This morning I was reminded of a couple of quotes from A.W. Tozer's book - "The Knowledge of the Holy":
"To believe actively that our Heavenly Father constantly spreads around us providential circumstances that work for our present good and our everlasting well-being brings to the soul a veritable benediction. Most of us go through life praying a little, planning a little, jockeying for position, hoping but never being quite certain of anything, and always secretly afraid that we will miss the way."
"This is a tragic waste of truth and never gives rest to the heart. There is a better way. It is to repudiate our own wisdom and take instead the infinite wisdom of God. Our insistence upon seeing ahead is natural enough, but it is a real hindrance to our spiritual progress. God has charged himself with full responsibility for our eternal happiness and stands ready to take over the management of our lives the moment we turn in faith to Him."
- and -
"With the goodness of God to desire our highest welfare, the wisdom of God to plan it, and the power of God to achieve it, what do we lack? Surely we are the most favored of all creatures."
These thoughts from A.W. Tozer are such solid truth. I find that the gap between what I think I believe and how I actually believe, as evidenced by my thoughts and actions, are often quite different. I worry about so many things, wonder about whether I am following His direction, etc. I am often concerned that somehow I might mess up God's plan for my life by acts of stupidness, or just plain not paying attention.
These thoughts show that I have not really believed all that I know to be true. The good news is that God is not worried about my unbelief, my inattention, my stupidness, or any other thing or character ascribed to my human nature. He completely understands me, knows my every thought and every action and still loves me a much as He always has. He has everlasting mercy, compassion and forgiveness.
When God says He loves me, He says that from His vantage point in eternity, outside of time. He says that when He already knows everything I will ever think, do and not do. His love for me is eternal and infinite. If I think by doing something stupid I can cause Him to love me less, then I have not grasped these essential truths about Him. Again, He doesn't judge me for my lack of understanding, He has seen that too, and that is included in His love.
There are some that take this perspective and decide they can do whatever they want, like this perspective of God's eternal grace becomes a free ticket to do anything. I, on the other hand, take the approach of gratefulness. I am so thankful that God loves me in spite of my faults, failings and occasional idiocy. He knows me, understands me, has a plan for me, and He invites me to be a part of His family, intending to bring me into His eternal happiness and glory. He is all powerful, all knowing, infinitely good and loving. I can rest in Him, rest in His care and realize that He is after my heart and my affection, and freely give those to Him. How can I not love someone who knows me so completely and still chooses to love me, care for me, direct me and guide me.
Lord, help me to fully embrace my belief in You and live my live that way. Help me to surrender myself to Your mercy, grace, compassion and forgiveness. Help me to put all my faith in You. Help me to really live what I say I believe!
Friday, April 29, 2016
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Religious Judgement vs. Mercy and Love
This morning I am thinking about the story of the man born blind, found in John's Gospel, chapter 9. What interested me today was the charge that Jesus did not keep the Sabbath, and could not be from God (John 9:16). Here is the story of the healing - John 9:1-11 NIV:
[1] "As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. [2] His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
[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.”
[6] After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. [7] “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
[8] His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?”
[9] Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
[10] “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
[11] He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
The issue the Pharisees had with the healing is that Jesus made mud. The commandment concerning keeping the Sabbath is found in Exodus 20:8-11 NIV:
[8] “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. [9] Six days you shall labor and do all your work, [10] but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. [11] For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."
The parallel between "any work" and God's creative work, after which He rested on the seventh day, was the basis for the Sabbath guidelines that had been created and expanded in the Talmud. The Jewish teachers had expanded this commandment into 39 categories of what exactly was work and not allowed on the Sabbath. Basically any creative effort, where one was affecting one's environment was considered work. Thus, spitting on the ground to create mud from dirt, was considered work.
To the normal person this seems ludicrous, but to the strict observing Jew, this was huge. The commandment was appended later in Exodus 31:15, stating that anyone who broke the Sabbath should be put to death. I don't believe they enforced the punishment anymore during Jesus' time, but the "breaking" of one of the commandments surely disqualified Jesus as a serious Jew, and clearly as Messiah.
I am so grateful that Jesus didn't come as a super-Pharisee, one who was hyper-focused on righteousness by the law. He didn't come and add to the laws, but rather fulfilled the law's requirements and set us free from them. He was constantly calling to people's minds the differences between religion and relationship. He wanted people to understand that the Father was not some rule-enforcing authoritarian, but rather a God of love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness. In His interaction with the blind man, He clearly states that what He was about to do was for the Glory of His Father, and that God's works might be displayed in him (the blind man). If God's works included creation, then that is what Jesus did, effectively creating new eyes for the man out of the dirt mixed with His spit. Jesus was demonstrating that love of God and honoring Him (operating in relationship with Him) was more important than following the letter of the law.
This is such an important perspective for us to gain, for it is supposed to be the way we view our life and guide our interaction with "sinners". Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan to further emphasize this concept (Luke 10:30-37). Each of the people who did not help the man laying helpless on the road had legitimate "lawful" excuses for not helping. They did not want to become unclean, and thus not able to perform their duties. They put the law before loving another and Jesus clearly told us to do the neighborly thing, loving and caring for the man. He encourages us to love God and to love one another (Matt 22:37-40).
So the question this morning is whether or not we use religious observance to judge ourselves and others. Jesus used a much simpler guideline, that of love and honor. If we are using the rules to judge others, rather than loving them, we might be missing the whole example of Jesus. He extended love and mercy, relationship and redemption to those sinners he encountered. Let us endeavor to do the same.
[1] "As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. [2] His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
[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.”
[6] After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. [7] “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
[8] His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?”
[9] Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
[10] “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
[11] He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
The issue the Pharisees had with the healing is that Jesus made mud. The commandment concerning keeping the Sabbath is found in Exodus 20:8-11 NIV:
[8] “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. [9] Six days you shall labor and do all your work, [10] but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. [11] For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."
The parallel between "any work" and God's creative work, after which He rested on the seventh day, was the basis for the Sabbath guidelines that had been created and expanded in the Talmud. The Jewish teachers had expanded this commandment into 39 categories of what exactly was work and not allowed on the Sabbath. Basically any creative effort, where one was affecting one's environment was considered work. Thus, spitting on the ground to create mud from dirt, was considered work.
To the normal person this seems ludicrous, but to the strict observing Jew, this was huge. The commandment was appended later in Exodus 31:15, stating that anyone who broke the Sabbath should be put to death. I don't believe they enforced the punishment anymore during Jesus' time, but the "breaking" of one of the commandments surely disqualified Jesus as a serious Jew, and clearly as Messiah.
I am so grateful that Jesus didn't come as a super-Pharisee, one who was hyper-focused on righteousness by the law. He didn't come and add to the laws, but rather fulfilled the law's requirements and set us free from them. He was constantly calling to people's minds the differences between religion and relationship. He wanted people to understand that the Father was not some rule-enforcing authoritarian, but rather a God of love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness. In His interaction with the blind man, He clearly states that what He was about to do was for the Glory of His Father, and that God's works might be displayed in him (the blind man). If God's works included creation, then that is what Jesus did, effectively creating new eyes for the man out of the dirt mixed with His spit. Jesus was demonstrating that love of God and honoring Him (operating in relationship with Him) was more important than following the letter of the law.
This is such an important perspective for us to gain, for it is supposed to be the way we view our life and guide our interaction with "sinners". Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan to further emphasize this concept (Luke 10:30-37). Each of the people who did not help the man laying helpless on the road had legitimate "lawful" excuses for not helping. They did not want to become unclean, and thus not able to perform their duties. They put the law before loving another and Jesus clearly told us to do the neighborly thing, loving and caring for the man. He encourages us to love God and to love one another (Matt 22:37-40).
So the question this morning is whether or not we use religious observance to judge ourselves and others. Jesus used a much simpler guideline, that of love and honor. If we are using the rules to judge others, rather than loving them, we might be missing the whole example of Jesus. He extended love and mercy, relationship and redemption to those sinners he encountered. Let us endeavor to do the same.
Sunday, April 24, 2016
A Time of Promise Fulfillment
This morning I opened my Bible to the book of Daniel and started reading from Daniel 9:1-3 NIV:
[1] "In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom--- [2] in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. [3] So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes."
I have always loved this story, for Daniel recognized the promise of the Lord and went after the fulfillment of that promise, knowing that God's promises were true. The verses he was reading in Jeremiah were as follows - Jeremiah 29:10-13 NIV:
[10] "This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. [11] For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. [12] Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. [13] You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
It seemed to me that as I read these verses, that I felt they were meant to encourage me today, that God's word and His promises are true. I felt encouraged to go back to those words and promises that He has spoken into my life and into my heart, and to lay hold of them and press into Him, to remind Him of those things. It is not that He needs reminding, but rather that there are times when He wants us to join Him in bringing about change. In joining myself to the effort, I become more aware of Him, what He is doing and speaking, and able to recognize things I might otherwise have missed.
I also thought like in Daniel's case, that this season of promise fulfillment was for us all. I just wanted to encourage anyone who has been waiting on the promise of the Lord, to press in, to pray, to remind Him and to listen. He is such a good God, He wants us to understand the times and seasons we are in, that we might be able to hear Him and apply ourselves correctly.
One of my favorite author's Graham Cooke writes about the importance of understanding seasons in the Lord. Here is a link to an excerpt of one of His books - really good stuff: http://www.lutheranrenewal.org/newsletters/0309.pdf
Lord, I pray that You would help me to press into You to know what You are saying and doing in my life. I look forward to the fulfillment of Your promises!
[1] "In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom--- [2] in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. [3] So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes."
I have always loved this story, for Daniel recognized the promise of the Lord and went after the fulfillment of that promise, knowing that God's promises were true. The verses he was reading in Jeremiah were as follows - Jeremiah 29:10-13 NIV:
[10] "This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. [11] For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. [12] Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. [13] You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
It seemed to me that as I read these verses, that I felt they were meant to encourage me today, that God's word and His promises are true. I felt encouraged to go back to those words and promises that He has spoken into my life and into my heart, and to lay hold of them and press into Him, to remind Him of those things. It is not that He needs reminding, but rather that there are times when He wants us to join Him in bringing about change. In joining myself to the effort, I become more aware of Him, what He is doing and speaking, and able to recognize things I might otherwise have missed.
I also thought like in Daniel's case, that this season of promise fulfillment was for us all. I just wanted to encourage anyone who has been waiting on the promise of the Lord, to press in, to pray, to remind Him and to listen. He is such a good God, He wants us to understand the times and seasons we are in, that we might be able to hear Him and apply ourselves correctly.
One of my favorite author's Graham Cooke writes about the importance of understanding seasons in the Lord. Here is a link to an excerpt of one of His books - really good stuff: http://www.lutheranrenewal.org/newsletters/0309.pdf
Lord, I pray that You would help me to press into You to know what You are saying and doing in my life. I look forward to the fulfillment of Your promises!
Friday, April 22, 2016
I AM the Pearl
This morning as I was thinking about what to read, the title from a message one of my good friends Doug Day preached popped into my mind, "I am the pearl". When I first saw that title I immediately started thinking about the story of the rich merchant searching for pearls. I also thought that I need to spend some time digging into that theme. Here are the verses found in Matthew 13:45-46 NIV:
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. [46] When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."
In these verses, and those preceding and following them, Jesus is describing what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. He is describing a kingdom unlike any earthly kingdom and the focus is always on the members of the kingdom. He uses seed, grain, treasure, pearls, mustards seeds, yeast and fish to describe the Kingdom of Heaven. Clearly the Kingdom of Heaven is different from earthly kingdom and bears some reflection.
In the parables of the seed and the sower (Matt 13: 3-9), the parable of the weeds (Matt 13: 24-30) and the parable of the net (Matt 13:47-51) it is clear that we, the followers of God, are those things (seed, grain and fish) and as such highly valued. The grain, seed and fish are the things that provide value back to farmer and fisherman. The imagery of our value to God is pretty clear in these verses.
The parables of the mustard seed (Matt 13:31-32) and yeast (Matt 13:33) are more clearly about the effect and future of the Kingdom. While almost unseen, the mustard seed becomes huge, the yeast infiltrates all of the dough. In both cases a small beginning becomes huge and affects all around. This is what the Kingdom of Heaven is like on the earth, small beginning and yet hugely effective, not a massive take over, but rather a natural growing effectiveness. Again this is unlike any other earthly kingdom and Jesus is making sure that His listeners understand this fact.
Finally in the parable of the great treasure (Matt 13:44) and the pearl (Matt 13:45) we have a slightly different focus. In both, the one looking is someone of great wealth who finds something of great value. Most of the time when I have thought about this, my assumption has been that this parable is about the value of the Kingdom of Heaven to us, and that we should be willing to "sell everything" to acquire it. However, when I look at it today in light of these other verses and where we fit into those parables, I do believe there is reason to believe that WE are the great treasure or the pearl of great price!
Jesus came and clearly "sold everything" to purchase us with His very blood (Rev. 5:9). He humbled Himself and emptied Himself willingly of His divinity and took on the body of a man, from birth to death at our hands, and paid the greatest price ever paid. His precious blood was shed for us, that we might be set free from sin and death, and be united with Him.
In the story of the pearl, it is important to note that this is not some average pearl, something that is barely valuable, thrown in with hundreds of other pearls. This is a single pearl of great value. I believe that the Lord wants us each to understand that is exactly how He sees us, and how valuable we are to Him. He teaches in another place about how valuable the one lost sheep is that He would leave the ninety-nine other sheep to find the one, and when found celebrate (Luke 15:4-6)! We are each of us of significant value to Him. We have been in His heart since before the founding of the world (Eph 1:4-5), and He has chosen us (Eph 1:11) and predestined us to join Him. We are not some sort of accidental salvation, someone who got into the Kingdom by chance, but rather are the result of His will and purpose, His selection and choice, highly esteemed and valued in His eyes.
Here are two verses that popped into my mind:
Isaiah 43:4 NIV: "Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you,..."
Romans 8:31-32 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?"
If God puts our value so high, who are we to argue? He has deemed us valuable to Him, so valuable that He sent Jesus to pay for us with His blood and life. He has chosen us and assigned our value as beyond comprehension! It says in Hebrews 12:2 that Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him, and I believe that He was looking at all the treasure, the perfect pearls that are you and me, and His heart overflowed with joy for that which He was purchasing.
Thank You Lord, that I am of great value to You! Lord, I don't really know how to comprehend this truth, but I pray that You will help me to see and understand valuation in Your Kingdom. You assign great value and significance to each and every one of Your sons and daughters. You have given Your very life, given everything that You might make a way for me. Wow! I AM the pearl!
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. [46] When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."
In these verses, and those preceding and following them, Jesus is describing what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. He is describing a kingdom unlike any earthly kingdom and the focus is always on the members of the kingdom. He uses seed, grain, treasure, pearls, mustards seeds, yeast and fish to describe the Kingdom of Heaven. Clearly the Kingdom of Heaven is different from earthly kingdom and bears some reflection.
In the parables of the seed and the sower (Matt 13: 3-9), the parable of the weeds (Matt 13: 24-30) and the parable of the net (Matt 13:47-51) it is clear that we, the followers of God, are those things (seed, grain and fish) and as such highly valued. The grain, seed and fish are the things that provide value back to farmer and fisherman. The imagery of our value to God is pretty clear in these verses.
The parables of the mustard seed (Matt 13:31-32) and yeast (Matt 13:33) are more clearly about the effect and future of the Kingdom. While almost unseen, the mustard seed becomes huge, the yeast infiltrates all of the dough. In both cases a small beginning becomes huge and affects all around. This is what the Kingdom of Heaven is like on the earth, small beginning and yet hugely effective, not a massive take over, but rather a natural growing effectiveness. Again this is unlike any other earthly kingdom and Jesus is making sure that His listeners understand this fact.
Finally in the parable of the great treasure (Matt 13:44) and the pearl (Matt 13:45) we have a slightly different focus. In both, the one looking is someone of great wealth who finds something of great value. Most of the time when I have thought about this, my assumption has been that this parable is about the value of the Kingdom of Heaven to us, and that we should be willing to "sell everything" to acquire it. However, when I look at it today in light of these other verses and where we fit into those parables, I do believe there is reason to believe that WE are the great treasure or the pearl of great price!
Jesus came and clearly "sold everything" to purchase us with His very blood (Rev. 5:9). He humbled Himself and emptied Himself willingly of His divinity and took on the body of a man, from birth to death at our hands, and paid the greatest price ever paid. His precious blood was shed for us, that we might be set free from sin and death, and be united with Him.
In the story of the pearl, it is important to note that this is not some average pearl, something that is barely valuable, thrown in with hundreds of other pearls. This is a single pearl of great value. I believe that the Lord wants us each to understand that is exactly how He sees us, and how valuable we are to Him. He teaches in another place about how valuable the one lost sheep is that He would leave the ninety-nine other sheep to find the one, and when found celebrate (Luke 15:4-6)! We are each of us of significant value to Him. We have been in His heart since before the founding of the world (Eph 1:4-5), and He has chosen us (Eph 1:11) and predestined us to join Him. We are not some sort of accidental salvation, someone who got into the Kingdom by chance, but rather are the result of His will and purpose, His selection and choice, highly esteemed and valued in His eyes.
Here are two verses that popped into my mind:
Isaiah 43:4 NIV: "Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you,..."
Romans 8:31-32 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?"
If God puts our value so high, who are we to argue? He has deemed us valuable to Him, so valuable that He sent Jesus to pay for us with His blood and life. He has chosen us and assigned our value as beyond comprehension! It says in Hebrews 12:2 that Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him, and I believe that He was looking at all the treasure, the perfect pearls that are you and me, and His heart overflowed with joy for that which He was purchasing.
Thank You Lord, that I am of great value to You! Lord, I don't really know how to comprehend this truth, but I pray that You will help me to see and understand valuation in Your Kingdom. You assign great value and significance to each and every one of Your sons and daughters. You have given Your very life, given everything that You might make a way for me. Wow! I AM the pearl!
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Experiencing God's Affection
So this morning, as most mornings, when I sat down to pray my animals all had to stop by for their dose of my affection. As Dakota (our dog) came back for her fourth or fifth dose of petting I was reminded of Bill Johnson talking about how his sense of the presence of the Lord comes quickly when he endeavors to be the object of God's affection. That it is in the place of intimate relationship that God quickly reveals His love and affection and blesses Bill with a sense of His presence (My words not his).
When my dog sits at my feet and leans back into my leg, my natural reaction is to pet her, to give her that affection she desires. The same with my cats, if they come near, I will pet them and love on them. I was thinking that God is much better than me at all of this, and that I can be assured of His love and affection for me, and that if I just rest I will experience His affection (rather than running all around trying to find affection and acceptance in whatever is around me.) He loves me and desires that I know that deep in my heart and experientially.
I was reminded of a couple of verses.
Isaiah 55:1-3, 6-7 NIV:
[1] “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. [2] Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. [3] Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David."
[6] "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. [7] Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon."
-and-
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."
Lord, I thank You for Your affection and love! I thank You that You are quick to respond to my desire for You.
When my dog sits at my feet and leans back into my leg, my natural reaction is to pet her, to give her that affection she desires. The same with my cats, if they come near, I will pet them and love on them. I was thinking that God is much better than me at all of this, and that I can be assured of His love and affection for me, and that if I just rest I will experience His affection (rather than running all around trying to find affection and acceptance in whatever is around me.) He loves me and desires that I know that deep in my heart and experientially.
I was reminded of a couple of verses.
Isaiah 55:1-3, 6-7 NIV:
[1] “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. [2] Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. [3] Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David."
[6] "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. [7] Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon."
-and-
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."
Lord, I thank You for Your affection and love! I thank You that You are quick to respond to my desire for You.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
His Prayer for Me
This morning I am reading from John's Gospel. These verses are from Jesus' prayer for us, as His followers. Although these are all in a paragraph, I am going to present them each singly - for they are significant and are worthy of our stopping and thinking.
John 17:13-19 NIV:
[13] “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.
[14] I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.
[15] My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
[16] They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
[17] Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
[18] As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
[19] For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
I don't know how you are, but when I read them in a paragraph, I just keep on reading, rather than stopping and allowing myself to comprehend the fullness of what is being said. I guess that is the result of all the reading I have done, but it does not serve me well when trying to digest such critical truths as found in these verses. I find that reading them in this format actually helps me stop and think after each sentence.
Paraphrasing what I hear from the Lord:
1) He wants us to have His joy, and part of that is only possible if we understand His words, and His heart. Our reading of scriptures and meditating on them is the best way to hear what He is saying and to understand His heart.
2) I am no longer of this world. As His follower, I have been changed and given an eternal destiny that trumps this present life and existence. I need to understand and act as if this were true, not in a strange disconnected way, but rather with an awareness that this reality is not the final reality. He wants me to understand and live in this new reality.
3) I need the Father's protection from the evil one, and He does protect me.
4) His word sanctifies me, it sets me apart. His word, and my believing and living by His word will separate me from the world.
5) His word is truth, and I can rely on His truth, regardless of how things seem here, for His word is based on and out of the greater reality of eternity.
6) I have been sent into the world, and if I have been sent, then it is with a purpose. I am like His word that has been sent out and will achieve its purpose (Is 55:11).
7) In following Jesus, I am being sanctified, separated from the world. I must expect that others will notice and I will not always be welcomed as His follower. As He said a bit earlier, the world will hate me, even as it hated Him (verse 14). I must choose whether I will follow Him or give into fear of the world's hatred.
8) The Lord established a path for me with His life. He did this that I might have an example of a life lived properly for the Father, in union with the Father, empowered by the Holy Spirit, that I might know it is possible.
Thank You Lord, for praying for me, for laying out a path of life that i might follow. I thank You that You have sent me with a purpose, and provide truth and protection to me. I am certainly only worthy of this calling because You have made me worthy by Your grace and mercy.
John 17:13-19 NIV:
[13] “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.
[14] I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.
[15] My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
[16] They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
[17] Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
[18] As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
[19] For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
I don't know how you are, but when I read them in a paragraph, I just keep on reading, rather than stopping and allowing myself to comprehend the fullness of what is being said. I guess that is the result of all the reading I have done, but it does not serve me well when trying to digest such critical truths as found in these verses. I find that reading them in this format actually helps me stop and think after each sentence.
Paraphrasing what I hear from the Lord:
1) He wants us to have His joy, and part of that is only possible if we understand His words, and His heart. Our reading of scriptures and meditating on them is the best way to hear what He is saying and to understand His heart.
2) I am no longer of this world. As His follower, I have been changed and given an eternal destiny that trumps this present life and existence. I need to understand and act as if this were true, not in a strange disconnected way, but rather with an awareness that this reality is not the final reality. He wants me to understand and live in this new reality.
3) I need the Father's protection from the evil one, and He does protect me.
4) His word sanctifies me, it sets me apart. His word, and my believing and living by His word will separate me from the world.
5) His word is truth, and I can rely on His truth, regardless of how things seem here, for His word is based on and out of the greater reality of eternity.
6) I have been sent into the world, and if I have been sent, then it is with a purpose. I am like His word that has been sent out and will achieve its purpose (Is 55:11).
7) In following Jesus, I am being sanctified, separated from the world. I must expect that others will notice and I will not always be welcomed as His follower. As He said a bit earlier, the world will hate me, even as it hated Him (verse 14). I must choose whether I will follow Him or give into fear of the world's hatred.
8) The Lord established a path for me with His life. He did this that I might have an example of a life lived properly for the Father, in union with the Father, empowered by the Holy Spirit, that I might know it is possible.
Thank You Lord, for praying for me, for laying out a path of life that i might follow. I thank You that You have sent me with a purpose, and provide truth and protection to me. I am certainly only worthy of this calling because You have made me worthy by Your grace and mercy.
Monday, April 11, 2016
Our Default Mindset
This morning I was reading Paul's letter to the Roman's and was thinking about my default response to things that occur in my life. Paul writes an interesting bit about being in the flesh or the spirit in his epic letter to the church in Rome. Here are a few of the verses - Romans 8:5-11 NIV:
[5] "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. [6] The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. [7] The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. [8] Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God."
[9] "You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. [10] But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. [11] And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you."
Paul describes here a default mindset, as in what governs us, how we respond to new situations, new challenges. Looking at verse 6, the mind governed by the Holy Spirit is "life and peace". In other words, if our base mindset is in line with the Holy Spirit our response produces life and peace inside of us, which allows this to flow out of us to those around us. This is like the default settings in software programs, or our smart phones. I set my default screen background so that when I open my phone, I am reminded of a trip I took to Scotland with my family. This is what pops up first whenever I open my phone's screen. In the same way, God wants our default mindset to be in line with the Holy Spirit so that our initial response to changes or difficulties exudes peace and life.
Paul is saying that we can have a default mindset, a mind governed by the Holy Spirit. Paul goes on to explain that if we have experienced salvation, if we belong to Christ, if we are hidden in Christ Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit within us, and this should be our default mindset. If we have experienced salvation, then we DO belong to Christ, we ARE hidden in Christ, and His Spirit DOES live within us, for those are all the result of God's work in us and are not dependent on our own actions. That is really good news!
Now, I don't always live like these things are true and that is my encouragement today, to allow my default mindset to be changed to be aligned with the Holy Spirit. I know that this must be possible to have my mindset adjusted, to have my default response to be inline with the Holy Spirit, for Paul describes it here. So the question is how?
I was reminded of a verse from Isaiah 1:18 NIV:
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
I believe that this describes the staining effect of sin (choosing something other than God's will) in our lives. God says that He will make us white as snow, and we know that He did this for us through His death and Resurrection. But more than paying for our sins, He describes here an actual stainless condition, where it is no longer evident there was a stain at all. That is amazingly good news... our sin does not permanently affect us. We can become white as snow, unstained and unmarred.
I think part of my problem is that I don't fully believe at my deepest core, that I am loved, saved and truly God's son (all because of what He has done). I think that is too good, that I don't deserve that kind of treatment. I am choosing to view myself as stained, but the truth is that when God looks at me, He sees me as unstained, much loved, His son on whom He enjoys having favor. He thinks I am brilliant. I need to reject the mindset that says I am anything less that what God says. God calls this repentance, literally changing the way I think.
Lord, I recognize that I don't think correctly, that my default mindset is often not inline with You. I ask You to help me to change my mind, to set my mind on Your Holy Spirit, that I might experience life and peace.
[5] "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. [6] The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. [7] The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. [8] Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God."
[9] "You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. [10] But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. [11] And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you."
Paul describes here a default mindset, as in what governs us, how we respond to new situations, new challenges. Looking at verse 6, the mind governed by the Holy Spirit is "life and peace". In other words, if our base mindset is in line with the Holy Spirit our response produces life and peace inside of us, which allows this to flow out of us to those around us. This is like the default settings in software programs, or our smart phones. I set my default screen background so that when I open my phone, I am reminded of a trip I took to Scotland with my family. This is what pops up first whenever I open my phone's screen. In the same way, God wants our default mindset to be in line with the Holy Spirit so that our initial response to changes or difficulties exudes peace and life.
Paul is saying that we can have a default mindset, a mind governed by the Holy Spirit. Paul goes on to explain that if we have experienced salvation, if we belong to Christ, if we are hidden in Christ Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit within us, and this should be our default mindset. If we have experienced salvation, then we DO belong to Christ, we ARE hidden in Christ, and His Spirit DOES live within us, for those are all the result of God's work in us and are not dependent on our own actions. That is really good news!
Now, I don't always live like these things are true and that is my encouragement today, to allow my default mindset to be changed to be aligned with the Holy Spirit. I know that this must be possible to have my mindset adjusted, to have my default response to be inline with the Holy Spirit, for Paul describes it here. So the question is how?
I was reminded of a verse from Isaiah 1:18 NIV:
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
I believe that this describes the staining effect of sin (choosing something other than God's will) in our lives. God says that He will make us white as snow, and we know that He did this for us through His death and Resurrection. But more than paying for our sins, He describes here an actual stainless condition, where it is no longer evident there was a stain at all. That is amazingly good news... our sin does not permanently affect us. We can become white as snow, unstained and unmarred.
I think part of my problem is that I don't fully believe at my deepest core, that I am loved, saved and truly God's son (all because of what He has done). I think that is too good, that I don't deserve that kind of treatment. I am choosing to view myself as stained, but the truth is that when God looks at me, He sees me as unstained, much loved, His son on whom He enjoys having favor. He thinks I am brilliant. I need to reject the mindset that says I am anything less that what God says. God calls this repentance, literally changing the way I think.
Lord, I recognize that I don't think correctly, that my default mindset is often not inline with You. I ask You to help me to change my mind, to set my mind on Your Holy Spirit, that I might experience life and peace.
Friday, April 8, 2016
The Rewards of Following Jesus
This morning I am pondering an interesting exchange between Jesus and His apostles. This exchange is captured, with slight variations in all three of the synoptic Gospels, Mark 10:17-30, Luke 18:18-30, and Matt 19:16-29. The actual verses I am pondering are when Jesus replies to Peter (as described in Matthew) about what they will receive, those who have given up everything. Here is Matthew's version of Jesus' reply - Matthew 19:27-30 NIV:
[27] "Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
[28] "Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. [29] And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. [30] But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."
Mark and Luke add a qualifying statement to verse 29, that this will happen "in this present age" and in the age to come.
Anyway, I believe that this verse has been used many times throughout the history of the Church to justify all sorts of things, but especially financial abuses. It is interesting that Jesus adds these comments immediately after He tells a rich man that he needs to sell everything and give to the poor, then follow Him. These verses are a great example of how we can take things out of context and focus solely on them, forgetting quickly that which Jesus just said.
I guess it isn't that surprising as many of us, myself included, have a hard time remembering what the Lord said to us yesterday.
Anyway, my reflection on today's verses does not provide answers, but more a comment on context. Jesus is speaking to his Apostles directly, and to us generally. He had just finished speaking to the young rich man, telling him that His riches and possessions were what stood between him and real relationship with the Lord, and eternal life. The young man's response illustrates Jesus' point exactly, for when given the choice between riches and possessions or following Jesus, he walked away from Jesus. The Lord was addressing the nature of our hearts, the strength of the pull of possessions, and the ability of this focus to pull us away from that which is infinitely better - relationship with Him and eternal life.
In this context, Peter proclaims that they have left everything - essentially demonstrating that they didn't have the same problem (remember Matthew AKA Levi was a tax-collector and likely wealthy). Jesus looks right at them all and responds as copied above, they will receive authority in the new age, relationships and blessings in this present age and the age to come, and eternal life. I imagine they all were looking around at each other and high-fiving after Jesus answered in such a way. It is important to note that they are all still thinking the Kingdom of God was going to be an earthly kingdom, and thus Jesus' answer seemed to confirm their beliefs!
What I was thinking about this morning, was what they actually DID receive in that present Age. In Mark's version he adds one more thing they will receive "persecutions" (Mark 10:30). History tells us that most of them would be martyred for their faith, and certainly they all endured the persecutions of the early church that occurred after the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:54 - 8:3). James was killed by Herod quite early (Acts 12: 1-2) and the rest were scattered all over. What we don't see much of is the rest of their actual lives, and what material wealth they inherited or enjoyed. I believe the reason this is the case is that they all came to understand that the Lord's prophecy to them wasn't about individual possessions and wealth, or a specifically earthy kingdom like David experienced. In fact it was after day of Pentecost that the church grew rapidly and people were selling possessions and giving to the church so that they could care for all in need (Acts 2:45) and they were feeding and providing for hundreds or more, providing daily bread distribution (Acts 6:1-4).
Thinking about that early church life, there must have been a sense of community and oneness, sort of like a giant family gathering were everyone was related and loving each other, looking out for each other and experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit present in their gatherings. I am sure, thinking specifically about the Apostles, that they were now welcomed in most any home, in any family, in any gathering of believers, and they were experiencing the riches in "this present age". It wasn't about them, it was about the Body of Christ, and they came to understand that after the day of Pentecost. Later on they were given peoples and churches to care for and teach. Again, the scriptures do not tell us much about their personal lives, but we know from Church history that all of them were active and given to serving the church in many places, with thousands of people responding to the Gospel. The Apostles were held in special honor for they were Jesus' selected one's, and were considered to be the eldest brothers in the family of the church, the Body of Christ. In summary, they had left everything, but received hundreds of times as much in return, just as Jesus had promised, it just wasn't in the form of individual riches and possessions. They were wealthy in ways that were clearly far beyond their imagining, for their inheritance included the gentiles (Acts 10 & 11 and beyond).
So, bringing this back into context of our lives, our choosing to follow Jesus should not be about individual wealth acquisition, or financial blessing, or reward. Our following of Jesus should be about doing that which He commanded, loving each other as He loved us, being a part of the Body of Christ. The Kingdom and its expansion individually is our charge and commission, and in the midst of that we will be blessed beyond comprehension, both in this present age and in the age to come!
Amen!
[27] "Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
[28] "Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. [29] And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. [30] But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."
Mark and Luke add a qualifying statement to verse 29, that this will happen "in this present age" and in the age to come.
Anyway, I believe that this verse has been used many times throughout the history of the Church to justify all sorts of things, but especially financial abuses. It is interesting that Jesus adds these comments immediately after He tells a rich man that he needs to sell everything and give to the poor, then follow Him. These verses are a great example of how we can take things out of context and focus solely on them, forgetting quickly that which Jesus just said.
I guess it isn't that surprising as many of us, myself included, have a hard time remembering what the Lord said to us yesterday.
Anyway, my reflection on today's verses does not provide answers, but more a comment on context. Jesus is speaking to his Apostles directly, and to us generally. He had just finished speaking to the young rich man, telling him that His riches and possessions were what stood between him and real relationship with the Lord, and eternal life. The young man's response illustrates Jesus' point exactly, for when given the choice between riches and possessions or following Jesus, he walked away from Jesus. The Lord was addressing the nature of our hearts, the strength of the pull of possessions, and the ability of this focus to pull us away from that which is infinitely better - relationship with Him and eternal life.
In this context, Peter proclaims that they have left everything - essentially demonstrating that they didn't have the same problem (remember Matthew AKA Levi was a tax-collector and likely wealthy). Jesus looks right at them all and responds as copied above, they will receive authority in the new age, relationships and blessings in this present age and the age to come, and eternal life. I imagine they all were looking around at each other and high-fiving after Jesus answered in such a way. It is important to note that they are all still thinking the Kingdom of God was going to be an earthly kingdom, and thus Jesus' answer seemed to confirm their beliefs!
What I was thinking about this morning, was what they actually DID receive in that present Age. In Mark's version he adds one more thing they will receive "persecutions" (Mark 10:30). History tells us that most of them would be martyred for their faith, and certainly they all endured the persecutions of the early church that occurred after the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:54 - 8:3). James was killed by Herod quite early (Acts 12: 1-2) and the rest were scattered all over. What we don't see much of is the rest of their actual lives, and what material wealth they inherited or enjoyed. I believe the reason this is the case is that they all came to understand that the Lord's prophecy to them wasn't about individual possessions and wealth, or a specifically earthy kingdom like David experienced. In fact it was after day of Pentecost that the church grew rapidly and people were selling possessions and giving to the church so that they could care for all in need (Acts 2:45) and they were feeding and providing for hundreds or more, providing daily bread distribution (Acts 6:1-4).
Thinking about that early church life, there must have been a sense of community and oneness, sort of like a giant family gathering were everyone was related and loving each other, looking out for each other and experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit present in their gatherings. I am sure, thinking specifically about the Apostles, that they were now welcomed in most any home, in any family, in any gathering of believers, and they were experiencing the riches in "this present age". It wasn't about them, it was about the Body of Christ, and they came to understand that after the day of Pentecost. Later on they were given peoples and churches to care for and teach. Again, the scriptures do not tell us much about their personal lives, but we know from Church history that all of them were active and given to serving the church in many places, with thousands of people responding to the Gospel. The Apostles were held in special honor for they were Jesus' selected one's, and were considered to be the eldest brothers in the family of the church, the Body of Christ. In summary, they had left everything, but received hundreds of times as much in return, just as Jesus had promised, it just wasn't in the form of individual riches and possessions. They were wealthy in ways that were clearly far beyond their imagining, for their inheritance included the gentiles (Acts 10 & 11 and beyond).
So, bringing this back into context of our lives, our choosing to follow Jesus should not be about individual wealth acquisition, or financial blessing, or reward. Our following of Jesus should be about doing that which He commanded, loving each other as He loved us, being a part of the Body of Christ. The Kingdom and its expansion individually is our charge and commission, and in the midst of that we will be blessed beyond comprehension, both in this present age and in the age to come!
Amen!
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Hope for the Desperate
This morning I was meditating on the 5th chapter of Mark. This chapter has three pretty incredible stories of God's intervention in people's lives. The chapter starts with the Gerasenes demoniac (Mark 5:1-20), a man so possessed by demons that he was uncontrollable, even by chains. When questioned as to their name, the demon said his name was Legion, for we are many. To put that in perspective, the Roman legion of the time had 5000+ soldiers, so we are talking about an individual under extreme demonic influence.
The second and third stories (Mark 5: 21-43) find Jesus responding to Jairus's request to come an heal his 12 year old daughter who was very sick and in danger of dying. Jesus starts to walk with Jairus to his house, but gets interrupted on the way by the woman who had been suffering a bleeding condition for 12 years. These two intertwined stories were what I was thinking about, for I find them very compelling, and revealing of the Lord's heart towards us.
Specifically, I was thinking about Jairus, and what must have been more than a few heart-rending moments, when Jesus stops and questions the crowd as to who touched his robe. Here is a man, whose only hope in saving his daughter is Jesus, and instead of running to his house, Jesus stops and starts asking who touched his cloak. I would imagine that Jairus was about to blow a gasket, wanting to encourage the Lord to keep moving, for he was desperate.
What I found very comforting, was the fact that Jesus was unwilling to let this woman who needed healing go without confirming her faith and her healing. I guess you could say that the Lord, does not ignore anyone who is desperate, even in the midst of other desperate situations. Jesus' willingness to stop and refusal to go on until the woman responded to His question, to me is an indication of her significance to the Father. She needed healing, was responding to faith that had risen up in her heart, and the Father, through Jesus, wanted to make sure she knew He had heard her prayer and healed her. This was no small occurrence in her life, and the Lord wanted her to understand His love for her. That is awesome!
Back to Jairus, who I am sure was pacing like a mad-man, while Jesus was still dealing with the woman who had bleeding, Jairus's worst fears are confirmed, when someone from his house comes running up and tells him his daughter has died. I can imagine well the shock of those words, the sense of loss, and an almost immediate shift to blaming either Jesus or the woman or both for his daughter's death. Jesus immediately jumps in and tells him to hold onto that small bit of faith, "Don't be afraid, just believe."
If there was ever a moment to walk away from faith, that was it, for his daughter had died and the Lord hadn't made it to his house in time, stopping instead to deal with an old woman. Jairus, to his credit, held onto the small bit of faith he had and went with Jesus. This was before Lazurus' raising from the dead, and in Mark's Gospel is the first time Jesus raises anyone who has died, so the Jairus can only hope that this Jesus who healed people of leprosy and other diseases could do something for him. Anyway, Jesus finally gets to Jairus' house, and faces down the crowd, and puts them all out of his house. He takes Jairus and his wife in with him and immediately calls the girl back to life. Wow, imagine the joy in that house, the relief of Jairus, the overwhelming sense of God's love for them! Jesus, in true humility has them get the girl something to eat, and then tells them to keep the story quiet.
Jesus wasn't after publicity, or massive crowds, He was concerned about their life. He specifically limited the number of people who followed Him, who knew what He did, and who witnessed the miracle. He indicates something really important here, that He is more worried about our lives than His own reputation. Man's thinking is that the more people that know, the greater His glory, but that is not how God thinks apparently. He doesn't seem worried about His own reputation at all, in fact He does the opposite of what most of us would do. Just think about that fact - our lives are more significant to Him than His reputation.
Finally, back to the desperate nature of each of these situations, the demoniac affected by thousands of demons, the woman who has bled for 12 years, who spent all her money and was still sick, the man whose daughter is dying, and then died. All are seriously desperate, and yet in each situation the Lord steps in and brings freedom and relief, restoration and healing, deliverance and hope! He is up for the most desperate situation, and able to meet us in our need, regardless of how hopeless it seems. He is greater than any desperate situation. Finally, He does this all because He wants us to know how significant we are to Him. He is willing to stop for each of us, to understand our situation and then to set us free! Amen! What a great word of hope for today!
The second and third stories (Mark 5: 21-43) find Jesus responding to Jairus's request to come an heal his 12 year old daughter who was very sick and in danger of dying. Jesus starts to walk with Jairus to his house, but gets interrupted on the way by the woman who had been suffering a bleeding condition for 12 years. These two intertwined stories were what I was thinking about, for I find them very compelling, and revealing of the Lord's heart towards us.
Specifically, I was thinking about Jairus, and what must have been more than a few heart-rending moments, when Jesus stops and questions the crowd as to who touched his robe. Here is a man, whose only hope in saving his daughter is Jesus, and instead of running to his house, Jesus stops and starts asking who touched his cloak. I would imagine that Jairus was about to blow a gasket, wanting to encourage the Lord to keep moving, for he was desperate.
What I found very comforting, was the fact that Jesus was unwilling to let this woman who needed healing go without confirming her faith and her healing. I guess you could say that the Lord, does not ignore anyone who is desperate, even in the midst of other desperate situations. Jesus' willingness to stop and refusal to go on until the woman responded to His question, to me is an indication of her significance to the Father. She needed healing, was responding to faith that had risen up in her heart, and the Father, through Jesus, wanted to make sure she knew He had heard her prayer and healed her. This was no small occurrence in her life, and the Lord wanted her to understand His love for her. That is awesome!
Back to Jairus, who I am sure was pacing like a mad-man, while Jesus was still dealing with the woman who had bleeding, Jairus's worst fears are confirmed, when someone from his house comes running up and tells him his daughter has died. I can imagine well the shock of those words, the sense of loss, and an almost immediate shift to blaming either Jesus or the woman or both for his daughter's death. Jesus immediately jumps in and tells him to hold onto that small bit of faith, "Don't be afraid, just believe."
If there was ever a moment to walk away from faith, that was it, for his daughter had died and the Lord hadn't made it to his house in time, stopping instead to deal with an old woman. Jairus, to his credit, held onto the small bit of faith he had and went with Jesus. This was before Lazurus' raising from the dead, and in Mark's Gospel is the first time Jesus raises anyone who has died, so the Jairus can only hope that this Jesus who healed people of leprosy and other diseases could do something for him. Anyway, Jesus finally gets to Jairus' house, and faces down the crowd, and puts them all out of his house. He takes Jairus and his wife in with him and immediately calls the girl back to life. Wow, imagine the joy in that house, the relief of Jairus, the overwhelming sense of God's love for them! Jesus, in true humility has them get the girl something to eat, and then tells them to keep the story quiet.
Jesus wasn't after publicity, or massive crowds, He was concerned about their life. He specifically limited the number of people who followed Him, who knew what He did, and who witnessed the miracle. He indicates something really important here, that He is more worried about our lives than His own reputation. Man's thinking is that the more people that know, the greater His glory, but that is not how God thinks apparently. He doesn't seem worried about His own reputation at all, in fact He does the opposite of what most of us would do. Just think about that fact - our lives are more significant to Him than His reputation.
Finally, back to the desperate nature of each of these situations, the demoniac affected by thousands of demons, the woman who has bled for 12 years, who spent all her money and was still sick, the man whose daughter is dying, and then died. All are seriously desperate, and yet in each situation the Lord steps in and brings freedom and relief, restoration and healing, deliverance and hope! He is up for the most desperate situation, and able to meet us in our need, regardless of how hopeless it seems. He is greater than any desperate situation. Finally, He does this all because He wants us to know how significant we are to Him. He is willing to stop for each of us, to understand our situation and then to set us free! Amen! What a great word of hope for today!
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Being Prayer Operatives
This morning I was reading from Paul's letter to the Ephesians, and it is a very familiar set of verses, but again the Lord highlighted something to me that, while I knew the words, I hadn't recently reflected on the impact what we were being called to do.
Here are the verses - Ephesians 6:10-20 NIV:
[10] "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. [11] Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. [12] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. [13] Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. [14] Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, [15] and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. [16] In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. [17] Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
[18] "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. [19] Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, [20] for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."
What caught my attention today was verse 18 - after putting on the armor of God, the next action we are encouraged to do is PRAY. Paul describes a bit of action in the Armor of God verses, standing one's ground, extinguishing the flaming arrows of the evil one, but the primary direction to action is found in verse 18 - "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions..." Now, this is not a one-way conversation, where all we do is tell God about all the issues we see, this should be like all prayer, a two-way conversation. Our desire is to walk in God's will, and we cannot know His will if we are not listening to what He is saying.
A good analogy would be how members of a strike team in the military are all in radio communication with each other and with operational head-quarters, except silence is not required, but rather constant communication. Those operatives who are in the field are describing what they are encountering, where the resistance is coming from, and the Ops HQ is guiding them, directing air-support and coordinating their activity. Imagine if the Body of Christ really learned to pray like this!
I also like Paul's humility in asking for prayers, specifically asking for prayers to be able to proclaim the Gospel fearlessly. In other words, Paul needed encouragement and God's help to overcome his fear. I don't feel so bad now.
Finally, there is an encouragement to pray for all of the Lord's people. In other words, those of our congregation and those of other congregations, and those around the world. We are one body and we war against (not flesh and blood) but rulers , authorities and powers of this dark world and spiritual forces of evil. In other words, we can't see our enemies with our natural eyes. We need spiritual vision, one reason to be praying in the Spirit on all occasions, and we need God's perspective for He rules with all authority in Heaven and on earth. We all need to learn how to operate under His orders all the time. This is the purpose of prayer, for it is in prayer that we hear from Him.
Just yesterday I was thinking about what it would be like if one day I only did what the Lord told me to do? I was thinking about how I need to learn to actively listen in all circumstances, and learn to obey fearlessly. I was thinking about the need to practice, and become better and better at hearing and following, and that is essentially exactly what Paul is describing here. We don't need to be strong in our own power, God is the provider of strength, power and armor. We don't need to figure it out on our own, God will provide the words to speak (verse 19) and what to do. We just need to learn to walk in what God provides fearlessly.
Amen Lord, please help me to engage in my representation of the Gospel and the Kingdom with an operational attitude through constant prayer and obedience! Lord help me to gear up and get after it!
Here are the verses - Ephesians 6:10-20 NIV:
[10] "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. [11] Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. [12] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. [13] Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. [14] Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, [15] and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. [16] In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. [17] Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
[18] "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. [19] Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, [20] for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."
What caught my attention today was verse 18 - after putting on the armor of God, the next action we are encouraged to do is PRAY. Paul describes a bit of action in the Armor of God verses, standing one's ground, extinguishing the flaming arrows of the evil one, but the primary direction to action is found in verse 18 - "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions..." Now, this is not a one-way conversation, where all we do is tell God about all the issues we see, this should be like all prayer, a two-way conversation. Our desire is to walk in God's will, and we cannot know His will if we are not listening to what He is saying.
A good analogy would be how members of a strike team in the military are all in radio communication with each other and with operational head-quarters, except silence is not required, but rather constant communication. Those operatives who are in the field are describing what they are encountering, where the resistance is coming from, and the Ops HQ is guiding them, directing air-support and coordinating their activity. Imagine if the Body of Christ really learned to pray like this!
I also like Paul's humility in asking for prayers, specifically asking for prayers to be able to proclaim the Gospel fearlessly. In other words, Paul needed encouragement and God's help to overcome his fear. I don't feel so bad now.
Finally, there is an encouragement to pray for all of the Lord's people. In other words, those of our congregation and those of other congregations, and those around the world. We are one body and we war against (not flesh and blood) but rulers , authorities and powers of this dark world and spiritual forces of evil. In other words, we can't see our enemies with our natural eyes. We need spiritual vision, one reason to be praying in the Spirit on all occasions, and we need God's perspective for He rules with all authority in Heaven and on earth. We all need to learn how to operate under His orders all the time. This is the purpose of prayer, for it is in prayer that we hear from Him.
Just yesterday I was thinking about what it would be like if one day I only did what the Lord told me to do? I was thinking about how I need to learn to actively listen in all circumstances, and learn to obey fearlessly. I was thinking about the need to practice, and become better and better at hearing and following, and that is essentially exactly what Paul is describing here. We don't need to be strong in our own power, God is the provider of strength, power and armor. We don't need to figure it out on our own, God will provide the words to speak (verse 19) and what to do. We just need to learn to walk in what God provides fearlessly.
Amen Lord, please help me to engage in my representation of the Gospel and the Kingdom with an operational attitude through constant prayer and obedience! Lord help me to gear up and get after it!
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