From Rebuke to Mountain Top

This morning I started reading in Matthew's Gospel, and when I opened it up I was at Chapter Seventeen, which is the transfiguration.  The chapter starts by noting,  "After six days", so I turned back to see what had happened previously and saw something that hadn't occurred to me previously. Here are the verses from Matthew 16:21-23 NIV:

[21] "From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. [22] Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 

[23] Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”  

And here are the verses from Matthew 17:1-5 NIV:

[1] "After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. [2] There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. [3] Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 

[4] Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters---one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 

[5] While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

I had not realized, at least in Matthew's Gospel, that Jesus' rebuke of Peter and the Transfiguration were in such close proximity!  As I realized that, I recognized that these verses represent Jesus' leadership and character really well.  He wasn't worried about Peter's mistake or his speaking the lies of the enemy.  Instead, Jesus continued to embrace Peter, and draw him further into His inner circle.  

Jesus trusted Himself, and ultimately trusted Peter, and one could argue that Jesus entrusted His continuing ministry to Peter, after His death and resurrection. Our modern mentality towards church leaders is to rebuke and remove them from leadership when they sin, or make such an obvious mistake!  I know I have seen it happen a couple of times and I know how devastating it can be to the relationships and even faith-walk for the one that is rebuked and removed. 

In reality, Peter was just speaking what all the other Apostles were likely thinking, for Jesus had started talking about his impending death, and they all believed He was the Messiah and that He was going to setup His Kingdom, and they would be His friends, ruling at his side.  Heck, they even were still asking about that immediately before Jesus ascended (see Acts 1: 6).  Jesus, in his rebuke, silences the lie and temptation of the enemy, for He had heard this same line of thinking from satan during his time in the wilderness (see Matt 4:3-10).  He then uses this time as a teaching moment, and points them to the Father's plan.  He also uses the next bit to speak prophetically to the apostles, and encourages them to press in with their whole lives, as follows in Matthew 16:24-27 NIV:

[24] "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. [26] What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? [27] For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done."

This statement as fulfilled in the lives of everyone of the Apostles, for all but John gave their life in martyrdom, and they did lose their life for His sake! He directs their gaze away from earthly glory, to the heavenly glory that was awaiting them!  This perspective was key for them as they endured persecutions and death.

Going back to my first observation, I felt the Lord's invitation and touch for those who have messed up in ministry, those that have been rejected or rebuked and removed.  I would say that His invitation is to come back to Him fully, for He has never stopped wanting intimate relationship!  He still considers you a faithful friend!  He still has plans and purpose for you!  He has never lost trust in You!!  HE is confident in His ability to pastor you, to teach you, to correct you and to guide You!  He is the Good Shepherd after all!

I am so encouraged this morning that Jesus deals with all of us this way!  He sees our humanness, our mistakes, our misunderstandings, and He never gives up on us, but rather invites us deeper into relationship with Him!  He loves us and continues to entrust to us His continuing ministry on earth!  Finally, while we might experience some reward here on earth, our eyes must be on His Kingdom, not our own, for we will have plenty of opportunities to lay down our lives for Him. He is worth it all!

Amen and Amen!

Trusted Friends

This morning I had a dream about some religious community focused on prayer,  where I happened to be working.  I think it was some sort of cloistered monastery or convent.  Somehow their phones and all outward communication went down for a whole weekend, and no one realized.  However, in talking to the members, it was clear that the Lord had been bringing people to mind specific people and inviting them to pray for issues that would normally have come in via the phones and email.  They hadn't missed a beat, and everything seemed normal, inspite of their communication failure.  I expressed a bit of surprise at that, and one of the lead women responded saying, "Why do you find it surprising that our sweet Lord shares the concerns of His heart with us, those who so ardently love Him?"

What a great definition of intercession!  When we go throughout the day and have individuals or issues pop into our minds, could it be that the Lord is sharing His heart concerns with us?  I am often amazed at how regularly I will think about someone I haven't seen in quite a while, and I will hear from them or hear about them, without my reaching out, or inquiring.  I know I am not the most spiritually aware person, but I definitely believe these are not coincidences

It is not that He needs our prayers, or our belief to act, like some sort of "tinkerbell", but rather He invites us as His friends, into that intimate knowledge of His heart and mind.  Jesus speaks of His apostles being His friends in the following passages - John 15:11-17 NIV:

[11] "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. [12] My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. [13] Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. [14] You are my friends if you do what I command. [15] I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. [16] You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit---fruit that will last---and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. [17] This is my command: Love each other."

I believe that He is indeed sharing with us His "business".  He is sharing with us what He sees and knows, what the Father is revealing.  Oh that we would be sensitive enough to hear His voice, to hear His direction, to hear His invitations, that we might bear fruit, fruit that will last!

Sometimes when I read verses like verse 14 and the language used there seems a bit harsh, or even devoid of relationship, for I think commands are impersonal and "obeying" a command somehow demeans my role.  The original Greek word used here is entéllomai, and it is defined as: to command, emphasizing the end-objective, i.e. reaching the purpose (consummation, end result) of an order – i.e. as envisioning how or where it ends up.

As I reflect on this, I am reminded of doing things as a group of friends, and one of those friends having the "master plan" and we all had a part to play to bring that plan to fruition.  We would gather around them as they revealed their plan, and we took no offence when we were given a specific task, for we were part of the team, one of the trusted friends!  This is how I read these verses today!  He is inviting the Apostles (and us) into that place of being a trusted friend!

Going back to those verses from John, it is important to look at Jesus' actual command, we are commanded to love one another as He loves us!  We are called to lay down our lives for our friends!  This is not "every man for himself" but rather every man for each other, or as the Musketeers would say, "all for one and one for all!  Our lives should be lived in such a way that our lives become interconnected with others, and our love for one another becomes evident.  This can be challenging for us, for we prefer our independence and freedom, and sometimes think that living this way would be inconvenient and limiting.  The reality is that we will be challenged in preferring one another, and laying down our lives, our time, our money, our attention, our care, but we will bear fruit in doing so! 

The reality is that we are all part of the Body of Christ, and we need to start learning to live in that reality!

Oh Lord, help us!  Oh Lord, help us to hear Your invitation into the intimate ways of Your heart!  Help us to respond as true and trusted friends!

Amen!

Humility and Love

A regular theme of late has been loving one another and this morning the Lord came about it in a slightly different path, through Paul's letter to the Colossians.  Paul starts out this chapter encouraging them to grow in love for one another, and then adds some warnings.  Here are a few selected verses - Colossians 2:2-3,8,16-19 NIV:

[2] "My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, [3] in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." 

[8] "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ." 

[16] "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. [17] These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. [18] Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. [19] They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow."

I would recommend reading the whole chapter, as Paul, as always, builds a logical flow of thought that is helpful, and I have just grabbed some of the high-points.  Anyway, the verse that caught my eye this morning was verse 18, and the idea of false humility.  I was doing some research on the original Greek, and came across this definition of humility that I really liked from Strong's.

"In Scripture, tapeinophrosýnē ("lowliness, humility") is an inside-out virtue produced by comparing ourselves to the Lord (rather than to others). This brings behavior into alignment with this inner revelation to keep one from being self-exalting (self-determining, self-inflated). For the believer, tapeinophrosýnē ("humility") means living in complete dependence on the Lord, i.e. with no reliance on self (the flesh).

[(tapeinophrosýnē) is atypically used of false humility in Col 2:18,23.]"

I love that - a virtue produced by comparing ourselves to the Lord, rather than to others!  

Recently the Lord had me focused on loving one another and extending mercy and compassion to one another rather than judging one another.  Here is that same theme once again, except this time the word comparing is used!   Paul is talking about false humility, which is essentially the opposite of true humility.  Based on Strong's definition, false humility would be a comparing of ourselves to one another, rather than the Lord, and it would be externally initiated.  

In other words, we would find ourselves thinking about how we compare to others and are better than them, in our pursuit of God!  This thought is birthed in the bowels of hell!  

I know for me, the battle is all about my thinking, all about judging others.  I like lists and check marks to track my progress, and I try to apply the same list and check marks to others!  I am legitimately trying to get better, but rather than looking at Jesus, I am looking at the Body and trying to thrust myself to the head of the class, if you will!  I can think that by certain ways of living, or acting, or even knowing certain things, I can show myself as a leader, or one of the "truly" faithful!  This is all self-focused, self-exalting, and the opposite of what the Lord is after.

Again, the focus is supposed to be Christ Jesus!  We are meant to be an encouragement to others, not watching others and judging others in their pursuit of the Lord!  Additionally, we shouldn't be judging how the Lord is working with and in others lives, as compared to us!  

As we spend time in the Body of Christ, we can find ourselves attracted to others who have had awesome experiences in the Lord, those who know things, those who have seen things, done things, living blessed lives, and we aspire to that type of experience.  We think that this is how the Lord blesses the ones He loves.  

I so appreciate Paul's chapter on love found in His first letter to the Corinthians.  We often see verses from this chapter quoted or read at weddings and such, but right now I wanted to focus on the first few verses from that chapter - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NIV:

[1] If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. [2] If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. [3] If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."

Paul is basically addressing the same thing in these verses, as he did in our verses from Colossians, and his warning is that love is the most important, and if love is not present than there is nothing of value!   True love was demonstrated by the Lord, and His encouragement was that it would be by our love for one another that we would be seen as His followers, not by our cool and awesome experiences. 

We should, all of us, aspire to loving God and loving one another.  I am reminded of Mother Theresa, who probably had many awesome stories and interactions with the Lord, but what she is best know for is her love in action!  What a great example of how we should respond to others around us!  She spent her life trying to love others, especially the lowly, like Jesus would.  She wasn't comparing herself to others, she was responding to the needs she saw around her and aspiring to love and care, and make a difference one person at a time.  Her life is a great example of someone who embraced true humility.

This morning I am encouraged in my love for those around me!  I am encouraged to look to the Lord, and compare myself to Him, so that I might be like Him in some small way!  I am encouraged to look at my thoughts of  comparison towards others, of judgment, and any "religious" aspirations that are focused on tasks, special knowledge or the the like, and take any that are not focused toward the Lord captive that I might reject them.   

'My goal is that I may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that I may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that I may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge' (modified version of Colossians 2:2-3).  He is worthy of my life pursuit.

Amen!

Everything We Need

Verses for reflection based on a conversation I had yesterday, about how in our salvation, God imparts to us everything we need.  

2 Peter 1:3-11 NIV:

[3] "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. [4] Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." 

[5] "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; [6] and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; [7] and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. [8] For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins." 

[10] "Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, [11] and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

The first sentence is such a hopeful thought!  God, in His divine power, has given us everything we need to live unto Him!  In other words, we have no excuse that somehow we missed something, or in some way are lacking!  God, in His divine power, and in His divine knowledge, has delivered to us already, everything we need to participate in the divine nature!  

I imagine this like some sort of spiritual warehouse that we have access to, through salvation, that provides for every situation and circumstance.  An author I read a while back wrote about how we each receive the DNA of the Gospel when we receive Christ, and that this DNA is capable and empowers in any or all of us, growth, maturity, and the ability to reproduce (proclaim the Gospel and see others come to Christ)!  I like this imagery, and find it helpful in my own pursuit of the Lord!  This lines up with Paul's writings about us becoming a new creation (2 Cor 5:17), as new DNA means new being.

This idea differs from how many of us view the church and our place in the church.  We somehow think that there are those with gifts and callings, and those without the same.  We are all different, surely, but we are more alike than different.  Jesus, in giving the great commission (Matt 28:18-20),  wasn't speaking only to the elders or leaders, He was speaking to all his followers, and we receive the same commission today!  We are called, and empowered to proclaim the Gospel to all the world!  

Going back to the verses, we are also empowered to live a godly life!  When we receive Christ our spirit is empowered by Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead and preserved Him in sinless perfection!  This person and  power now lives within us, and we are given access to, and invited into unity with Him.   Our level of empowerment is, in many ways, our choice, which is why Peter writes about us adding our own effort.  He says to make every effort to add goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection and love!  As I was copying this list, I was acutely aware that each of these requires us to make choices to turn towards God, to apply His word to our lives, to choose to turn away from fleshly or evil desires! 

Our pastor spoke this last week about the battle for our minds and thoughts, and it was a good word!  The enemy spends much of his time trying to convince us that we don't have the power to choose, that our lives aren't worthwhile, that we haven't been cleansed of our past sins, that God doesn't love us or accept us, or that someone else is called or gifted.  He tries t get us to walk away from what the Lord has deposited in us through Holy Spirit!  Here Peter is reminding us that we have everything we need!  In fact, we are so loved and accepted that we are invited to participate in the divine nature!

In summary, we can rejoice and hold onto the fact that God has provided us everything we need to live a godly life!  We can access that power to help us choose to pursue greater depth, and intimacy with Him, and greater love and unity with the Body of Christ.  Finally, each of us have everything we need to fulfill the great commission, in our own spheres of influence.

Thank You Lord for Your gracious gift!  Thank You Lord for Your help and encouragement!

Show Mercy and Compassion to One Another

Today during worship, we were singing about 'Preparing the way of the Lord',  and "We Love You Jesus"  and I felt like the Lord gave me some insight that was worth sharing.   Sometimes we sing songs like that and we love the idea, but lack clarity as to how to prepare the way of the Lord, or how to love the Lord more fully, as in what can we do individually to respond to a word like that?  

I just opened my Bible and was in Zechariah (some would call this Bible Bingo, but I am amazed at how often the Lord speaks through His word when I just open it up to any random page), specifically chapter 7. I started reading and was drawn to a verse that Jesus actually quotes.  Here is the verse - Zechariah 7:9 NIV: “This is what the Lord Almighty said: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another."  

When I read that verse, I was immediately aware of the focused context, and reminded of a couple of other verses.  For me the context was simply, learning to love one another, and not judging each other in the Body of Christ. We need to show mercy and compassion first!   True Justice is only available with the Lord's perfect perspective. 

I once had the Lord ask me a question about a very judged topic in the church, He said, "Are you 100% sure that your perspective is correct?"  

I answered, of course I am not 100% sure!  

He replied, "Good, then extend mercy and compassion rather than judgment!"

Today, I felt like He said if you want to prepare the way of the Lord, if you want to Love me more, than you need to learn how to Love the Body of Christ!  So often we extend judgment rather than mercy and compassion!  We don't ever know the whole story, and are so quick to judge pretty much anyone and everyone!

He then reminded me of the following verse from 1 John 4:20 NIV:  "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen."

I felt like He said, you can replace the word "hates" with "judges" and it is still pretty much true!  How sad that so many in the church have felt judged or been judged, when they should experience love, mercy and compassion!

Finally, he reminded me of the following verses from Paul's letter - 1 Corinthians 12:25-27 NIV:

[25]... "so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. [26] If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." 

[27] "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."

We are all part of the Body of Christ, and we must learn that judgment towards anyone else in the Body causes suffering, and actually affects us all.  Paul says, "so that there should be no division in the Body" we must understand this fact, judgment often cause division, and certainly gets in the way of Unity.  Everyone is an equal member in the Body, and none are dispensable!  Thus we must learn to live with one another, love one another and have mercy and compassion for one another!

The Lord basically said, "You can't fully Love Me, if you don't love the Body!  You can't prepare the way for Me to come, if you remain in judgment of one another!   

If we want to prepare the way of the Lord, then we need to look into our hearts and see where we are extending judgment rather then love, mercy and compassion!  We need to repent (change our mind and our actions) and ask the Lord to help us love one another as He loves them (John 13:34).  When we love one another, we are loving the Lord, for we ARE the Body of Christ!

I felt like I heard the Lord say, "Imagine what it would be like if everyone who walked through those church doors felt unconditional love, mercy and  compassion, and no judgment!

Oh Lord, help us!  

Deep, Stretching Thoughts About God

This morning I am continuing a reflection I started a few days ago which looks at some interesting verses from the New Testament. These are some interesting verses from 1 Peter 3:18-22 NIV:

[18] "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. [19] After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits--- [20] to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, [21] and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also---not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, [22] who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand---with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him."

Specifically verses 19-20, where Peter writes that Jesus, after rising from the dead, went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits, to those who were disobedient before the flood and Noah's Ark.  

This is what was recorded about those people - Genesis 6:1-7 NIV:

[1] "When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, [2] the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. [3] Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal ; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.” 

[4] The Nephilim were on the earth in those days---and also afterward---when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown. 

[5] The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. [6] The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. [7] So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created---and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground---for I regret that I have made them. ”

Going back the verses from Peter, one wonders where this idea came from?  Did the Lord tell him after His resurrection?  Was this something that was discussed or taught by other Apostles?  

Similarly, we are told by Paul in Ephesians 4:9 NIV: (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions ?"  And by Peter again in 1 Peter 4:6 NIV: "For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit." 

All of these verses seem, at least to me, to push the boundaries of our understanding of salvation and how it works.  That there is an eternal (or at least afterlife on earth) component to our nature is clear from all three verses, and in two we hear of the Lord preaching or proclaiming to those who have passed away.  In the Gospel of Matthew 27:51-53 we have an account of dead people coming out of their tombs right after Jesus' death, which seems to be inline with these verses.

Is it possible that the Lord can address someone after their death?  

The account of Lazarus (John 11), and the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-16) would indicate that Jesus could command those who have passed into death, and Lazarus was gone 4 days. 

From Revelations we are told by Jesus, in John's vision the following - Revelation 1:17b-18 NIV:  “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. [18] I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."  

I could get into a bunch of stuff here, ideas about eternity; time's existence on earth, but not in eternity; eternity being outside of time, etc. but today I want to look at what this means about God's justice.  We Christians often hear it preached that salvation only can come through Christ Jesus, based on His own words in John 14:6 "No one comes to the Father except through me."  We also understand that all are created in God's Image (Gen 1:26), created lovingly by Him (Psalm 139) and are loved since before the beginning of the world (Eph 1:4-5), and that is equally applicable to those who experience salvation, as those who have yet to experience salvation, for Christ died for all of us, while we were still sinners (Rom 5:8).  Jesus says that He came to earth because of the Father's love, and His desire was for their salvation not their condemnation (John 3:16-17)

Thus, we have a God who created the world and all the people in it, and He loves us all, whether we have heard of Him or not, and He desires our salvation.  I believe this is true of all that have ever lived, for His love was established before the creation of the world, and clearly from the very first He loved us.  The verses found in Gen 6 - where it speaks of God's regret, must be understood through the understanding of the greater revelation of Christ Jesus.  In fact, the story of Noah can be understood as being an early image of salvation available through obedience to God.  The Author of Hebrews states that  "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" (Hebrews 1:3 NIV), thus, if we don't see something in Jesus, and through His life, that is seen or described in the Old Testament, we must understand that the author of whatever is in question, had a less superior revelation of God's character and motivation.

So, going back to these verses, we find a line of thinking in some of the earliest writings of the Church, that Jesus went to those who were already dead, and proclaimed or preached to them, and that includes those who were alive before Noah's time, which is much before the time of Abraham, before the Covenant of the Law, and certainly before the revelation of Jesus!  If He does hold the keys to death and hades, and all must come to salvation through Him, and God loves every human who has ever lived since before the creation of the world, then the only just thing for God to do (at least in my limited understanding) would be to make sure that all who have ever lived would have a chance to hear the Gospel, and a chance to respond, even if they are already passed from life here on earth!

Doesn't that just stretch your mind, heart and understanding?  

If God is perfectly just and perfectly merciful, this seems to me to be the answer to both!   

In His letter to the Colossians, Paul writes, "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,.." (Colossians 2:13 NIV) The original Greek reads more like, "And you, dead in your sins" not so much a time reference, but a statement of fact, and this would be true for us all!

Taking one step further, if this is possibly true for us, dead in our sin, could it not also be true for those who are actually dead?  

Could we say this is true for every person who has ever lived, regardless of what they have heard in this life, or believed in this life?  

I am certainly not making a statement of theological assurance, but really asking if our idea of God is big enough?  

Could God be this merciful and just?  

Could He actually love and care for the Hindu, Muslim, Atheist, LGBTQ individual and me in the same way?

Certainly deep and challenging thoughts!  If I know one thing, it is that I cannot fully comprehend God, His character, or the beautiful possibility of His perfect will and plan.  

Thank You Lord for everything, for all You do, and have done in my life! 

Amen!

Grapes, New Wine, Aged Wine and Life

 

Yesterday morning while walking my dog, I was listening to worship music and the song "New Wine" by Hillsong Worship came on, and as I listened the Lord started speaking about new wine, and drawing some analogies that I thought were significant.  The main theme of this analogy related to seasons we find ourselves in, and how the Lord is working in us, to change us.

Starting with the vine, in John 15 Jesus speaks about us as branches on the vine.  John 15:1-2 NIV:

[1] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. [2] He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."

As someone with a grape vine, I have studied pruning and the necessity of doing so.  Grapes only grow on branches that are a year old. Thus, it is important to prune the vine every year, so that in the next season there is fruitfulness.  

In our Christian walk, it is not uncommon for us to experience seasons of fruitfulness followed by seasons where it feels like we are experiencing a cutting back.  Maybe you are no longer involved in a ministry opportunity that you really enjoyed, or maybe the Lord is dealing with internal issues, things that need to be removed.  In either case, these experiences can be panful, and make us wonder if we did something wrong, or is we are being punished.  Going back to Jesus' statement, these are meant to bring forth more fruit!  In other words what we did was valuable to the Lord, so He, in His wisdom, is pruning us so that we will bear more fruit in the future!  It is not punishment, nor something we did wrong, it is preparation!  

Moving on to grapes and fruitfulness, and wine making.  Grapes that grow in hot and dry summers actually produce better wine! Sometimes we go through those times of extended dryness in our walk with the Lord, again thinking we have somehow lost our way, but if we persevere there will be a richness and sweetness that develops in us.  

Some grapes are eaten and used immediately, others are used to make grape juice, other grapes are used to make wine.  Grape juice is immediately available and some of our seasons in life and in Christ, we find ourselves bearing fruit and quickly and its wonderful to be bearing fruit for the Lord.  However sometimes the Lord has better plans for the grapes, making them into wine.  In both cases there is a crushing and pressing, think of this as service rendered to the Lord, that costs us time, attention, money, some level of dying to our own wants and needs.  Although panful on some level, it is rewarding.

In winemaking an additional few steps are added that cause a deep transformation, and this transformation enhances the flavors and characteristics that are already found in the wine, due to where they are grown, and whats in the air and soil around them (our life experience).  Chemically, the juice is changed into wine, by yeast converting the sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. This change is at a deep (molecular) level, and there is no going back.  The giving off of CO2 is why new wine skins are required, as this gas causes expansion.  

If you are in a season of fruitfulness, but old ways don't seem to be working anymore, or are uncomfortable, you might be in the making new wine season.  In these situations, new thinking, new ways, new methods, new flexibility is required!  This is an uncomfortable process, as many of us don't like change, or resist change.  If we look at that analogy, used by Jesus in Matthew 9:17, He isn't saying old wine is bad, but He is doing something new and there must be room for this new work!  In my life, this has meant being open to change, being open to new paradigms, new ideas, new ways of hearing, etc. The Lord is doing something new, and we must make room.

Some wine is consumed shortly after this transformation process (new wine) but much is put into barrels for aging.  This aging allows for a mellowing, a melding of flavors from the wood mixed with the wine, bringing out new flavors.  The time in the barrel is constraining and dark, and seasonal changes cause small movements of wine into and out of the wood, further enhancing and developing the rich characteristics the winemaker is after.  I guess we could take Jesus' example in John 15 and say not only is the Father the gardener, He is also the winemaker.  

As I was thinking through this all I felt like the Lord said that we must not lose hope in any season we are in, for He is about His work in our life, and we must trust that He knows what He is doing!  Even if we have gone through a crushing, and pressing, into a time of deep transformation, and now find ourselves still hidden away, with imperceptible changes, it is because He sees in us something special, something worth waiting to share with the world, and the rest of the Body of Christ.  He hasn't forgotten you, He isn't punishing you, He hasn't removed you from His plans, He has much greater things, and greater purpose for you!  

He is about reproducing in us, the likeness of His Son.  Jesus went through 30 years of hiddenness and quiet before He was revealed to the world!  

My prayer this morning is that this analogy helps you identify where you are in the Lord, especially if you are in a seasons of struggle, difficulty, dryness or darkness.  The Lord isn't finished and there are days of fruitfulness and ministry still ahead of you!

May His grace and peace rest upon you and give You hope!

Here are the first few verses to the song, "New Wine"

In the crushing

In the pressing

You are making new wine

In the soil

I now surrender

You are breaking new ground

So I yield to You into Your careful hand

When I trust You I don't need to understand

Make me Your vessel

Make me an offering

Make me whatever You want me to be

I came here with nothing

But all You have given me

Jesus bring new wine out of me

In the crushing

In the pressing

You are making new wine

In the soil

I now surrender

You are breaking new ground

You are breaking new ground

So, make me Your vessel

Make me an offering

Make me whatever

You want me to be

I came here with nothing

But all You have given me

Jesus, bring new wine out of me

Jesus, bring new wine out of me

Jesus, bring new wine out of me

'Cause where there is new wine

There is new power

There is new freedom

And the Kingdom is here

I lay down my old flames

To carry Your new fire today

'Cause where there is new wine

There is new power

There is new freedom

And the Kingdom is here

I lay down my old flames

To carry Your new fire today

So, make me Your vessel

Make me an offering

Make me whatever You want me to be

God, I came here with nothing

But all You have given me

Jesus, bring new wine out of me

Jesus, bring new wine out of me

Jesus, bring new wine out of me

The Kingdom Advancing Through Force

This morning I find myself back reflecting on the Kingdom of God/Heaven and I am tackling one of the more difficult verses about the Kingdom.  The verses for reflection this morning - Matthew 11:11-12 NIV:

[11] "Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. [12] From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it."

Looking at this translation it is somewhat difficult to understand exactly what Jesus is saying, so I feel compelled to look at the original Greek.

"subjected to violence"  Greek "biazo'"Definition (verb): (a) mid: I use force, force my way, come forward violently, (b) pass: I am forcibly treated, suffer violence.

"violent people"  Greek "biastes'" definition (noun): a forceful, violent man; one who is eager in pursuit.

Additionally - biastḗs – positive assertiveness; used of the believer living in faith ("God's inworked persuasions") guiding and empowering them to act forcefully – i.e. "fired up" by God to act by His revelation. It is used only in Mt 11:12. See 971 (biazō).

"raiding it" Greek "harpazo" definition (verb): properly, seize by force; snatch up, suddenly and decisively – like someone seizing bounty (spoil, a prize); to take by an open display of force (i.e. not covertly or secretly).

Verse 12 could read ( as in Jesus speaking about Himself): From the days of John the Baptist, the Kingdom of Heaven is moving forward through force (power - my word) and the one who is forcing His way forward is openly and forcefully possessing it. 

Force is actually a word used in physics.  "In physics, a force is an influence that can change the motion of an object. A force can cause an object with mass to change its velocity (e.g. moving from a state of rest), i.e., to accelerate. Force can also be described intuitively as a push or a pull. A force has both magnitude and direction, making it a vector quantity."  It used to be  referred to as power. 

In this case, the object could be the Kingdom, and it is changing trajectory (moving forward).

Additionally, thinking about that sentence, it is helpful to think back on who is advancing the Kingdom of Heaven, from the time of John the Baptist, as in after John the Baptist's time of ministry. Clearly the one doing this is Jesus, for His message is about the coming near of the Kingdom, from the very start of His public ministry (See Matt 4:17), so it appears to me that He is describing Himself and His methods. 

Thus we could paraphrase Jesus' words more simply - I am the one who is advancing the Kingdom of Heaven with Power, and through this power I am taking possession of it!

The Kingdom exists where?  In us, in our hearts and souls.  If the people who heard Jesus speak these words looked around they would see healed people, disciples, and followers.  No territory conquered, no real base of operations and property claimed.  This Kingdom of Heaven was clearly not an earthly kingdom, with property lines, and geography, but rather with subjects (sons and daughters) spread through the world.  He was advancing the Kingdom, one person at a time.  He was rescuing them, if you will, from the Kingdom of darkness, and bringing them into the Kingdom of Light, the Kingdom of Heaven, through their faith in Him.

Going back to the definition of force found in Physics, we could say that Jesus was exerting an influence on the people's souls, and causing them to move and change trajectory (up instead of down).

Jesus spoke about the reality of the kingdom in Luke 17:20-21 NIV:

[20] Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, [21] nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

If we tie this back to His statement in Matthew 11, it makes perfect sense.  He was describing the advancing of the Kingdom of Heaven happening in their midst, advancing with force (power) and people were missing it because they didn't understand what the nature of the Kingdom was, nor where it was advancing, nor how! 

If I take all this back to Jesus message of the Kingdom of Heaven/God is near, and then His demonstration of that Kingdom reality through healing, miracles, signs and wonders, we find it fits perfectly into these two statements Jesus made concerning the Kingdom.  He proclaimed the Kingdom, then demonstrated it, then saw it advance as people believed in their hearts and souls that He was indeed the Son of Man. 

So my question this morning is whether the Kingdom advances through talk or words alone?

In my opinion, I think it can, but the much more expedient way is through the force/power of the Holy Spirit being experienced by people! We can become convinced logically that Jesus is who He says He is, but when we experience His touch in our life, that belief in our mind moves to our heart and soul.  We move from agreement to actual knowledge!  Jesus said in John 17:3,  "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."   We must move from logical agreement to actual knowledge, and in doing so the Kingdom advances!

My prayer this morning is that the Kingdom of God would advance forcefully in our midst!

Amen, come Lord Jesus!

Finish The Race Well

This morning I felt led to read from Paul's first letter to the Church in Corinth. I was just thinking how interesting it is that Paul is writing a pastoral letter to a whole church.  I love that the church had a common identity, and that Paul could address them as one.  I would imagine that his letter was read and re-read many times over, and served as a guide to their formation and growth as a church.  There is something very healthy for a church to be in relationship with Apostolic leadership. 

The verses that I am reflecting on this morning, have some relation to the ones I was reflecting on recently, having to do with overcoming the flesh and the enemy by knowing and holding tight to our identity of being hidden in Christ.  In the verses today, Paul is speaking about his self-discipline.  Here are the verses - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV:

[24] "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. [25] Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. [26] Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. [27] No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

The verses that specifically caught my eye was verse 27.  Paul, well into his ministry, is writing about his continued vigilance towards his body, and his application of self-discipline so as not to be disqualified.  When reading this, it is my thought that he is describing a constant vigilance against the temptations of the flesh, making sure that he does not embrace them and so cause damage to either his own walk and faith, or to his legacy in the Gospel as well. 

Mathew Henry writes the following commentary on these verses.  "The apostle compares himself to the racers and combatants in the Isthmian games, well known by the Corinthians. But in the Christian race all may run so as to obtain. There is the greatest encouragement, therefore, to persevere with all our strength, in this course. Those who ran in these games were kept to a spare diet. They used themselves to hardships. They practised the exercises. And those who pursue the interests of their souls, must combat hard with fleshly lusts. The body must not be suffered to rule. The apostle presses this advice on the Corinthians. He sets before himself and them the danger of yielding to fleshly desires, pampering the body, and its lusts and appetites. Holy fear of himself was needed to keep an apostle faithful: how much more is it needful for our preservation! Let us learn from hence humility and caution, and to watch against dangers which surround us while in the body."  Mathew Henry's Concise Commentary.

This is very similar to my thinking this morning.  If Paul, one the greatest Apostles, full of the Holy Spirit, working the ministry day in and day out, had to maintain a constant discipline over his body, or the fleshly desires, how much more do I need to do so?  Clearly, there can be no easing off, no coasting, no thinking I have achieved the end of my temptations, or tamed my desires fully.  

I am reminded of a minister I heard speaking one time on his particular focus in ministry, which was to fallen (into sin) pastors.  He talked about the similarity in many of these individual's stories, how they had many years of successful ministry, had many years of successfully keeping themselves pure, and avoiding sins of the flesh.  In almost every case, they had thought themselves free of temptation and that was when the enemy struck, and when they fell.  It was as if the enemy knew that if he waited long enough, the opportunity to entice them into choosing sin would avail itself.  This minister said it was so common, that much of his ministry to others (who hadn't fallen) was encouragement and ideas on how to maintain their vigilance until the end of their life.  

I found his message encouraging and a great warning, for the men he was helping, who had fallen, were great men of the faith, men who had significant influence in the Body of Christ.  As I read these verses from Paul, I believe this is exactly what he was touching on.  It seems like so much work, and yet for the sake of the Gospel, for the sake of the Church, it is worth it. 

Now to be clear, I don''t believe he is just talking about sexual sin, but rather all of the pursuits of the flesh.  Paul listed many in his letter to the Galatians 5:19-21 NIV:  "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; [20] idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions [21] and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."  Each of the acts of the flesh have their own temptations, their own path to destruction and death, and all of them are damaging to our witness and our ministries.  

Personally, I have a genetic disposition to high cholesterol, to the level that is dangerous to my heart and health.  Our cholesterol levels are related to our diet, and specifically the bad cholesterol is raised when we eat significant amounts of carbohydrates (For a good synopsis of our body chemistry I recommend a book called "Protein Power" written by an endocrinologist). Anyway, I have a love for sweets and baked things, and one day in prayer I felt the Lord warn me that the enemy was trying to get me to take myself out early through my eating habits, specifically my indulging in excessive carbs.  I had never thought of that previously, but now in reading Paul's letter this morning I am reminded once again of that warning.  I need to make my body slave to my Holy Spirit empowered will, and I need to maintain my vigilance always.  It is so easy to slide into unhealthy pursuits and appetites, and not think of the path to destruction and death that I am starting down.

This morning I am greatly encouraged to continue to maintain my vigilance over my body, over my appetites, over my heart condition and specifically my thoughts. I am encouraged to run the race to finish well, to never cease in my pursuit of Him, for His glory.  The time for feasting will come, after the race is run!

Amen and Amen!

My Freed Man Card

Lately these verses from Paul's letter to the Galatians have been my fuel for reflection.  During much of this letter he is building a case for the Gospel of grace, and combatting the "circumcision party" which was trying to force Jewish law upon Gentile believers, or at least cause division in the Body of Christ. However, in this chapter he shifts his focus a bit and provides some very helpful perspective concerning our efforts to walk in the freedom that Jesus purchased for us.  Here are the verses - Galatians 5:16-26 NIV:

[16] "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. [17] For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. [18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 

[19] The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; [20] idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions [21] and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. [24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. [26] Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

This morning my reflection is on verse 24 and the idea that our flesh has been crucified.  The English translation "have crucified" comes from the Greek word, stauroo' which literally means to crucify.  The interesting thing is that it verb tense aorist indicative active, which means it happened perfectly in the past and was accomplished by the subject of the sentence, namely those who belong to Christ Jesus.  In other words this has already been accomplished, something completed, something finished.  Our choice to have faith in Christ Jesus is what makes this our past. 

Paul writes about our joining ourselves to Christ in His death (crucifixion) and resurrection in several letters.  He writes in his letter to the Romans 6:5-11 NIV:

[5] "For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. [6] For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--- [7] because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. 

[8] Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. [9] For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. [10] The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 

[11] In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus." 

Paul continues that theme, but here encapsulates it in the Gospel of grace through faith, and writes in his letter to the Ephesians 2:4-10 NIV:

[4] "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, [5] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions---it is by grace you have been saved. [6] And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, [7] in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. [8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith---and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--- [9] not by works, so that no one can boast. [10] For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

In probably the best summary, Paul writes in his letter to the Colossians 3:3 NIV: "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

The key here is that this has already happened!  We have already had our flesh nature crucified with Christ, and our only part in all of this is faith in Him, who says this is true.  God is the one who accomplished this unbelievable fact, establishing us, choosing us, saving us, and inviting us into this new creation of God's handiwork.  Our part is believing and accepting this great gift. Anyone who does this now belongs to Christ Jesus, and is hidden in Him, in God.

What is my point in all of this?

Namely that we can grab hold of this truth and live by it, and force our flesh to bow down, and force the enemy to bow down before this truth, this identity, this reality!  We don't need to battle it out, we can stand up in the face of fleshly temptation and declare our death and resurrection and hiddenness in Christ.  If we can learn to flash our "Flesh Crucified Card" (if you will) at the enemy, and at our flesh, we can depower them in our lives, for in the true reality of God's Kingdom and our life hidden in Christ Jesus, they no longer have power over us. 

One of my favorite authors, Bill Johnson, speaks about how the enemy only has as much power in our life as he can convince us to give to him.  In other words, now that we are hidden in Christ, the enemy has no hold on us, just as he has no hold on Christ Jesus.  However, if he can convince us to give him authority in some area,  we empower him.  It is our agreement with his lies that enables this.  In this case, we are somehow convinced that our flesh still has power over our lives, and in ding so we empower the flesh, and allow the enemy access to  us through our flesh.

For example if a slave ever purchased their freedom, all they had to do was show their receipt, or their declaration of being a "Freed Man" to those that would want to enslave them again.  Better yet was the slave that was given his freedom by his master, again he just needed to flash his,  "Freed Man" card when confronted by those that would enslave him.  In the same way, we have been given a "Flesh Crucified Card" when we come to salvation in Jesus, and it applies to our old self, our flesh.

Learning to walk in this reality, is the key.  This is my reflection of late, because it has been a struggle for me to do lately (like for most of my life). I am working to align my thinking with this truth, learning to take "fleshly" thoughts captive and forcing them to bow down before this truth.  I have a long way to go, but I know this is truth, and in embracing my hiddenness in Christ, and pursuing greater intimacy with Him, learning to walk by the Spirit, I will see the influence of my flesh and the enemy be reduced in my life.  

I like the idea of flashing my "Flesh Crucified Card" almost like producing my drivers license, when confronted by things not of the Lord. In reality, my new ID card, states that I died, (the day I came to saving grace in Christ Jesus) and now live hidden in Him.  My true residence is with Him in heaven, and the donor status is that He gave His life for me.  This is my "Freed Man Card"!

Wow, that will preach!

Lord, help me to live in this reality!  Help me embrace this truth!  Help me to take all other thoughts captive, and help me to live by Your Holy Spirit, embracing my hiddenness and intimacy available through You and in You!

Amen and Amen!

The Gospel of the Kingdom

Recently I have renewed my interest in studying about the Kingdom of God as Jesus' primary message.  At church this past Monday, the gospel was from Matthew 9:35-38 NIV:

[35] "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. [36] When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. [37] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. [38] Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

The phrase that stuck out to me was "proclaiming the good news of the kingdom!"  In other words His gospel (good news) was that the Kingdom of god was being established in their midst!  And then to back that proclamation up, He demonstrated it with healing and miracles.  I have thought and written about this in the past, but I guess it just grabbed me, that the message of the Kingdom is Good News, it is the Gospel!  

I guess I need to revisit and refresh my studies on the Gospel of the Kingdom, and what that proclamation is!  The word Kingdom is used 53 times in Matthew's Gospel, 152 times in the NT.  It is Jesus' key message, it was what Jesus taught about after His resurrection, It was what Paul preached, and is the final entry in Acts... 

Acts 28:30-31 NIV:

[30] "For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. [31] He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ---with all boldness and without hindrance!"

I was just thinking about the parable of the good soil, and thought it might be a good message, to look at for us, as the Church.  It is found in the three synotpic Gospels, but Matthew's version is the one that I am using today.

Here is what that parable means, in Jesus' words, paying close attention to the Kingdom - Matthew 13:18-23 NIV:

[18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: [19] When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. [20] The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. [21] But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. [22] The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. [23] But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” 

Note that the seed =  "the message about the Kingdom" = Good news about the Kingdom of God!

As I was reading this, I was thinking about the very few times I have heard the Good News about the Kingdom preached.

Questions:  What has happened to the Gospel of the Kingdom in the church?  Have we lost this word as our primary message?  Have we moved onto other things that are easier to discuss, and demonstrate

Going back to Matthew's Gospel, Jesus continues to speak about the Kingdom - Matthew 13:24-30 NIV:

[24] Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. [25] But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. [26] When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. [27] “The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' [28] “ 'An enemy did this,' he replied. “The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' [29] “ 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. [30] Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' ”

Later the disciple asked Jesus to explain the second parable and we find this and His response in Matthew 13:36-43 NIV:

[36] Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 

[37] He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. [38] The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, [39] and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 

[40] “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. [41] The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. [42] They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [43] Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear."

Here Jesus is clearly indicating that the Kingdom is made up of people, and not just a region, a land or some earthly Kingdom.  The Jews initially thought that the message of the Kingdom of God was a revisiting of God's glory on the people of Israel, and that Messiah come and reestablish God's literal Kingdom on earth, and would be their King.  Clearly this is not what Jesus is describing here.  Jesus essentially says that the Kingdom of God will exist in this form until the day of Judgement.  Here we have the good seed = people of the Kingdom.  In the previous parable, the seed was the Gospel, or Good news about the Kingdom of God, present on the earth.  The reality is it is both, for the people are the message bearers (good seed), and our response is what reproduces and spreads the Message, the Good News about the Kingdom.  

Going back to the beginning, if the Gospel of the Kingdom is Jesus' primary message, one would think that it should be ours as well.  We don't want this message to get lost, forgotten, carried away or trampled, so we must refresh our commitment to it and allow this message to continue ot cover the whole earth.

Lord, please help us all!

An Eruption of Love

I was sitting here thinking about the day and was wondering what we should do today, and I was focused on myself, and my honey.  I realized that I didn't even think once about asking the Lord what we should be doing.  Part of making Him my Lord, is actually making Him my Lord, and sometimes I am just totally self-focused.  

The good news is that the Lord isn't worried, nor angry.  Just like when I don't hear from my kids for days on end, I am not angry, nor concerned that,  they have found some other person to be their Dad, He is waiting, but still loves me and treasures me.

I am reminded of the story of the Prodigal or wayward son, told by Jesus in Luke 15:11-32 NIV:

[11] "Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. [12] The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. 

[13] “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. [14] After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. [15] So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. [16] He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 

[17] “When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! [18] I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. [19] I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.' [20] So he got up and went to his father. 

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 

[21] “The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 

[22] “But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. [23] Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. [24] For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. 

[25] “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. [26] So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. [27] 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' 

[28] “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. [29] But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. [30] But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' 

[31] “ 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. [32] But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' ”

My favorite line is the second half of verse 20, “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."

The fact that the Father saw him while he was still a long way off, means that the Father had been waiting and looking.  Most likely not just this particular morning, but every day since the younger son had left.  The Father's heart never turned from His son, nor did His attention waver.  He was constantly waiting and watching.

The second bit about that line is just as important as the first, the Father was filled with compassion for the younger son! This isn't the same as feeling sorry, this is much deeper.  The Greek word used here is splagchnizomai, which means to be moved in the inward parts (bowels), i.e. to feel compassion.  In other words, deep in the heart, in His inner most being, the Father was moved at the mere sight of His son!  

I think of it as an eruption of love, that poured forth from the Father.  We see this evident in the Father's next actions for, old as he was, he took off running, all the way to where His son was and threw his arms around him and kissed and embraced him!  In fact the Greek word for embraced, is the same word that was used to describe the outpouring of the Holy Spirit when Peter was speaking to the Gentiles in Acts 10, the timing, passion and depth of which surprised everyone in the room!!  In the same way, surprising the son, the father fell upon Him, and covered him with His embrace!

I am sure, not even in his wildest dreams, did the younger son expect that type of welcome. We know he planned to simply beg for a position as a servant, so we know he wasn't expecting the wild embrace and welcome back he experienced.  

So, this morning I am encouraged that every time I turn my heart to the Lord, I am greeted in this same way!  He is longing for me to turn towards Him, and when I do He races towards me to embrace me, as love for me erupts in His heart!  

Thank You Lord for loving me, waiting for me, and having compassion for me!

Amen and Amen!