might not have been cognizant of the Lord's directing hand, but there cannot be any coincidence in my meeting him and having the perfect word of encouragement. It was because God love's my friend so much that he wanted him to know that He knew exactly where he was, and had a perfect plan for his life. God loves each of us this way, and we will encounter His love in amazing ways as we open ourselves up to seeing, hearing and understanding His ways.
More recently, we were blessed to be able to be a part of God's intimate touch in another friend's life. The Lord had been setting up this little surprise for years, and neither of us knew that was the case, but at just the right time and place, we were able to bless this friend with something the Lord put in his heart back when He was a kid! This surprise from the Lord spoke deeply to our friend and was a concrete confirmation of the Lord's plans to move him into a new season. The Lord knows exactly what we need, and when we need it! It is so awesome to see Him orchestrate our lives to bring blessing and encouragement in our lives and the lives of our friends and families.
So, this morning I am more encouraged by the intimate Love of God in my life. He loves to bless and encourage each of us. I am further convinced that my life and purpose and the place I am is part of God's beautiful plan and all orchestrated by Him. He clearly has set my times and exact places where I live. He has me at the right place at the right time!
Amen!
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Hearing The Word And Doing It
This morning I felt like should read from the letter of James. He takes a very different approach than Paul does in most of his letters, and though I love Paul, there is a practical side of James that I enjoy as well. This morning I was praying and thinking about a decision I need to make and just don't have clarity (there are more than a few good options) so I was asking for direction. When I turned to James, the first thing I read is the following verse - James 1:5 NIV "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." Thank You Lord for confirming You heard me and will answer my prayer.
This past Sunday we were talking about hearing God in our lives. We were talking about the fact that when God speaks it is because He is interacting in our lives and has perspective that we need or someone else around us needs. He wants us to know that He is intimately aware of us, and wants to interact with us in a regular manner. We shared different ways the Lord has spoken to us and showed us His love and care. It is so good to be reminded of His love and how He is alive!
This morning I was continuing to read James and came across the following verses (not that I hadn't read them before) that is in line with this theme of hearing God's voice (Word).
James 1:22-25 NIV:
[22] "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. [23] Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror [24] and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. [25] But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it---not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it---they will be blessed in what they do."
The straight-forward statement James makes to start this section is perfect. How often do we deceive ourselves with just listening and nodding our heads, thinking about the wonderful message we have heard, but neglecting to actually change our lives by applying the message to our lives? I know that I am the master of agreement, and relatively a laggard in application. When the Lord speaks a word to us, whether it is directive, new understanding, or refreshing something we heard before, it is for our benefit.
His words in our lives should often lead us to repentance (changing how we think and act). Not that the Lord is constantly punishing us or anything, but rather He is giving guidance and help. My experience of the Lord's correction and guidance is one of patience and gentleness. He converses with me in a place of love and acceptance and asks me how things went and how I might do things better going forward. Sometimes He is in agreement with me concerning my recognition that I didn't do well, but He is never harsh or negative towards me. He is always encouraging to me, knowing that I can do better. His encouragement is meant to help me change the way I think and act, becoming more like Him.
So my encouragement today is to listen to the Lord and do what He encourages me to do, for in doing so I will be blessed. Indeed, I will become more and more like Him.
This past Sunday we were talking about hearing God in our lives. We were talking about the fact that when God speaks it is because He is interacting in our lives and has perspective that we need or someone else around us needs. He wants us to know that He is intimately aware of us, and wants to interact with us in a regular manner. We shared different ways the Lord has spoken to us and showed us His love and care. It is so good to be reminded of His love and how He is alive!
This morning I was continuing to read James and came across the following verses (not that I hadn't read them before) that is in line with this theme of hearing God's voice (Word).
James 1:22-25 NIV:
[22] "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. [23] Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror [24] and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. [25] But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it---not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it---they will be blessed in what they do."
The straight-forward statement James makes to start this section is perfect. How often do we deceive ourselves with just listening and nodding our heads, thinking about the wonderful message we have heard, but neglecting to actually change our lives by applying the message to our lives? I know that I am the master of agreement, and relatively a laggard in application. When the Lord speaks a word to us, whether it is directive, new understanding, or refreshing something we heard before, it is for our benefit.
His words in our lives should often lead us to repentance (changing how we think and act). Not that the Lord is constantly punishing us or anything, but rather He is giving guidance and help. My experience of the Lord's correction and guidance is one of patience and gentleness. He converses with me in a place of love and acceptance and asks me how things went and how I might do things better going forward. Sometimes He is in agreement with me concerning my recognition that I didn't do well, but He is never harsh or negative towards me. He is always encouraging to me, knowing that I can do better. His encouragement is meant to help me change the way I think and act, becoming more like Him.
So my encouragement today is to listen to the Lord and do what He encourages me to do, for in doing so I will be blessed. Indeed, I will become more and more like Him.
Monday, April 13, 2015
Releasing The Light
This morning I felt led to read again from John 9. I felt like I should spend some meditating on Jesus' statements at the beginning of the chapter. Here are the verses - John 9:3-5 NIV:
[3] “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. [4] As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. [5] While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
I love Jesus' response to the question about the cause of the man's blindness. His blindness although it had lasted his lifetime, was not a curse brought on by sinfulness, but was rather present as an opportunity for the Father's glory to be revealed. Jesus has such a different perspective, that of the Father, and we would be well served to pursue the same.
In our world, and especially this present age, wee call such things as blindness and other afflictions unfair, or sad, and that is a wholly human response. We imagine ourselves with such an affliction and are overwhelmed by the loss of health, capabilities, etc. Our thoughts are on ourselves and take such afflictions and their diagnosis as sentence of fear, sorrow and suffering. Jesus on the other hand, sees in this man's affliction the opportunity for the Father to be glorified. He represented the Kingdom of God, constantly proclaiming it and demonstrating it. In the Kingdom of God, blindness does not exist, and so Jesus demonstrated this reality by healing him.
Jesus said this was one of the works He had been assigned to do by the Father. I believe it is both a personal assignment (this particular blind man) and an overriding work assignment (heal blindness when You confront it). He only had so much time on earth in His physical form, and during that time He had been given specific things to demonstrate and do, and this was one such task. In the same way, we are entrusted with opportunities to extend God's Kingdom and bring Glory to Him. Our invitation is to be open and obedient and act in faith when opportunities are presented. The Lord wants us to both understand the reality of His Kingdom, and our identity as sons and daughters of His in that Kingdom. He also wants us to understand that He sees thing completely differently than we do. We tend to look at things from our limited human perspective, He looks at the same situation and sees the opportunity for His Glory to be revealed.
It is in the revelation of His Glory that His light is shined to this world that is dark. I love the following verses from Isaiah 60:1-3 NIV:
[1] “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
[2] See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
[3] Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn."
We are called to shine His light to those around us, to reveal His Glory. People will be drawn to the Light of Christ as He shines out of us. When we start to demonstrate His Kingdom reality to our world, they will being to see God's touch in their lives. Christ is still in the world, through His Spirit alive in us. It is time for us to release this light into the darkness around us.
So let us be encouraged to let His light shine, for He is the light of the world. Let us be encouraged to release His light within and through our lives. Let us arise and shine.
[3] “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. [4] As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. [5] While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
I love Jesus' response to the question about the cause of the man's blindness. His blindness although it had lasted his lifetime, was not a curse brought on by sinfulness, but was rather present as an opportunity for the Father's glory to be revealed. Jesus has such a different perspective, that of the Father, and we would be well served to pursue the same.
In our world, and especially this present age, wee call such things as blindness and other afflictions unfair, or sad, and that is a wholly human response. We imagine ourselves with such an affliction and are overwhelmed by the loss of health, capabilities, etc. Our thoughts are on ourselves and take such afflictions and their diagnosis as sentence of fear, sorrow and suffering. Jesus on the other hand, sees in this man's affliction the opportunity for the Father to be glorified. He represented the Kingdom of God, constantly proclaiming it and demonstrating it. In the Kingdom of God, blindness does not exist, and so Jesus demonstrated this reality by healing him.
Jesus said this was one of the works He had been assigned to do by the Father. I believe it is both a personal assignment (this particular blind man) and an overriding work assignment (heal blindness when You confront it). He only had so much time on earth in His physical form, and during that time He had been given specific things to demonstrate and do, and this was one such task. In the same way, we are entrusted with opportunities to extend God's Kingdom and bring Glory to Him. Our invitation is to be open and obedient and act in faith when opportunities are presented. The Lord wants us to both understand the reality of His Kingdom, and our identity as sons and daughters of His in that Kingdom. He also wants us to understand that He sees thing completely differently than we do. We tend to look at things from our limited human perspective, He looks at the same situation and sees the opportunity for His Glory to be revealed.
It is in the revelation of His Glory that His light is shined to this world that is dark. I love the following verses from Isaiah 60:1-3 NIV:
[1] “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
[2] See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
[3] Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn."
We are called to shine His light to those around us, to reveal His Glory. People will be drawn to the Light of Christ as He shines out of us. When we start to demonstrate His Kingdom reality to our world, they will being to see God's touch in their lives. Christ is still in the world, through His Spirit alive in us. It is time for us to release this light into the darkness around us.
So let us be encouraged to let His light shine, for He is the light of the world. Let us be encouraged to release His light within and through our lives. Let us arise and shine.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
HearingThe Lord
This morning I was continuing my reading from Matthew's Gospel and ran across a couple of related verses, in the midst of Jesus' discourse on some of the future times that they were going to experience. Both verses have to do with hearing and speaking.
Matthew 10:19-20, 27 NIV:
[19] "..., do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, [20] for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."
[27] "What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs."
I love the fact that in these verses the Lord is promising that He will speak to and through us. The context of these verses is one of struggle and difficulty societally, but I don't believe these verses are only true for such times. My experience with the Lord is very similar, and I believe the Lord wants us all to have such an experience. As I wrote a couple of days ago, the Lord desires to speak to us all, and it is not just a privileged few that He speaks to.
Part of what I believe the Lord is about, in my times of prayer with Him, is filling me with His word and His heart. As I go throughout my life and interact with others and find myself sharing with someone, I am often reminded of things I have heard in my prayer time, things I have read, thoughts and impressions of the Lord's heart. I think this is very much like what Jesus describes in verses 19 & 20. The Lord calls things to my mind, drawing them out of the deposit that He has been putting in place for the last 30+ years, or that last couple of days. I am amazed at how often the thing I read this morning and reflected upon comes up in someone else's conversation. At times I feel like the Lord is pre-loading His word in me for others I will meet, so that I can distribute it at the right time, with His guidance.
The other verse where He speaks of speaking things in the dark, or whispering in our ear, is also very accurate to my experience. I have learned to pay attention when I wake up in the night, or first thing in the morning, for often the Lord will take that moment when I am not distracted by anything else and speak to me. He speaks to me through dreams, at times, impressions, scripture verses He calls to mind, or just a single thought or two that I know is from Him. Again, I am amazed at how often what I hear whispered to me at these times is relevant in that day, coming up in conversation, sometimes multiple times.
I think the description of Him whispering in my ear is also appropriate, for Lord is not often loud to my hearing. I know some people have experience hearing the audible voice of the Lord, I have not had that experience, but have had very 'loud' or strong impressions from the Lord. Most of the time, though, it is like He is whispering in my ear. I am usually pretty in tune with my train of thought and when the Lord whispers to me, it is most often not related to the present trains of thought running through my mind. I have been trained to pay attention to these seemingly random thoughts, for they are often from the Lord. I will also receive impressions, almost like I am imagining something, that are completely unrelated to my existing thoughts. I am not saying every random thought I have is from the Lord, nor that I am perfect in hearing what He is saying, but I am still humbled and amazed at how often He chooses to speak to and through me.
When I get a word or impression, the first thing I do is stop and reflect if it is related to my previous line of thinking. I try to trace the root of the thought and if I can't identify it in my own thoughts, than I evaluate if it might be from the Lord. The enemy can use this same technique of whispering thoughts, so many times I can immediately identify if it is not from God, and just toss the thought aside. If it isn't from me, or the enemy than I pay attention and usually ask the Lord for more clarity and/or information. Sometimes, like when I am in prayer, I will get a Bible verse or page number and I will then stop and read those verses, or pages in my bible and see if there is something for me in the Word. As I pursue this thought or theme, the Lord will often times give me more understanding and clarity. Much of the time the Lord is speaking to me about me, and I try to understand His words and apply them to my life. Often times, it is for me and someone else, which I usually find out through conversation with them. Whatever the case, I am trying to hear Him and really listen, and put His words into effect in my life.
So today, I am encouraged to listen more, to continue to practice active listening throughout the day and night. I am encouraged to speak the things I hear, for often times they are for others as well as myself. Help me Lord to hear!
Matthew 10:19-20, 27 NIV:
[19] "..., do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, [20] for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."
[27] "What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs."
I love the fact that in these verses the Lord is promising that He will speak to and through us. The context of these verses is one of struggle and difficulty societally, but I don't believe these verses are only true for such times. My experience with the Lord is very similar, and I believe the Lord wants us all to have such an experience. As I wrote a couple of days ago, the Lord desires to speak to us all, and it is not just a privileged few that He speaks to.
Part of what I believe the Lord is about, in my times of prayer with Him, is filling me with His word and His heart. As I go throughout my life and interact with others and find myself sharing with someone, I am often reminded of things I have heard in my prayer time, things I have read, thoughts and impressions of the Lord's heart. I think this is very much like what Jesus describes in verses 19 & 20. The Lord calls things to my mind, drawing them out of the deposit that He has been putting in place for the last 30+ years, or that last couple of days. I am amazed at how often the thing I read this morning and reflected upon comes up in someone else's conversation. At times I feel like the Lord is pre-loading His word in me for others I will meet, so that I can distribute it at the right time, with His guidance.
The other verse where He speaks of speaking things in the dark, or whispering in our ear, is also very accurate to my experience. I have learned to pay attention when I wake up in the night, or first thing in the morning, for often the Lord will take that moment when I am not distracted by anything else and speak to me. He speaks to me through dreams, at times, impressions, scripture verses He calls to mind, or just a single thought or two that I know is from Him. Again, I am amazed at how often what I hear whispered to me at these times is relevant in that day, coming up in conversation, sometimes multiple times.
I think the description of Him whispering in my ear is also appropriate, for Lord is not often loud to my hearing. I know some people have experience hearing the audible voice of the Lord, I have not had that experience, but have had very 'loud' or strong impressions from the Lord. Most of the time, though, it is like He is whispering in my ear. I am usually pretty in tune with my train of thought and when the Lord whispers to me, it is most often not related to the present trains of thought running through my mind. I have been trained to pay attention to these seemingly random thoughts, for they are often from the Lord. I will also receive impressions, almost like I am imagining something, that are completely unrelated to my existing thoughts. I am not saying every random thought I have is from the Lord, nor that I am perfect in hearing what He is saying, but I am still humbled and amazed at how often He chooses to speak to and through me.
When I get a word or impression, the first thing I do is stop and reflect if it is related to my previous line of thinking. I try to trace the root of the thought and if I can't identify it in my own thoughts, than I evaluate if it might be from the Lord. The enemy can use this same technique of whispering thoughts, so many times I can immediately identify if it is not from God, and just toss the thought aside. If it isn't from me, or the enemy than I pay attention and usually ask the Lord for more clarity and/or information. Sometimes, like when I am in prayer, I will get a Bible verse or page number and I will then stop and read those verses, or pages in my bible and see if there is something for me in the Word. As I pursue this thought or theme, the Lord will often times give me more understanding and clarity. Much of the time the Lord is speaking to me about me, and I try to understand His words and apply them to my life. Often times, it is for me and someone else, which I usually find out through conversation with them. Whatever the case, I am trying to hear Him and really listen, and put His words into effect in my life.
So today, I am encouraged to listen more, to continue to practice active listening throughout the day and night. I am encouraged to speak the things I hear, for often times they are for others as well as myself. Help me Lord to hear!
Friday, April 10, 2015
Compassion For The Lost
This morning I am continuing my reading from Matthew's Gospel. The verses of interest are the following - Matthew 9:35-38 NIV:
[35] "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. [36] When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. [37] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. [38] Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
As I read these verses I had a strong impression of the Lord's heart for those who don't know Him. The crowds that Matthew speaks about were people who had heard something about Him, and were coming to see Him. What they were really hungry for was God! They were a people who had understanding of God, but who didn't have real relationships with Him, and were hungry for Him, for the truth He spoke, and for the power of His touch. The nation of Israel was in a spiritual drought and they were thirsty for the Lord's interactions and proofs of His Divinity, for they longed for a true visitation.
In the same way, I believe there are millions if not billions of people with this same hunger today. There are those in churches who have understanding of God, but have never seen Him move in power, have never been introduced to His personal touch. There are those outside of the church, people who hunger for a sense of purpose, direction, love, and understanding of their own lives. They hunger and thirst for something to fill them, chasing after anything that promises to sate their appetites, but they are never truly filled. They are hungry for God, the just don't know Him. I believe the Lord has great compassion for all these people. They are truly sheep without a shepherd, looking for food and drink to satisfy their deep longings.
Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd in John 10:11. The good shepherd knows how to lead them to good food and drink that will finally satisfy them. He is the source of life, the light for all men (John 1:4). If we turn to Him, He will guide us to a place of rest, a place of refreshment, and He will fill us. He is what we all are longing for, what we hunger and thirst for in our lives. Many just don't know that is the case.
Jesus' final statement in these verses was to His disciples, that they should ask that more workers be sent into fields for the harvest. The very next verses in Matthew's Gospel are Jesus sending out the Apostles to do the exact same thing He had been doing (Matt 10:1-7). They were to be the workers that were sent out to gather the harvest. This is our call too, to go to the lost, hungry and thirsty (the lost sheep of this age) and introduce them to the Good Shepherd.
I pray that the Lord would stir our hearts like His heart is stirred for the lost around us! There are crowds of people who need to be introduced to the One who Loves them and laid down His life for them - the Good Shepherd, Jesus.
[35] "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. [36] When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. [37] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. [38] Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
As I read these verses I had a strong impression of the Lord's heart for those who don't know Him. The crowds that Matthew speaks about were people who had heard something about Him, and were coming to see Him. What they were really hungry for was God! They were a people who had understanding of God, but who didn't have real relationships with Him, and were hungry for Him, for the truth He spoke, and for the power of His touch. The nation of Israel was in a spiritual drought and they were thirsty for the Lord's interactions and proofs of His Divinity, for they longed for a true visitation.
In the same way, I believe there are millions if not billions of people with this same hunger today. There are those in churches who have understanding of God, but have never seen Him move in power, have never been introduced to His personal touch. There are those outside of the church, people who hunger for a sense of purpose, direction, love, and understanding of their own lives. They hunger and thirst for something to fill them, chasing after anything that promises to sate their appetites, but they are never truly filled. They are hungry for God, the just don't know Him. I believe the Lord has great compassion for all these people. They are truly sheep without a shepherd, looking for food and drink to satisfy their deep longings.
Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd in John 10:11. The good shepherd knows how to lead them to good food and drink that will finally satisfy them. He is the source of life, the light for all men (John 1:4). If we turn to Him, He will guide us to a place of rest, a place of refreshment, and He will fill us. He is what we all are longing for, what we hunger and thirst for in our lives. Many just don't know that is the case.
Jesus' final statement in these verses was to His disciples, that they should ask that more workers be sent into fields for the harvest. The very next verses in Matthew's Gospel are Jesus sending out the Apostles to do the exact same thing He had been doing (Matt 10:1-7). They were to be the workers that were sent out to gather the harvest. This is our call too, to go to the lost, hungry and thirsty (the lost sheep of this age) and introduce them to the Good Shepherd.
I pray that the Lord would stir our hearts like His heart is stirred for the lost around us! There are crowds of people who need to be introduced to the One who Loves them and laid down His life for them - the Good Shepherd, Jesus.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
A Place of Rest, Realization, Revelation and Relationship
This morning I felt directed to Matthew's Gospel and the following verses - Matthew 11:27-30 NIV:
[27] “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
[28] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
First, a word about my reading schedule. I believe that the Lord greatly desires to communicate with me daily, so I always ask Him, in prayer, where I should read. Sometimes I hear in my mind specific verses (book, chapter, verse), sometimes page numbers, sometimes I just open my Bible and start reading, but I am always expecting the Lord to speak out of His Word. Sometimes, He will have me read through a book, working verse by verse, chapter by chapter, other times it will be more along a particular theme. Regardless of the flow, I expect that the Lord will speak every day, because His Words are life and light to me. I believe the Lord wants to speak to all of us, with equal passion and intimacy.
Secondly, the verses today speak about the Lord's heart in His communication to us. He is revealing the Father (verse 27) and teaching us (verse 29). For this to occur we only need to come to Him and let Him guide us to a place of rest. I find it is much more difficult to hear the Lord during the hustle and bustle of my daily life of work and life. That is why I spend time each morning coming before Him, and taking time to rest, listen and read. It is in those times that the Lord speaks the most clearly and consistently. As I have learned to hear His voice in these times of quiet, I have been better able to hear Him throughout the day, as well. My times with Him are not primarly spent in passionate prayer through lists of names and issues, beseeching Him for answers and needs, but rather in listening and conversing from my heart, learning who He is and what He has to say to me. My relationship is not one of works and effort, but one of deep interaction and affection.
I love verses 28 & 29 for that is how I experience Him daily. He frees me from the effort of religion and brings me into the rest of relationship. As we spend time, I am able to unburden myself, entrusting my concerns to Him, gaining His perspective and direction. As I do so, I realize that there has been an exchange of burdens, for I am guided into His concerns and direction, and my concerns have been lifted. Intimate relationship with the Lord is a wonderful thing, and something He desires for all of us. We are each significant to Him, and as such, He will continue to invite us to this place of rest, realization and revelation through relationship.
Finally, it is in this place of relationship that He reveals the Father to me. As I have quoted many times before, Jesus is the perfect representation of the Father (Heb 1:3) and as I come to know Him, I come to know the Father. The significance of our interactions is that He has chosen to reveal the Father to me (verse 27). If the Lord desires relationship with me, than so does the Father. I am so aware of my absolute unworthiness to have relationship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Father, and yet I recognize that they have chosen me, as one with whom they want relationship. That is just mind-blowing! Sometimes we can feel that we have to earn this choice, or work hard to be noticed by the Lord, but that just isn't true. The Lord chose me while I was still a sinner and unaware of Him, thinking only of myself (Rom 5:8 and 1 Thess 1:4). If He chose me before I even knew Him while I was still a sinner, what makes me think that now that I know Him, He will load me up with requirements for relationship?
So let us be encouraged that the Lord loves us, has chosen us and wants relationship with us. We can go to Him and He will meet with us, give us rest, teach us and reveal the Father to us.
Amen!
[27] “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
[28] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
First, a word about my reading schedule. I believe that the Lord greatly desires to communicate with me daily, so I always ask Him, in prayer, where I should read. Sometimes I hear in my mind specific verses (book, chapter, verse), sometimes page numbers, sometimes I just open my Bible and start reading, but I am always expecting the Lord to speak out of His Word. Sometimes, He will have me read through a book, working verse by verse, chapter by chapter, other times it will be more along a particular theme. Regardless of the flow, I expect that the Lord will speak every day, because His Words are life and light to me. I believe the Lord wants to speak to all of us, with equal passion and intimacy.
Secondly, the verses today speak about the Lord's heart in His communication to us. He is revealing the Father (verse 27) and teaching us (verse 29). For this to occur we only need to come to Him and let Him guide us to a place of rest. I find it is much more difficult to hear the Lord during the hustle and bustle of my daily life of work and life. That is why I spend time each morning coming before Him, and taking time to rest, listen and read. It is in those times that the Lord speaks the most clearly and consistently. As I have learned to hear His voice in these times of quiet, I have been better able to hear Him throughout the day, as well. My times with Him are not primarly spent in passionate prayer through lists of names and issues, beseeching Him for answers and needs, but rather in listening and conversing from my heart, learning who He is and what He has to say to me. My relationship is not one of works and effort, but one of deep interaction and affection.
I love verses 28 & 29 for that is how I experience Him daily. He frees me from the effort of religion and brings me into the rest of relationship. As we spend time, I am able to unburden myself, entrusting my concerns to Him, gaining His perspective and direction. As I do so, I realize that there has been an exchange of burdens, for I am guided into His concerns and direction, and my concerns have been lifted. Intimate relationship with the Lord is a wonderful thing, and something He desires for all of us. We are each significant to Him, and as such, He will continue to invite us to this place of rest, realization and revelation through relationship.
Finally, it is in this place of relationship that He reveals the Father to me. As I have quoted many times before, Jesus is the perfect representation of the Father (Heb 1:3) and as I come to know Him, I come to know the Father. The significance of our interactions is that He has chosen to reveal the Father to me (verse 27). If the Lord desires relationship with me, than so does the Father. I am so aware of my absolute unworthiness to have relationship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Father, and yet I recognize that they have chosen me, as one with whom they want relationship. That is just mind-blowing! Sometimes we can feel that we have to earn this choice, or work hard to be noticed by the Lord, but that just isn't true. The Lord chose me while I was still a sinner and unaware of Him, thinking only of myself (Rom 5:8 and 1 Thess 1:4). If He chose me before I even knew Him while I was still a sinner, what makes me think that now that I know Him, He will load me up with requirements for relationship?
So let us be encouraged that the Lord loves us, has chosen us and wants relationship with us. We can go to Him and He will meet with us, give us rest, teach us and reveal the Father to us.
Amen!
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Service With A Smile
This morning I meditating on a few verses from John's Gospel, speaking about servant leadership. Jesus sets such a clear example of how leadership should serve, I find it difficult to think how we could have any other mind-set. Here are the verses - John 13:12-17 NIV:
[12] "When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. [13] “You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. [14] Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. [15] I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. [16] Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. [17] Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."
I am astounded when I read these verses. I mean, here is the Son of God, second member of the Trinity, creator of the world, the very Word of God made flesh, and He is washing His disciples feet. He didn't just humble himself and take on the form of man (Phil 2:6-8), but He humbled Himself as a man, doing the tasks of the lowliest servant - washing the feet of the guests. He was the guest of honor, the only one worthy of honor in comparison with the rest of the attendees and yet He was washing their feet, deeming them worthy of His service.
He says very clearly (verse 15) that He was setting an example for us, so that we would do what He has done. I am amazed that in the Body of Christ our leaders so often expect to be served, rather than be served. In Hebrews 1:3 it says Jesus is the perfect representation of the Father, and these verses are covered in that statement. The Father, even though He is the God Almighty, cares for us and blesses us and is showing us His heart through Jesus' actions and words. His heart is to serve and bless, to be a servant leader. That is such a completely different approach than what you would think. The world is full of god's and leaders that demand service and adoration, and never interact with the common people
Jesus says very clearly in verse 16, that none of us who follow him are greater than Him, and as such we should do that which He demonstrated. Each and every person is worthy of our service. We are not above, or better than anyone, for aside from Jesus sacrifice, death and resurrection, we are all sinners whose lot should be death. Jesus provides a stellar example of how we should behave and consider ourselves in the context of one of His followers. If we follow and want to become like Him, we should act like Him.
Finally in verse 17, Jesus lays the responsibility on us. He says, "Now that yo know these things..." In other words, we can no longer claim ignorance. We see Him living a simple life, loving and serving others, and we are called to do the same. We can no longer claim ignorance or have any other attitude.
Lord, help us to humble ourselves and embrace a servant's mindset. Help us to serve all people well, never believing ourselves better than anyone we meet. Let us emulate You and enjoy the blessing of service. Let us serve others with a smile.
[12] "When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. [13] “You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. [14] Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. [15] I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. [16] Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. [17] Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."
I am astounded when I read these verses. I mean, here is the Son of God, second member of the Trinity, creator of the world, the very Word of God made flesh, and He is washing His disciples feet. He didn't just humble himself and take on the form of man (Phil 2:6-8), but He humbled Himself as a man, doing the tasks of the lowliest servant - washing the feet of the guests. He was the guest of honor, the only one worthy of honor in comparison with the rest of the attendees and yet He was washing their feet, deeming them worthy of His service.
He says very clearly (verse 15) that He was setting an example for us, so that we would do what He has done. I am amazed that in the Body of Christ our leaders so often expect to be served, rather than be served. In Hebrews 1:3 it says Jesus is the perfect representation of the Father, and these verses are covered in that statement. The Father, even though He is the God Almighty, cares for us and blesses us and is showing us His heart through Jesus' actions and words. His heart is to serve and bless, to be a servant leader. That is such a completely different approach than what you would think. The world is full of god's and leaders that demand service and adoration, and never interact with the common people
Jesus says very clearly in verse 16, that none of us who follow him are greater than Him, and as such we should do that which He demonstrated. Each and every person is worthy of our service. We are not above, or better than anyone, for aside from Jesus sacrifice, death and resurrection, we are all sinners whose lot should be death. Jesus provides a stellar example of how we should behave and consider ourselves in the context of one of His followers. If we follow and want to become like Him, we should act like Him.
Finally in verse 17, Jesus lays the responsibility on us. He says, "Now that yo know these things..." In other words, we can no longer claim ignorance. We see Him living a simple life, loving and serving others, and we are called to do the same. We can no longer claim ignorance or have any other attitude.
Lord, help us to humble ourselves and embrace a servant's mindset. Help us to serve all people well, never believing ourselves better than anyone we meet. Let us emulate You and enjoy the blessing of service. Let us serve others with a smile.
Monday, April 6, 2015
Trusting In The Goodness Of God
This morning I am looking at some verses from the letter of James. He has such an interesting perspective and way of thinking, very different than Paul. Here are the verses - James 4:2-10 NIV:
[2] "You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. [3] When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
[4] "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. [5] Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us ? [6] But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
[7] "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. [9] Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. [10] Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
Yesterday we were talking about humility and how the Lord blesses the humble. It is such an interesting way of thinking and so counter-intuitive. We tend to choose people who are strong, who are capable, and able to stand on their own, and the Lord is looking for us to exhibit the opposite behaviour. I said yesterday that in some ways this is just un-American, for we value a independent spirit, those that are self-made, and the strong. It is important that we see God's heart in this all.
The thing the Lord is after is our thoughts, our mind-set. In verse 3 above, James is addressing a motive of selfishness. At its core, selfishness is self-centered thought. We are not thinking about others, and their needs, but instead our own needs and wants. We want things and don't want to wait, or trust or believe that the Lord has our best interests in mind, so we figure out ways to get what we want. Almost all of marketing and advertising is focused on our selfish motives.
It is not that the Lord doesn't want us to have nice things, or enjoy our lives. In verse 6 above James quotes Proverbs 3:34 when he says that God shows favor to the humble. God loves to shower blessings on us, loves to give us gifts, and has given us the greatest gift in His Son Jesus. God's generosity is beyond anything we have ever seen, but we don't trust or believe that He is good. The funny thing is that He is the only one who is really good, according to Jesus. Here is a quote from Luke 18:19 NIV: “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good---except God alone."
Humbling ourselves is basically changing our mindset to look to God rather than ourselves. The original Greek word means to lower ourselves to the ground, and when we do that before the Lord, He will lift us up. We are all sons and daughters of God, and as such He will not allow us to remain bowed down. However, our status comes from Him, not from our achievements or own efforts. This is the key to walking in humility, being able to recognize that everything we have and who we are is a gift from God. Humility is roughly equivalent to gratitude, recognizing that all that is good comes from another source, namely God.
Lord, I pray that You will help us to trust in You, to believe that You have a better perspective for guiding our lives. Help us to understand and experience Your goodness, for You alone are good. Let us entrust our lives and our needs and wants to You. Let us recognize that You are the source of all good things, and as such the One we should look to. Help us to resist the evil one, our flesh and the world, all of which are trying to get us to take our eyes off of You. You are good, and everything You do is good.
[2] "You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. [3] When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
[4] "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. [5] Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us ? [6] But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
[7] "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. [9] Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. [10] Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
Yesterday we were talking about humility and how the Lord blesses the humble. It is such an interesting way of thinking and so counter-intuitive. We tend to choose people who are strong, who are capable, and able to stand on their own, and the Lord is looking for us to exhibit the opposite behaviour. I said yesterday that in some ways this is just un-American, for we value a independent spirit, those that are self-made, and the strong. It is important that we see God's heart in this all.
The thing the Lord is after is our thoughts, our mind-set. In verse 3 above, James is addressing a motive of selfishness. At its core, selfishness is self-centered thought. We are not thinking about others, and their needs, but instead our own needs and wants. We want things and don't want to wait, or trust or believe that the Lord has our best interests in mind, so we figure out ways to get what we want. Almost all of marketing and advertising is focused on our selfish motives.
It is not that the Lord doesn't want us to have nice things, or enjoy our lives. In verse 6 above James quotes Proverbs 3:34 when he says that God shows favor to the humble. God loves to shower blessings on us, loves to give us gifts, and has given us the greatest gift in His Son Jesus. God's generosity is beyond anything we have ever seen, but we don't trust or believe that He is good. The funny thing is that He is the only one who is really good, according to Jesus. Here is a quote from Luke 18:19 NIV: “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good---except God alone."
Humbling ourselves is basically changing our mindset to look to God rather than ourselves. The original Greek word means to lower ourselves to the ground, and when we do that before the Lord, He will lift us up. We are all sons and daughters of God, and as such He will not allow us to remain bowed down. However, our status comes from Him, not from our achievements or own efforts. This is the key to walking in humility, being able to recognize that everything we have and who we are is a gift from God. Humility is roughly equivalent to gratitude, recognizing that all that is good comes from another source, namely God.
Lord, I pray that You will help us to trust in You, to believe that You have a better perspective for guiding our lives. Help us to understand and experience Your goodness, for You alone are good. Let us entrust our lives and our needs and wants to You. Let us recognize that You are the source of all good things, and as such the One we should look to. Help us to resist the evil one, our flesh and the world, all of which are trying to get us to take our eyes off of You. You are good, and everything You do is good.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
The Resurrection - Proof Jesus Was Victorious!
Yesterday I meditated on the first Holy Saturday and the experience the Apostles and disciples had that day after Jesus died. I titled it "When Hope is Dead and God is Silent". Shortly after posting it, I felt like the Lord gave me some additional perspective. I really should have titled it "When Hope Seems Dead and God Isn't Talking". He reminded me of the biblical and historical perspective on what He was actually doing Holy Saturday. In other words, even though it seemed like nothing was happening, He was at work moving mightily. In the same way I believe that this is the case in our lives. When the Lord isn't speaking, He is at work in hidden ways, moving mightily on our behalf.
The first view we have concerning what happened when He died is seen in Matthew's Gospel 27:50-53 NIV:
[50] "And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. [51] At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split [52] and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. [53] They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people."
I find it interesting that at the very moment He died all this happened, rather than at the moment of Jesus Resurrection. The curtain that was in the temple separated the Holy of Holies, where God dwelt, from the rest of the temple and all the people. The tearing of this curtain represented Jesus opening the way to the Father. The earth shaking and quaking speaks of the power that was released at that moment, into the earth. In other words, Jesus death didn't just have spiritual ramifications, but also ramifications in the natural realm. Third, the many people who were raised from the dead speaks of Jesus' victory over death. At the very moment when Jesus died, death was defeated! That is the exact opposite of how we would normally think.
Peter adds some additional perspective, as directed by the Holy Spirit, regarding Jesus' actions immediately after His death. Here are the verses -1 Peter 3:18-20 NIV:
[18] "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. [19] After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits--- [20] to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,..."
Two things of note here, it was immediately after His death that the Spirit of Jesus was made alive (Peter's words). We know that we are three part beings, made up of mind, body and spirit. It was only Jesus' body that died, and when that occurred His Spirit was freed from the physical confines of His body and He was immediately at work. Peter says that He went and made a proclamation to the imprisoned spirits. Many believe this was to Abraham's bosom or side (Luke 16:22) which was a place where those who died in relationship to God, prior to Jesus' coming, were held waiting the opening of the way to The Father in Heaven. Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians 4:8 that when Jesus Ascended "He took many captives", and this is understood to be those that He rescued from Abraham's side.
Finally in Revelations 1:18, Jesus proclaims to John, "I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." It is from this verse that we understand that Jesus defeated death, defeated the enemy and now held the keys, which signify His complete authority over both. Jesus was far from idle those three days, but rather was at work in the Spirit, defeating all His enemies, opening the way to the Father, feeing captives, and fulfilling that which the Father had given Him to do.
Jesus Resurrection was really the final proof of all the Jesus did after He died. He now held the keys of death, having defeated death, and was restored to life! He is now alive, forever and ever. His Spirit was reunited with His body, which was changed into its new form (1 Cor 15:50-57), and released from the tomb!
So, hope only seemed to die, and although God was silent, He certainly wasn't at rest, but rather was working mightily on our behalf. Jesus was raised from the dead, in the fullness of time, as described by Himself (many times in the Gospels) and prophetically through the prophets of old. God is always able to fulfill His promises and His perfect timing. He may be moving in ways we cannot see, but rest assured He is moving on our behalf! We may not understand the timing, but it is perfect.
It is right that we celebrate Jesus' Resurrection, for it is proof that He has accomplished everything He was asked to do. He was victorious over all His enemies. In His words, "It is Finished."
The Apostle's hopes and dreams didn't die with Jesus, in fact they were transformed into much more than they could have ever imagined!
Amen!
The first view we have concerning what happened when He died is seen in Matthew's Gospel 27:50-53 NIV:
[50] "And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. [51] At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split [52] and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. [53] They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people."
I find it interesting that at the very moment He died all this happened, rather than at the moment of Jesus Resurrection. The curtain that was in the temple separated the Holy of Holies, where God dwelt, from the rest of the temple and all the people. The tearing of this curtain represented Jesus opening the way to the Father. The earth shaking and quaking speaks of the power that was released at that moment, into the earth. In other words, Jesus death didn't just have spiritual ramifications, but also ramifications in the natural realm. Third, the many people who were raised from the dead speaks of Jesus' victory over death. At the very moment when Jesus died, death was defeated! That is the exact opposite of how we would normally think.
Peter adds some additional perspective, as directed by the Holy Spirit, regarding Jesus' actions immediately after His death. Here are the verses -1 Peter 3:18-20 NIV:
[18] "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. [19] After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits--- [20] to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,..."
Two things of note here, it was immediately after His death that the Spirit of Jesus was made alive (Peter's words). We know that we are three part beings, made up of mind, body and spirit. It was only Jesus' body that died, and when that occurred His Spirit was freed from the physical confines of His body and He was immediately at work. Peter says that He went and made a proclamation to the imprisoned spirits. Many believe this was to Abraham's bosom or side (Luke 16:22) which was a place where those who died in relationship to God, prior to Jesus' coming, were held waiting the opening of the way to The Father in Heaven. Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians 4:8 that when Jesus Ascended "He took many captives", and this is understood to be those that He rescued from Abraham's side.
Finally in Revelations 1:18, Jesus proclaims to John, "I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." It is from this verse that we understand that Jesus defeated death, defeated the enemy and now held the keys, which signify His complete authority over both. Jesus was far from idle those three days, but rather was at work in the Spirit, defeating all His enemies, opening the way to the Father, feeing captives, and fulfilling that which the Father had given Him to do.
Jesus Resurrection was really the final proof of all the Jesus did after He died. He now held the keys of death, having defeated death, and was restored to life! He is now alive, forever and ever. His Spirit was reunited with His body, which was changed into its new form (1 Cor 15:50-57), and released from the tomb!
So, hope only seemed to die, and although God was silent, He certainly wasn't at rest, but rather was working mightily on our behalf. Jesus was raised from the dead, in the fullness of time, as described by Himself (many times in the Gospels) and prophetically through the prophets of old. God is always able to fulfill His promises and His perfect timing. He may be moving in ways we cannot see, but rest assured He is moving on our behalf! We may not understand the timing, but it is perfect.
It is right that we celebrate Jesus' Resurrection, for it is proof that He has accomplished everything He was asked to do. He was victorious over all His enemies. In His words, "It is Finished."
The Apostle's hopes and dreams didn't die with Jesus, in fact they were transformed into much more than they could have ever imagined!
Amen!
Saturday, April 4, 2015
When Hopes Are Dead And God Is Silent
Today is Holy Saturday, a day of anticipation for the celebration of Jesus' resurrection. However this morning I am meditating on the first occurrence of this day, the day when it really happened. Jesus died on Friday around 3pm (the ninth hour) and was buried later that day. Here are the verses describing his burial from Matthew 27:57-61 NIV:
[57] "As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. [58] Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. [59] Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, [60] and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. [61] Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb."
Those are the last verses of chapter 27, and verse one of chapter 28 starts with the first hours following the sabbath. We find the same thing in all four Gospels, no real mention of the day after Jesus death (Saturday or the Sabbath). I have spent quite some time thinking about those days and years in Jesus' life where there is no Gospel commentary, and I think it is important for us to at least go there in our thoughts, for these days (and Holy Saturday especially) represent those days when God is silent.
I find the silence of God quite unsettling, and I am sure the Apostles and disciples were greatly troubled that Sabbath. All their ideas, thoughts, hopes and dreams about what the Lord was going to do appeared to have died when Jesus died on the cross. They knew He was the Son of God, or at least the Apostles did, and yet He died. They truly had not grasped what Jesus had been trying to tell them, that He had to suffer and die. We are told over and over again in the Gospels that the disciples did not understand what Jesus meant when He was talking about his coming death. I believe that is a indication of what they were dealing with that Saturday, as remembered by them when they wrote the Gospels. I believe they were experiencing complete and utter despair, complete confusion, grief, fear, failure, and even betrayal. If they gathered for the sabbath, which it appears they did for they were all together the following day, then it was likely a very quiet gathering, each caught up in their own thoughts and sorrow.
I wonder if they went through the motions of celebrating the sabbath? The Sabbath was a day of sacred assembly, considered holy to the Lord. They were not to do any work, cook or even light a fire in their homes. They were to be reminded that the Lord created the world in six days and on the seventh day rested. They were to turn their eyes and hearts to God. Instead, I can just imagine them gathered together and feeling like everything they believed was now in question. Jesus had come proclaiming the arrival of the Kingdom of God, demonstrated the reality of that Kingdom by healing the sick and diseased, raising dead people, cleansing lepers, healing the blind and deaf and casting out demons. They had been convinced by all these signs that He was the Son of God, the Messiah, and their paradigm and thoughts of the time of the Messiah didn't have any room for Him dying and leaving them alone. Yet He was dead.
It is amazing how much changed in just a few short days. They had witnessed Jesus' triumphant arrival in Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, people shouting, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Luke 19:38). Less than a week later, Jesus was dead, and they "were together, with doors locked for fear of the Jews." (John 20:19). They were afraid that the same thing might happen to them as happened to Jesus. One of their own had betrayed Jesus, Peter had denied Jesus, they had almost all abandoned Jesus when He was crucified. It was not a happy or joyful group of people. All of their hopes appeared dead, laying in the tomb. All of the personal sacrifices they had made to follow Him were probably now running through their minds. They were likely thinking that they hadn't signed up for this, and wondering how they could go back!
I think at times we can just gloss over these events and days, because we know Easter is coming, we know that Jesus rose from the dead the very next morning. It is great to read stories when you know the ending, not nearly as much fun to live through the midst of the story without the benefit of knowing how it will turn out. I think if we are honest with ourselves, none of us ever wants to go through these types of times, and we don't like to be around people who are going through them, for they are painful to behold and experience. We don't like pain, and yet we all deal with it. It is so much easier to just ignore the pain in other peoples lives, than to wade in and be there with them in their pain. Personally, we tend to try to escape our pain, either trying to deaden it, run away from it, or stuff it so far down in our hearts that is doesn't show up for months or sometimes years.
The point, in going here in our minds, is that Easter (and by Easter I mean the victory of the Lord over sin and death, and the opening of the way to the Father) really does occur, in our own lives as well as it did that first Easter. No matter where we find ourselves, or what sorrow we are dealing with, Easter will occur. Jesus is alive and will show Himself strong. He has vanquished the enemy and will destroy his works in our lives. It is when God is quiet that all Heaven is about ready to break loose. God will not abandon us, forsake us, betray our trust or leave us. He will come. He will rescue us. He will pour out His Holy Spirit. He will break the chains that bind us. He will walk right into the rooms where we are hiding with the doors locked. He will breath on us. He has a better plan than we can ever imagine. We have likely greatly underestimated His ability to do good in our lives.
So let us be encouraged when God is silent, because He is coming, and He has something great planned. Let us not give into despair, but rather put our hope in the one who has paid the ultimate price for our lives. Let us be with our friends and family who are in pain and sorrow, whose hopes and dreams and lives appear destroyed and dead. Let us console them with this truth - Easter is coming. Let us wait for Easter morning together.
Amen!
[57] "As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. [58] Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. [59] Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, [60] and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. [61] Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb."
Those are the last verses of chapter 27, and verse one of chapter 28 starts with the first hours following the sabbath. We find the same thing in all four Gospels, no real mention of the day after Jesus death (Saturday or the Sabbath). I have spent quite some time thinking about those days and years in Jesus' life where there is no Gospel commentary, and I think it is important for us to at least go there in our thoughts, for these days (and Holy Saturday especially) represent those days when God is silent.
I find the silence of God quite unsettling, and I am sure the Apostles and disciples were greatly troubled that Sabbath. All their ideas, thoughts, hopes and dreams about what the Lord was going to do appeared to have died when Jesus died on the cross. They knew He was the Son of God, or at least the Apostles did, and yet He died. They truly had not grasped what Jesus had been trying to tell them, that He had to suffer and die. We are told over and over again in the Gospels that the disciples did not understand what Jesus meant when He was talking about his coming death. I believe that is a indication of what they were dealing with that Saturday, as remembered by them when they wrote the Gospels. I believe they were experiencing complete and utter despair, complete confusion, grief, fear, failure, and even betrayal. If they gathered for the sabbath, which it appears they did for they were all together the following day, then it was likely a very quiet gathering, each caught up in their own thoughts and sorrow.
I wonder if they went through the motions of celebrating the sabbath? The Sabbath was a day of sacred assembly, considered holy to the Lord. They were not to do any work, cook or even light a fire in their homes. They were to be reminded that the Lord created the world in six days and on the seventh day rested. They were to turn their eyes and hearts to God. Instead, I can just imagine them gathered together and feeling like everything they believed was now in question. Jesus had come proclaiming the arrival of the Kingdom of God, demonstrated the reality of that Kingdom by healing the sick and diseased, raising dead people, cleansing lepers, healing the blind and deaf and casting out demons. They had been convinced by all these signs that He was the Son of God, the Messiah, and their paradigm and thoughts of the time of the Messiah didn't have any room for Him dying and leaving them alone. Yet He was dead.
It is amazing how much changed in just a few short days. They had witnessed Jesus' triumphant arrival in Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, people shouting, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Luke 19:38). Less than a week later, Jesus was dead, and they "were together, with doors locked for fear of the Jews." (John 20:19). They were afraid that the same thing might happen to them as happened to Jesus. One of their own had betrayed Jesus, Peter had denied Jesus, they had almost all abandoned Jesus when He was crucified. It was not a happy or joyful group of people. All of their hopes appeared dead, laying in the tomb. All of the personal sacrifices they had made to follow Him were probably now running through their minds. They were likely thinking that they hadn't signed up for this, and wondering how they could go back!
I think at times we can just gloss over these events and days, because we know Easter is coming, we know that Jesus rose from the dead the very next morning. It is great to read stories when you know the ending, not nearly as much fun to live through the midst of the story without the benefit of knowing how it will turn out. I think if we are honest with ourselves, none of us ever wants to go through these types of times, and we don't like to be around people who are going through them, for they are painful to behold and experience. We don't like pain, and yet we all deal with it. It is so much easier to just ignore the pain in other peoples lives, than to wade in and be there with them in their pain. Personally, we tend to try to escape our pain, either trying to deaden it, run away from it, or stuff it so far down in our hearts that is doesn't show up for months or sometimes years.
The point, in going here in our minds, is that Easter (and by Easter I mean the victory of the Lord over sin and death, and the opening of the way to the Father) really does occur, in our own lives as well as it did that first Easter. No matter where we find ourselves, or what sorrow we are dealing with, Easter will occur. Jesus is alive and will show Himself strong. He has vanquished the enemy and will destroy his works in our lives. It is when God is quiet that all Heaven is about ready to break loose. God will not abandon us, forsake us, betray our trust or leave us. He will come. He will rescue us. He will pour out His Holy Spirit. He will break the chains that bind us. He will walk right into the rooms where we are hiding with the doors locked. He will breath on us. He has a better plan than we can ever imagine. We have likely greatly underestimated His ability to do good in our lives.
So let us be encouraged when God is silent, because He is coming, and He has something great planned. Let us not give into despair, but rather put our hope in the one who has paid the ultimate price for our lives. Let us be with our friends and family who are in pain and sorrow, whose hopes and dreams and lives appear destroyed and dead. Let us console them with this truth - Easter is coming. Let us wait for Easter morning together.
Amen!
Friday, April 3, 2015
It Is Finished
For today, two scriptures to meditate upon -
John 19:28-30 NIV:
[28] "Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” [29] A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. [30] When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."
1 Peter 2:21-24 NIV
[21] "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. [22] “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” [23] When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. [24] “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Jesus suffered and died for us all. He endured it all for each of us, bearing our sins. When He uttered the words, "It is finished" He knew that He had completed all that He had been given to do here on earth.
Thank You Lord!
John 19:28-30 NIV:
[28] "Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” [29] A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. [30] When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."
1 Peter 2:21-24 NIV
[21] "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. [22] “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” [23] When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. [24] “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Jesus suffered and died for us all. He endured it all for each of us, bearing our sins. When He uttered the words, "It is finished" He knew that He had completed all that He had been given to do here on earth.
Thank You Lord!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)