Revelation, Relationship and Rest

This morning I am reading from Matthew, chapter eleven, and there is much here.  Jesus answers John's followers when he asks if He is the one, Jesus talks about the generation wanting things their way, and not repenting, even in spite of the miracles.  I have recently spent time with both of these themes.  Today I felt led to reflect on the last three statements in this chapter - Matthew 11:25-30 NIV:

[25] "At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. [26] Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. 

[27] “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 

[28] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I have recently been thinking about the unusual nature of God's revelation to mankind.  The way He goes about things is so different than the way we would do it if we had His power.  We are focused on power, authority, justice and the like, but we really have no idea what any of those really are like, from God's perspective.  He is all- powerful, all-knowing, creator of the universe, perfectly just, has all authority, and yet He chooses to hide much of His nature from the "wise and learned" and it please Him to do so!   I guess in some way we think God needs us to be on His side to accomplish what He is about, and when we think of how things get done in earthly ways, His ways just don't make sense.  

Clearly this is not a hard-rule, for many powerful, wise and learned men, both now and in history follow Him.   Again it is not often through meeting this cosmic super-power that people are persuaded, but rather through meeting this humble, loving, self-sacrificing Jesus, who gave His life for us.  Jesus has chosen to reveal Himself primarily as one of us, a man of humble beginnings and life, but one whose life changed the whole world, not through conquests of power and military brilliance, but through surrender, love and service, and for many of us, this just makes no sense so we struggle with understanding and acceptance.

Continuing on, Jesus says that 'all things have been committed to Him by the Father'.  While that seems like a simple statement, we cannot clearly understand, for we cannot grasp what "all things" actually means.  Clearly Jesus is our path to revelation of the Father, as He states.  He is the perfect representation of the Father (Heb 1:3) lived out here in a way that we can understand, and relate to.  He, in doing this life on earth, put human skin on God's character.  It is in our study of Him, our interactions with Him that we come to see and understand the Father more and more.  Again, it pleases the Father to do this!

Finally Jesus speaks one of my favorite verses, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (verse 28 above).  While this verse is often quoted without the previous context, I think that Jesus is continuing in the same stream of revelation here.  Jesus is speaking about relationship with the Father, understanding the Father, and those that are confounded in their search for understanding.  Historically John, flowed by Jesus broke a 300+ year drought of hearing the Word of the Lord.  The Jews were trying to understand God, and the lack of interaction with God, and were waiting for a Messiah who would free them from the Roman reign.  They were struggling to understand Jesus, as He revealed the Father, and His statement here seems to be an invitation into relationship and revelation, that would allow them to stop striving and seeking.  

The yoke Jesus speaks of could mean several things, and of them, the yoke of learning as a student studying under a master or something like an apprenticeship was a common understanding at that time.  To me, this seems like the invitation to stop trying to figure it all out, and just allowing Him to reveal Himself and the Father.  What a wonderful invitation, we don't have to strive or labor, but rather lean into Him relationally and let Him reveal Himself, and his love, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, and faithfulness in a restful engagement.

Again, this seems counter-intuitive.  For many of us learning is an effort, and the Lord is saying He will give us rest, and will help us to learn, help us to grow, and enable us to do this in a place of rest for our souls.  We don't need to strive constantly, or radically change our lives, or pursue our own righteousness, instead we accept His invitation to rest and learn, and enter relationship with Him.  Who would ever guess that Lord of all would be such a gentle teacher, and desirous of relationship with us?  

Oh, this is good news and really should be rest for our souls, especially those that have been raised under a religious world-view that says it is all our responsibility and one must constantly be working to maintain a level of purity and holiness, otherwise the Lord will reject us.  That yoke is not from Him, for His is "easy and His burden is light!"

Thank You Lord for revealing the simplicity of Your invitation!  Thank You Lord that Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light!

Amen and Amen!

Hearts Far and Near

This morning I am reflecting on some verses from the Gospel of Mark 7:5-8,14-15,17-23 NIV:

[5] "So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?” 

[6] He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “ 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. [7] They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.' 

[8] You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” 

[14] Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. [15] Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” 

[17] After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. [18] “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don't you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? [19] For it doesn't go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) 

[20] He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. [21] For it is from within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts come---sexual immorality, theft, murder, [22] adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. [23] All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

This interaction between Jesus and the Pharisees and teachers, always intrigued me, as it seems that Jesus gets to the exact foundational issue, faith is internal and relational with external observable actions.  God in His eternal perspective, knowing our thoughts and motivations, looks past our actions to our very heart and mind.  He judges rightly, by what only He can see.

Initially when I read these verses, the thing that caught my eye was Jesus' response to the disciples, "Are you so dull?".  Here is another great example of translators providing a word, that while technically correct, causes us to think that Jesus was being a bit harsh in dealing with His disciples.  The word translated dull is the Greek word asunetos, and it literally means without understanding, which I think is much closer to what Jesus would have said.

Jesus in His statement about external things not able to defile is basically negating things they had been teaching for hundreds of years.  This was no little course correction, but a significant bit for the disciples to process.  Clearly they were struggling with understanding the implications of what Jesus had just said.  Leviticus 11-15 is all about what defiles or makes one unclean, and it is basically all external sources.   If this book is the first thing taught to Jewish children, then the understanding of being defiled by external sources would have been deeply ingrained in the disciples, and any Jewish person who just heard Jesus.  I can just imagine them looking at one another and thinking through all the different things they knew would defile them, and wondering if Jesus' statement was applicable to these situations as well?

Jesus then goes on and provides the new revelation about what actually defiles, and it is all from within, out of a persons heart and mind!  That would have definitely caused a stir, because He was now talking about things that only God can understand and view.  He lists a bunch of clearly wrong actions, but He traces the origination to the heart and thoughts.  This is very similar to the Sermon on the Mount, and His taking sin and expanding the definition to include thoughts, rather than just actions. 

The problem with all of this is that these are no longer clearly observable things, and people would not be able to judge others correctly.  The only One who could correctly judge is God, who sees our hearts and minds and knows all.  The clear path is toward individual relationship with God, the invitation is to intimacy with Him, and it is very different than what all the Jews had grown up with as a base understanding.  The context of all of this was present in the Old Testament, for we have a view of David's intimate pursuit of God, and God revealing what was in David's heart, and such, but the normal Jewish follower was likely taught to focus on the external trappings of their faith and ritual cleanliness.

My encouragement this morning is to look closely at my own heart and mind, to see what things exist there that are "defiling".  As I look at some of the words in verse 21 & 22 above, especially in light of Jesus teaching in Matt 5, I see areas where I need to "clean-up" my thoughts.  For example Jesus said the following, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, 'Raca,' is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Matthew 5:21-22 NIV).  If I take the principle of Jesus' expanded definition and apply it to the other words, I find I have an uncomfortable reckoning.  

Again, the whole point is not to focus on specific things, but to focus on relationship with the Lord, to bring our heart near to Him and allow Him to bring change to our inner-being and mind.  Paul writes about the renewing of our mind (Rom 12:2) and this is exactly what I need, even now after walking 40+ years with Him.  I am amazed at how easy it is to allow thoughts that can cause a defiling to find a place in my heart and mind!  

The good news is that regardless of my own inadequacy, that Jesus has made a way, and through grace His righteousness is extended to me.  What is impossible for man is possible for God!  As Paul says 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."

Lord, I am so grateful that You have made a way, You have not rejected us, but have extended Your grace to us, in spite of our weakness, frailty, uncleanliness,  and sinfulness!  You have set a high standard, and have provided the way for us all through faith!  Help me to press into deeper relationship with You, allowing You to identify areas where I need to renew my mind and cleanse my heart, that I might think and act more like You!  My desire is to bring Glory to Your name.  I want my heart to be near You!

Amen and Amen!

Making Every Effort

This morning I am reflecting on the following verses from 2 Peter 1:1-11 NIV:

[1] "Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: [2] Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 

[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."

I have several thoughts upon reading these verses.  First, our foundation for life in Christ is the gift of faith, Peter calls it precious.  This really is o first importance, for without the gift of faith, we have no real connection to the Lord.  It is our anchor.

Secondly, Peter says that we have been given everything we need for a godly life, though God's divine power.  I think I would read Holy Spirit here, and while we have been given everything we need, that doesn't mean we are using everything we have received.  I know that I am fully capable of forgetting many of the things that I have been given, or sometimes doubting if I have really received some of His gifts.  Have you ever found money left in a pair of pants, or old wallet or purse?  I find that my life in Christ is sometimes like that.  I had the money all along, just didn't realize it until one day I happened upon that which was already mine, just forgotten.  Oh Lord, help me to remember and walk in everything You have given me.

Thirdly, there is a practical application of our faith, that Peter speaks about in verses 5-9.  He is encouraging us to making effort to grow in our life in Christ.  These days, this attitude towards taking responsibility for our own growth and actions is becoming less and less popular.  We want the easy, 3 or 5 steps to maturity and growth that requires no effort on our part. The reality is that without taking responsibility for our own growth, we will be weak, ineffective and immature, and even according to Peter, blind, or at least very near-sighted.

I find the list that Peter gives us interesting. The flow is as follows:

1) Faith

2) goodness

3) knowledge

4) self-control

5) perseverance

6) godliness

7) mutual affection

8) love

He encourages us to possess these in greater measure, which means growth in all areas, not just one.  These are not grades in school where you pass the final test, and move up a grade, these are supposed to all be in action and engaged in all our lives, and constantly growing in measure.  If this is the case, we can never think that we have arrived, and grown enough.  

In addition, continuing with the school analogy these are supposed to all be present all the time, more like subjects in school, for we did have math, reading, spelling, science, phy-ed every year in school, just the depth of the topics changed from year to year. In our walk with the Lord, He is desirous of us learning to walk more fully in these characteristics.  A good question to ask ourselves is, how am I growing in each of these characteristics? 

I find an analogy of  working-out helpful here.  My son was a power lifter, and he worked out each major muscle grouping on certain days, and rotated through them in a week.  He would have back days, leg days, chest days, arm days, etc.  Wouldn't it be interesting to have faith days, goodness days, knowledge days, self-control days, etc.?  

Even as I wrote those last few sentences, I thought to myself, that sounds like too much work!  :-)  Apparently, I have some work to do! 

Lastly, I find it interesting that the list is not a set of tasks to complete.  Religion likes to create lists, but they are finite lists that we can judge ourselves and others against.  How do you judge on the list above?  The are character traits, and ones we should be constantly growing in.  We can never complete these characteristics, and each of us is on our own path of growth.  We do need to have grace for each other, and for ourselves.

My encouragement this morning is that I should be more intentional in putting forth effort to grow in these characteristics.  I am encouraged that if that is our call then, the ability to grow is present as well, in other words I am not lacking anything, other than focus and effort.  

Lord, I pray that You will help, as promised through Your Divine power!   

Amen and Amen!

Road to Emmaus: Hope for the Disillusioned, Disappointed and Done

This morning I am continuing reading from Luke's account of Jesus' passion, death and resurrection.  I am reflecting on the two disciples on their way to Emmaus found  in Luke 24:13-27 NIV:

[13] Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. [14] They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. [15] As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; [16] but they were kept from recognizing him. 

[17] He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” 

They stood still, their faces downcast. [18] One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 

[19] “What things?” he asked. 

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. [20] The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; [21] but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. [22] In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning [23] but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. [24] Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 

[25] He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

A couple of things stood out to me this morning.  First, I had forgot that the these two disciples had actually been present for all that happening that morning, as evidenced by their comments in verses 22-24.  I can't imagine the amount of turmoil that they were all in, for in less than a week they went from watching Jesus enter Jerusalem triumphantly, to watching suffer, die and be buried.  I am not at all surprised by their difficulty in grasping what was really happening.

In my own life, dealing with the death of a loved one, the initial news followed by the days of preparation and burial are a whirlwind of emotions, thoughts and often times, unbelief, and scattered thoughts.  One doesn't think back through the events, logically, remembering everything that the loved one has said, there is too much emotion, and grief.

I find the translation of verse 25 a bit out of character for Jesus, a rebuke of someone in grief, and figured I would look at the original Greek.  The word used here is anoétos:  defined as not understanding

The following  is from Strongs - HELPS Word-studies

453 anóētos (from 1 /A "without" and 3539 /noiéō, "to think") – properly, non-thinking, i.e. not "reasoning through" a matter (with proper logic); unmindful, which describes acting in a "mindless, dense" way ("just plain stupid").

I find this helpful (except the very last comment in parentheses).  I would imagine that the disciples were unable to logically think through everything, in fact probably were barely thinking, let alone logically working through everything the Prophets said about the Messiah.  I don't feel lie Jesus was rebuking them, so much as stating the very obvious reality.  They needed help to think, to understand, and He provided that help.  

Without knowing why they were walking to Emmaus, I think we can conclude that they were in state of disbelief and even disillusionment, maybe even deciding to calling it quits.  Maybe they were done with it all? Why else would they be walking away from all the others?  Again, I don't know any of this for sure, but knowing myself, I would be very happy to get some time-away, the opportunity to just be, and rethink everything.  If they were close followers, we know they had likely left most everything to follow Jesus, and possibly were now heading back home.  

I am moved with gratefulness that Jesus, if this was their state, went and retrieved them!  He didn't let them wander away, dejected and downcast.  Instead he reached out and helped them understand, and allowed them to rejoin themselves to the followers in Jerusalem, for they immediately returned to Jerusalem where all the rest of the followers (that we know about) were gathered.  What an awesome example of the Lord meeting us, where we are, on our way away from Him, giving us a chance to return, and bearing new revelation and understanding!

Thank You Lord for tracking any and all of us down, who have become disillusioned, dejected, confused, beat-down, or even quitting.  You never forget one of Yours, and are faithful forever.

Amen and Amen!

A Few Good Friday Reflections

This morning I have been reading through the passion and death of Jesus, as captured by Luke.  It is really a heart-rending story, especially if one loves Jesus.  I am amazed by a couple of things.  

First, I find it amazing how quickly Jesus went from being heralded as the New King of the Jews (Celebrated on Palm Sunday), and even having a peaceful  celebration of Passover with His disciples, to being arrested, beaten, and crucified in a day or so.  It is amazing how quickly the world can turn, and how fickle are our human wills and opinions.

Second, I was thinking about all the scheming and plans of the enemy, how he must have been gloating to see the rapid downfall of Jesus, thinking that He had won!  Jesus meanwhile was effectively shepherding the fulfillment of the prophecies and doing absolutely nothing to stave off what was coming towards Him.  It is amazing the enemy didn't see that surrender as a sure sign of God's bigger plan at work.

Thirdly, the statement of the people found in Matthew 27:25 NIV:  "All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”   I am amazed that they were so bold to embrace such a curse upon themselves.  In the midst of this, that is exactly what Jesus allowed, His blood to be poured forth upon all and any that would choose to believe in Him.  There were likely many that chanted this phrase, who later would be saved on the day of Pentecost and those days following, having their sins washed clean by the very blood of Jesus.  God absolutely flipped the curse into a blessing.

Finally, the mocking statement that was made by leaders and soldiers alike towards Jesus as He hung on the cross, found in Luke 23:35-37 NIV:

[35] "The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God's Messiah, the Chosen One.” 

[36] The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar [37] and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

We see this very same mockery of the Lord even today, except expressed towards those followers of Christ.  Those that are persecuted, those that are believing for salvation, those that are waiting for miracles, are often subjected to similar thoughts and words.  We even experience similar thoughts when we question God's love for us!  If He really is who He says He is, He would save me, heal me, help me, etc. We think God weak, or unable to act.  Others mock God, mock those of us who believe in Him, sneering at our simplistic beliefs.  Oh Lord, forgive us, and forgive them! 

God in His mercy, extends salvation to every person, whether a mocker, unbeliever, prideful, fearful, confused, or any other state of mind and heart.  Thankfully God is not like man, tracking down every one who had a part in His death and violently ending them!  He instead, knowing full well our unbelief, our doubt, our anger, our pains, offers us peace, and absolute salvation!  He chooses, over and over, again and again, to cleanse us in His most precious blood, washing us clean of our guilt, and inviting us into relationship that is the key to eternal life!  

He didn't just save Himself, He offers salvation to us all!

Thank You Lord! 

Snow: Rain Stored Up For Another Season

Yesterday during worship we were singing some songs about the River of God, and the flowing of His provision, and such.  There are many great verses in the Bible talking about the river of God and His rain.  As we were in worship I asked the Lord to open my spiritual eyes, and what I saw was a picture of snow piled up, and was reminded of some of the pictures I have seen from the Lake Tahoe Area.  

As I reflected on this image I was thinking that basically snow is rain that falls in the wrong season, and I felt corrected in my understanding.  Instead I was given to understand that,  "snow is rain that has fallen {and is being stored up} for another season that is yet to come."  That thought seemed to have some real significance.  

I started searching my bible for verses relating to snow, and was reminded of the following - Isaiah 55:10 NIV:  "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,"

As I began to reflect on this word, I came to understand that the picture was of God's provision being stored up, and the season is coming where that provision will be seen and recognized.  Often times in my life, if I have a need, I will begin praying and sometimes the response of the Lord is very quick (rain).  Other times, it seems like His response is delayed, but when it comes, it is apparent the Lord has been working in the background all along, and His planned provision has been piling up and gets released quickly.  I believe this type of experience represents the picture of piles of snow that I saw in my mind's eye.

Further more, I felt that as it is in the natural with spring upon us, that many of us will soon experience a spiritual spring that will release an abundance of the Lord's provision!  I believe that many of us are waiting on the Lord, waiting for Him to move or bring release, waiting for a change of season.  I believe that new season is quickly coming upon us, and we will experience the wonder of seeing things long stored up being released over us, and into our lives.

Come Lord, release those rains You have stored as snow!

May the Lord bless you abundantly with new grain, new bread, new provision, all brought about by His stored up provision of rain/blessing!

Amen!

Progressive Revelation In The Bible

This morning as I sat down to pray I was reminded of an article I read recently on progressive revelation.  It is a well written piece that walks through how and why we should understand the Old Testament in light of the revelation of Christ Jesus, and the New Testament.  This idea and approach to understanding the scriptures has been very helpful in my life, and my hope is that it is helpful to you as well.  Rather than paraphrase, copy or provide quotes, I am just going to include the link to the original article.  If you are unfamiliar with the concept, or even understand this approach, this is a worthwhile read.  

Here is the link: https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_1203.cfm

Please note this about Christian understanding of Scripture, not to confused with some of the other "progressive revelation" stuff out there.

I pray the Lord blesses your understanding!

Sam