This morning I am reflecting on one of those difficult verses - 1 Peter 4:19 NIV: "So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good."
The Passion Translation makes it more palatable - "So then, those who suffer for following God’s will should enfold their lives into the Creator, who will never fail them, and continue to always do what is right."
This translation makes more sense, in that an individual finds themselves in a difficult position, and got in that position through following God as best as they could. When a person finds themselves in such situation, one could be tempted to listen to the accusations of the enemy, who is quick to accuse God of being unloving, uncaring, of promising blessing, but delivering difficulty, etc.
However, I think it is high praise to God, an offering of praise that flows straight to the Throne, when we choose to double-down and set one's heart on following God in the midst of the struggle, pressing into Him in intimacy, and refusing to curse god and die (Job 2:9). We can press onward, doing what is right, continuing to praise God in the very midst of the struggle, in the very midst of our suffering, knowing that He loves us, that He is faithful, and that He will never fail us! He has a plan and it is good! We can choose to give God glory, to sing His praises in the midst of our pain and suffering!
Let us encourage ourselves and one another this day, especially those that are in the struggle. Let us press onward, deeper into God, into His arms of mercy and compassion and love! Let us embrace intimacy and surrender unto Him!
Amen!
Monday, October 21, 2019
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Difficulty and Perspective
This morning I am reading from 1 Peter 4 and realized this is one of those sets of verses that I don't like to read, because of my desire to be liked by all, and my desire to not suffer.
1 Peter 4:12-16 NIV:
[12] "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. [13] But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. [14] If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. [15] If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. [16] However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name."
Its all good imagining this happening to other people, and I would be happy to pray for courage and strength for them, and be for them in my heart and mind. However, if this was happening to me, I would likely have a different response!
Recently I was reflecting on how when I read the scriptures, I often read about a situation, but already know how it will end up, so its difficult to really empathize with those in the situation. For example, when reading the Book of Exodus, Chapter 14, where the Israelites are trapped between the sea and Pharaoh's army. I know how they will escape, so I have a hard time appreciating how they felt, when facing certain death, or at least a return to slavery. God told Moses he was going to give Himself glory through the Egyptians, but didn't tell him how, until after they were trapped, and needed an escape immediately!
However, this morning as I am reflecting on this, I realize that my view of the Israelites in that situation, knowing how they were going to be set free, is the same view that God had, minus any personal involvement. He knew what was going to happen as He views our lives outside of time! If He looked, He would have seen the same thing as I now see, and known the Israelites would be saved. I hope that makes sense! Obviously He had everything to do with their being set free, but the vantage point of being outside of time, allows Him to look "back" in time, and to look "forward" in time as well. Note: direction only matters to those who are in time.
If God is outside of time, He sees everything from the beginning of time to the end of time and everything in between. He sees where He intervenes, at just the right time, sees how His interaction affects lives, and sees everything that will happen in each of our lives. It is a perfect vantage point, and one that produces no surprises, in time. He knows what happens, when it happens, what it affects, and understands all perfectly. When He looks at my life He sees the whole expanse of my life, beginning to end, and there are no surprises.
This morning, in reading Peter's less then encouraging words (at least to me) I am reminded to pray for the Lord to give me His vantage point, and to see that it is similar to what Peter is expressing. God will be glorified! God's will is going to be accomplished. We are going to become like Him, more and more and everything in our life moves us within the context of time, which God sees, controls and takes into account. God's perspective is perfect, and He is speaking words of hope, though Peter.
I feel like the Holy Spirit is saying, embrace the present with the understanding that Your future is already understood, and its good! Embrace the present, even if it is difficult, as it leads to greater things, greater intimacy with His Spirit, and the spirit of glory that will rest on you.
Lord, help me to look at all difficulty and testing this way. Help me to look to you rather than to myself!
1 Peter 4:12-16 NIV:
[12] "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. [13] But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. [14] If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. [15] If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. [16] However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name."
Its all good imagining this happening to other people, and I would be happy to pray for courage and strength for them, and be for them in my heart and mind. However, if this was happening to me, I would likely have a different response!
Recently I was reflecting on how when I read the scriptures, I often read about a situation, but already know how it will end up, so its difficult to really empathize with those in the situation. For example, when reading the Book of Exodus, Chapter 14, where the Israelites are trapped between the sea and Pharaoh's army. I know how they will escape, so I have a hard time appreciating how they felt, when facing certain death, or at least a return to slavery. God told Moses he was going to give Himself glory through the Egyptians, but didn't tell him how, until after they were trapped, and needed an escape immediately!
However, this morning as I am reflecting on this, I realize that my view of the Israelites in that situation, knowing how they were going to be set free, is the same view that God had, minus any personal involvement. He knew what was going to happen as He views our lives outside of time! If He looked, He would have seen the same thing as I now see, and known the Israelites would be saved. I hope that makes sense! Obviously He had everything to do with their being set free, but the vantage point of being outside of time, allows Him to look "back" in time, and to look "forward" in time as well. Note: direction only matters to those who are in time.
If God is outside of time, He sees everything from the beginning of time to the end of time and everything in between. He sees where He intervenes, at just the right time, sees how His interaction affects lives, and sees everything that will happen in each of our lives. It is a perfect vantage point, and one that produces no surprises, in time. He knows what happens, when it happens, what it affects, and understands all perfectly. When He looks at my life He sees the whole expanse of my life, beginning to end, and there are no surprises.
This morning, in reading Peter's less then encouraging words (at least to me) I am reminded to pray for the Lord to give me His vantage point, and to see that it is similar to what Peter is expressing. God will be glorified! God's will is going to be accomplished. We are going to become like Him, more and more and everything in our life moves us within the context of time, which God sees, controls and takes into account. God's perspective is perfect, and He is speaking words of hope, though Peter.
I feel like the Holy Spirit is saying, embrace the present with the understanding that Your future is already understood, and its good! Embrace the present, even if it is difficult, as it leads to greater things, greater intimacy with His Spirit, and the spirit of glory that will rest on you.
Lord, help me to look at all difficulty and testing this way. Help me to look to you rather than to myself!
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Forgiveness, Our Daily Work
This morning I felt led back to Luke 17, where I have recently been reflecting on forgiveness and faith( https://amomentwithgod-srh.blogspot.com/2019/09/forgive-now-faith-now.html) . I am back reflecting on these same verses, as clearly I have more to learn. :-)
Here are the verses - Luke 17:3-10 NIV:
[3] "So watch yourselves.
“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. [4] Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying 'I repent,' you must forgive them.”
[5] The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
[6] He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.
[7] “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? [8] Won't he rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? [9] Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? [10] So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' ”
My reflection begins with verse 5, and the apostles recognition that they needed more faith to forgive as Jesus was calling them to forgive (or maintain relationship with one another). As I read through this bit this morning, I felt like it had to do with trusting God alone, and not feeling like we need to receive some sort of reparations for someone's sin against us. Forgiveness essentially means sending away, and this case it is a sense of being owed payback, or we could say vengeance. We are called to forgive one another over and over and over again. Every time, it seems that we should be taking that sin and our woundedness and laying them at Jesus' feet, entrusting ourselves and our woundedness to Him, rather than holding on to it.
In many ways, this is modeling exactly how the Lord deals with us! We sin constantly, and He constantly is extending forgiveness. He has already paid for our sins, and has already borne upon His own body and soul the punishment we are all due. He cancelled that debt, and made a way for us to receive forgiveness, over and over and over again! In embracing the need to forgive one another and walking that out, we are representing His Kingdom principles to the world!
Secondly, although verses 7-10 seem to be a whole new teaching, I think they have to do with forgiveness as well. Sometimes, when we have been wounded, and come to a place of healing, extending forgiveness to someone who doesn't deserve forgiveness, we can think we have done something significant. True, for us it is significant, but in the light of Jesus' sacrifice and death, it is next to nothing! He has given us a new command - to Love one another, as He has loved us (John 13:34), and one of the ways He loved us was to extend forgiveness to us all. He encourages us to lay down our lives for one another, and that includes our woundedness, our unforgiveness, any past hurts, any wrongs that have been done to us! This is supposed to be our daily work, that which is expected of us, in the Kingdom.
Imagine if the church regularly practiced forgiveness like this and came to understand the need to extend forgiveness to all, how different a place it would be! If we demonstrated to each other forgiveness, repeatedly, blessing people, even those who hurt us, with no desire for judgment upon anyone!
Amen Lord, increase our Faith!
Here are the verses - Luke 17:3-10 NIV:
[3] "So watch yourselves.
“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. [4] Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying 'I repent,' you must forgive them.”
[5] The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
[6] He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.
[7] “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? [8] Won't he rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? [9] Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? [10] So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' ”
My reflection begins with verse 5, and the apostles recognition that they needed more faith to forgive as Jesus was calling them to forgive (or maintain relationship with one another). As I read through this bit this morning, I felt like it had to do with trusting God alone, and not feeling like we need to receive some sort of reparations for someone's sin against us. Forgiveness essentially means sending away, and this case it is a sense of being owed payback, or we could say vengeance. We are called to forgive one another over and over and over again. Every time, it seems that we should be taking that sin and our woundedness and laying them at Jesus' feet, entrusting ourselves and our woundedness to Him, rather than holding on to it.
In many ways, this is modeling exactly how the Lord deals with us! We sin constantly, and He constantly is extending forgiveness. He has already paid for our sins, and has already borne upon His own body and soul the punishment we are all due. He cancelled that debt, and made a way for us to receive forgiveness, over and over and over again! In embracing the need to forgive one another and walking that out, we are representing His Kingdom principles to the world!
Secondly, although verses 7-10 seem to be a whole new teaching, I think they have to do with forgiveness as well. Sometimes, when we have been wounded, and come to a place of healing, extending forgiveness to someone who doesn't deserve forgiveness, we can think we have done something significant. True, for us it is significant, but in the light of Jesus' sacrifice and death, it is next to nothing! He has given us a new command - to Love one another, as He has loved us (John 13:34), and one of the ways He loved us was to extend forgiveness to us all. He encourages us to lay down our lives for one another, and that includes our woundedness, our unforgiveness, any past hurts, any wrongs that have been done to us! This is supposed to be our daily work, that which is expected of us, in the Kingdom.
Imagine if the church regularly practiced forgiveness like this and came to understand the need to extend forgiveness to all, how different a place it would be! If we demonstrated to each other forgiveness, repeatedly, blessing people, even those who hurt us, with no desire for judgment upon anyone!
Amen Lord, increase our Faith!
Saturday, October 12, 2019
The Lord Will Have Righteous People
This morning I have been reading through the book of the Prophet Malachi. These are the verses that caught my eye today - Malachi 3:1-4 NIV:
[1] “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty."
[2] "But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. [3] He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, [4] and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years."
As I reflect on these verses, the part that grabbed my attention was the second half of verse 3, "Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness". His desire is for people of righteousness, and He will have them. The interesting thing, is that we now know that this righteousness will be accomplished by the Lord, and not by our actions. We ARE righteous, through faith in Jesus, not through our observance of the law.
Paul writes very clearly that this is so in several of his letters, and the following couple of verses from his letter to the Romans are good examples - Romans 3:22,28 NIV:
[22] "This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,.."
[28] "For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law."
I love how the Lord, set the stage for the awesome fulfillment of these words from Malachi through Jesus. He proclaimed refinement and purification of the Levites, but instead of applying that word to them, He applied it to Himself, and did all that was required to be perfectly righteous. Then He, in His great mercy and compassion, applied that righteousness to us, to those that believe! He said He will have people who bring offerings in righteousness and then He made it possible for all people to fulfill this word! Whether gentile or Jew, man or woman, if we believe and receive Jesus in faith, we receive His righteousness!
Paul wrote in his letter to Romans 5:17 NIV: "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!"
Thus, we find in our own lives, this word from Malachi fulfilled, for we who believe in Jesus, are able to bring our lives as offerings in righteousness! Let us lay down our lives before Him, who is our righteousness, and let us give Him glory for doing what only He can do! He has visited His people, He has come as a refining fire, He has come and purified, and He has established us as righteous!
Thank You Lord!
[1] “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty."
[2] "But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. [3] He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, [4] and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years."
As I reflect on these verses, the part that grabbed my attention was the second half of verse 3, "Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness". His desire is for people of righteousness, and He will have them. The interesting thing, is that we now know that this righteousness will be accomplished by the Lord, and not by our actions. We ARE righteous, through faith in Jesus, not through our observance of the law.
Paul writes very clearly that this is so in several of his letters, and the following couple of verses from his letter to the Romans are good examples - Romans 3:22,28 NIV:
[22] "This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,.."
[28] "For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law."
I love how the Lord, set the stage for the awesome fulfillment of these words from Malachi through Jesus. He proclaimed refinement and purification of the Levites, but instead of applying that word to them, He applied it to Himself, and did all that was required to be perfectly righteous. Then He, in His great mercy and compassion, applied that righteousness to us, to those that believe! He said He will have people who bring offerings in righteousness and then He made it possible for all people to fulfill this word! Whether gentile or Jew, man or woman, if we believe and receive Jesus in faith, we receive His righteousness!
Paul wrote in his letter to Romans 5:17 NIV: "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!"
Thus, we find in our own lives, this word from Malachi fulfilled, for we who believe in Jesus, are able to bring our lives as offerings in righteousness! Let us lay down our lives before Him, who is our righteousness, and let us give Him glory for doing what only He can do! He has visited His people, He has come as a refining fire, He has come and purified, and He has established us as righteous!
Thank You Lord!
Thursday, October 10, 2019
The Decision to Follow Jesus
I felt like I should read through all of Paul's first letter to the church in Thessalonica, and was reflecting on how Paul actually only had a short time there. Here is the beginning of Paul's letter - 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 NIV:
[4] "For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, [5] because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. [6] You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. [7] And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. [8] The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia---your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, [9] for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, [10] and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead---Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath."
Paul's initial visit to them was reported in Acts 17:1-5 NIV:
[1] "When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. [2] As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, [3] explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. [4] Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women."
[5] "But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd."
Luke in his recording of events goes on to tell how some of these new believers, specifically those found in Jason's household, were arrested following the riot, and ended up having to post bail, which is probably some of what Paul was referring to in verse 6 on his letter to them. I am sure that Luke captured some, but clearly not everything that occurred to them, as he was one of Paul's companions, and likely left the city with him.
Anyway, my thoughts are on the message that Paul must have preached during those three-ish weeks he was with them. His letter speaks about how he worked to support himself during their time in the city (1 Thes 2:9), so we know they didn't spend their whole time talking. We know from his opening lines that the gospel came with "power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction." Clearly the people were impacted, and their lives were changed. In fact, they responded in such faith that they became a model for Macedonia and Achaia.
As I reflect on this it is evident to me that Paul's message, his gospel of grace and of salvation through faith, rocked their world, in more ways than one! They became alive spiritually, and were so convicted that their lives were eternally changed, and that all took place in a very short period of time. I am encouraged that when Holy Spirit is involved and active that things can accelerate considerably.
Recently I have been reflecting on conviction and commitment, and the invitation of the Lord to "go for it" going all in in pursuit of Him. This is no special invitation to some few "Saints" but rather the invitation to us all, who would follow after Jesus. He invites us to follow Him. In fact, He issued that very invitation 28 times in the Gospels. One of the things that usually is usually recorded after He gives that invitation is how people immediately follow him, leaving everything. Jesus described following Him as follows - Matthew 16:24-25 NIV: "Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. [25] For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."
Jesus is clearly not speaking about a simple and easy commitment, yet that is what many of us, myself included, desire. I want my level of commitment to be easy to attain, one that doesn't require me to change extensively, nor to be persecuted or looked down upon for my beliefs. What Jesus describes is a laying down one's life, even denying oneself. I generally suck at denying myself. I don't like to do it, don't like to say no to myself, let alone doing it for the rest of my life!
We recently were watching a movie about the church in Iran. It is apparently one of the fastest growing churches in the world, and that in the very face of severe persecution, where following Jesus can lead to torture and death. The people who were interviewed in the movie spoke of an attitude of heart and mind that each time they leave their house could be their last time. Wow! In spite of that reality they gladly embrace the invitation to follow Jesus.
As I reflect on Paul's gospel, his appeal to the Thessalonians, I am convinced that His message was closer to the message of the church in Iran than it is to the messages that are shared in many of the churches in America. This makes me pause and wonder if we are missing something, or if we fully understand the invitation before us! Certainly we don't live in such an environment where our lives are endangered by our pursuit of Jesus, at least not in the way they are in Iran. However, the invitation to lay down our lives, to deny ourselves is just that - our old lives should be endangered by our commitment to follow Jesus. A decision to follow Him should be a death sentence to our old self, our old man!
In some ways, it seems easier to live the life Jesus called us to embrace in the face of extreme persecution, than to live this radical call in a place where we can keep on allowing our old man to live comfortably in our lives, while we lightly follow Jesus. I don't have the daily decision to follow Jesus to my literal death, instead I have the 10,000 opportunities per day to let my mind, heart or eyes stray. At different times I feel that I am a good representation of at least 5 of the 7 churches that were written to in Revelations.
Yet, the truth is I that am righteous in God's eyes. When the Father looks at me, He sees His son Jesus, in whom I am hidden. I have Jesus interceding for me at the Father's right hand, I have the Holy Spirit living in me, leading me, guiding me and teaching me. I am the most blessed of men! My invitation to lay down my life and deny myself is as true today as it has ever been. The Lord, in His great mercy and compassion, doesn't hold my weakness, my ineffectiveness, my passivity or my sin against me. He sees me as I am in truth, in His truth. He loves me, has paid the price for me and continues to breathe His life into me, encouraging me on, strengthening me for the purposes for which He has called me. I have before me, today the choice to lay down my life, to deny myself and follow Him, that I might bring Him glory and I might become more like Him.
A quick note, I do believe that the Lord created each of us as unique individuals, and that I am part of His Glorious creation. He isn't calling me to deny everything I like, am gifted to do, or enjoy. Those are things that He has put in me to reveal His glory. What He is inviting me to do is to lay down my selfish pursuits, those that are flesh-driven, self-glorifying and against His will. He has a better plan for me, and He is asking me to embrace that upward call. I can't do that if I am unwilling to let go of lesser things.
This morning I am encouraged to embrace the invitation to follow Jesus with new vigor. I am encouraged to look at my life as a gift, to see those things that I can do to bring Him glory, and to focus on Him, rather than my own selfish pursuits. I know that I might fail, but I also know that He knows that and still loves me, and encourages me onward and upward. Lord, help me to live my life as a witness to the true gospel! Help me to understand your invitation to follow you in all of its fullness.
Amen!
[4] "For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, [5] because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. [6] You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. [7] And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. [8] The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia---your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, [9] for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, [10] and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead---Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath."
Paul's initial visit to them was reported in Acts 17:1-5 NIV:
[1] "When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. [2] As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, [3] explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. [4] Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women."
[5] "But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd."
Luke in his recording of events goes on to tell how some of these new believers, specifically those found in Jason's household, were arrested following the riot, and ended up having to post bail, which is probably some of what Paul was referring to in verse 6 on his letter to them. I am sure that Luke captured some, but clearly not everything that occurred to them, as he was one of Paul's companions, and likely left the city with him.
Anyway, my thoughts are on the message that Paul must have preached during those three-ish weeks he was with them. His letter speaks about how he worked to support himself during their time in the city (1 Thes 2:9), so we know they didn't spend their whole time talking. We know from his opening lines that the gospel came with "power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction." Clearly the people were impacted, and their lives were changed. In fact, they responded in such faith that they became a model for Macedonia and Achaia.
As I reflect on this it is evident to me that Paul's message, his gospel of grace and of salvation through faith, rocked their world, in more ways than one! They became alive spiritually, and were so convicted that their lives were eternally changed, and that all took place in a very short period of time. I am encouraged that when Holy Spirit is involved and active that things can accelerate considerably.
Recently I have been reflecting on conviction and commitment, and the invitation of the Lord to "go for it" going all in in pursuit of Him. This is no special invitation to some few "Saints" but rather the invitation to us all, who would follow after Jesus. He invites us to follow Him. In fact, He issued that very invitation 28 times in the Gospels. One of the things that usually is usually recorded after He gives that invitation is how people immediately follow him, leaving everything. Jesus described following Him as follows - Matthew 16:24-25 NIV: "Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. [25] For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."
Jesus is clearly not speaking about a simple and easy commitment, yet that is what many of us, myself included, desire. I want my level of commitment to be easy to attain, one that doesn't require me to change extensively, nor to be persecuted or looked down upon for my beliefs. What Jesus describes is a laying down one's life, even denying oneself. I generally suck at denying myself. I don't like to do it, don't like to say no to myself, let alone doing it for the rest of my life!
We recently were watching a movie about the church in Iran. It is apparently one of the fastest growing churches in the world, and that in the very face of severe persecution, where following Jesus can lead to torture and death. The people who were interviewed in the movie spoke of an attitude of heart and mind that each time they leave their house could be their last time. Wow! In spite of that reality they gladly embrace the invitation to follow Jesus.
As I reflect on Paul's gospel, his appeal to the Thessalonians, I am convinced that His message was closer to the message of the church in Iran than it is to the messages that are shared in many of the churches in America. This makes me pause and wonder if we are missing something, or if we fully understand the invitation before us! Certainly we don't live in such an environment where our lives are endangered by our pursuit of Jesus, at least not in the way they are in Iran. However, the invitation to lay down our lives, to deny ourselves is just that - our old lives should be endangered by our commitment to follow Jesus. A decision to follow Him should be a death sentence to our old self, our old man!
In some ways, it seems easier to live the life Jesus called us to embrace in the face of extreme persecution, than to live this radical call in a place where we can keep on allowing our old man to live comfortably in our lives, while we lightly follow Jesus. I don't have the daily decision to follow Jesus to my literal death, instead I have the 10,000 opportunities per day to let my mind, heart or eyes stray. At different times I feel that I am a good representation of at least 5 of the 7 churches that were written to in Revelations.
Yet, the truth is I that am righteous in God's eyes. When the Father looks at me, He sees His son Jesus, in whom I am hidden. I have Jesus interceding for me at the Father's right hand, I have the Holy Spirit living in me, leading me, guiding me and teaching me. I am the most blessed of men! My invitation to lay down my life and deny myself is as true today as it has ever been. The Lord, in His great mercy and compassion, doesn't hold my weakness, my ineffectiveness, my passivity or my sin against me. He sees me as I am in truth, in His truth. He loves me, has paid the price for me and continues to breathe His life into me, encouraging me on, strengthening me for the purposes for which He has called me. I have before me, today the choice to lay down my life, to deny myself and follow Him, that I might bring Him glory and I might become more like Him.
A quick note, I do believe that the Lord created each of us as unique individuals, and that I am part of His Glorious creation. He isn't calling me to deny everything I like, am gifted to do, or enjoy. Those are things that He has put in me to reveal His glory. What He is inviting me to do is to lay down my selfish pursuits, those that are flesh-driven, self-glorifying and against His will. He has a better plan for me, and He is asking me to embrace that upward call. I can't do that if I am unwilling to let go of lesser things.
This morning I am encouraged to embrace the invitation to follow Jesus with new vigor. I am encouraged to look at my life as a gift, to see those things that I can do to bring Him glory, and to focus on Him, rather than my own selfish pursuits. I know that I might fail, but I also know that He knows that and still loves me, and encourages me onward and upward. Lord, help me to live my life as a witness to the true gospel! Help me to understand your invitation to follow you in all of its fullness.
Amen!
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Dealing With Giants
This morning I was continuing to read from 2 Samuel, and came across a brief section that I thought deserved a little reflection. Here are the verses - 2 Samuel 21:15-22 NIV:
[15] "Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. [16] And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David. [17] But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David's rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David's men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished. ”
[18] In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.
[19] In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver's rod.
[20] In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot---twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. [21] When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David's brother, killed him.
[22] These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men."
As I was reading this section and reflecting on it a couple of thoughts came to mind.
1) Under the leadership of a King who has killed giants, his men can kill them too.
2) Because He had killed a giant, David likely had trained his armies on how to do it. They clearly didn't use the same weapons, but they were successful nonetheless.
3) My belief is that it had more to do with faith, and knowledge that it could be done, than it did with any special strategy.
4) After they defeated the giants, their reputation increased significantly, and any other giants likely avoided them! :-)
5) If we apply this same logic to Jesus, anything Jesus did, we as His representatives can do, too. It has to do with faith and knowledge that it can be done. It might be accomplished in a different way, but there is still an anointing (If we want to call it that) for the killing of giants (sin, sickness, death, disease, disabilities) under Jesus.
One of my favorite authors, Graham Cooke, writes this about facing giants.
"If the enemy puts up a giant against you, the Holy Spirit declares to you, do you see the giant? That is what I am making you into. By the time this conflict is finished you will be his size and he will be reduced to the size that you have right now. Take a look at that giant because that giant is an open door to a whole new you."
So this morning I am encouraged that even though we might be facing a few giants, that the anointing for victory over them is present to us! We have, in Jesus, the right and way to victory! He demonstrated this, and as His representatives, we can do exactly the same, even greater. He promised us the following - "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. [13] And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." ( John 14:12-14 NIV).
Amen and Amen!
[15] "Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. [16] And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David. [17] But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David's rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David's men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished. ”
[18] In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.
[19] In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver's rod.
[20] In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot---twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. [21] When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David's brother, killed him.
[22] These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men."
As I was reading this section and reflecting on it a couple of thoughts came to mind.
1) Under the leadership of a King who has killed giants, his men can kill them too.
2) Because He had killed a giant, David likely had trained his armies on how to do it. They clearly didn't use the same weapons, but they were successful nonetheless.
3) My belief is that it had more to do with faith, and knowledge that it could be done, than it did with any special strategy.
4) After they defeated the giants, their reputation increased significantly, and any other giants likely avoided them! :-)
5) If we apply this same logic to Jesus, anything Jesus did, we as His representatives can do, too. It has to do with faith and knowledge that it can be done. It might be accomplished in a different way, but there is still an anointing (If we want to call it that) for the killing of giants (sin, sickness, death, disease, disabilities) under Jesus.
One of my favorite authors, Graham Cooke, writes this about facing giants.
"If the enemy puts up a giant against you, the Holy Spirit declares to you, do you see the giant? That is what I am making you into. By the time this conflict is finished you will be his size and he will be reduced to the size that you have right now. Take a look at that giant because that giant is an open door to a whole new you."
So this morning I am encouraged that even though we might be facing a few giants, that the anointing for victory over them is present to us! We have, in Jesus, the right and way to victory! He demonstrated this, and as His representatives, we can do exactly the same, even greater. He promised us the following - "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. [13] And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." ( John 14:12-14 NIV).
Amen and Amen!
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