Questions & Answers: Getting Personal

This morning I had a very different prayer time.  I have been meditating on John 21, which is the restoration of Peter, following Jesus' resurrection.  It is a very moving time of ministry, where we can see the gentleness and care of Jesus for Peter.  This morning as I was sitting down to pray  I asked the Lord, "What do You want to talk about?", rather than my normal question which is, "what should  I read?" 

It took me a little bit to settle my mind and heart, and just listen and as I did so, I felt led to go back to John 21, but instead of Jesus asking the questions of Peter,  "Peter, do you love me?"  I heard the Lord say to me: "Sam, do I love you?"

Actually it stunned me for a second, why would the Lord ask me this question?  But then as I pressed in I could almost hear the reverse of those questions and that conversation that was recorded by John!

Here is what I wrote down:

J: Sam, do I love You?

s: Yes Lord, You love me!

J: I will take care of your kids!

J: Sam, do I love you?

s: Yes Lord, You love me!

J: I will take care of your wife!

J:  Sam do I love you?

s: Yes Lord, I know that You love me, even though You know everything about me!

J: I will lead you and guide you all your life, I am the Good Shepherd, and I will take care of you!

I felt like the Lord wanted to press in, to have me look deeper at my relationship with Him.  There was an invitation to hear Him, to let Him ask questions, to hear how I really respond!  

These are the key questions the Lord asked me this morning, besides those above: 

Do I love you?

Do you trust Me?

Do you trust Me with your kids, and their lives?

Do you trust Me with Your life?

Do you trust Me with your spouses life?

I have the feeling this is the beginning of a great conversation, or actually several conversations that I am going to have with the Lord!  My answers to some of those questions need work, and show me areas that I need to grow, and surrender. The Lord was really getting personal today, and the invitation is open.

Lord, help me to press into You so that i might be able to answer each of those questions with a resounding YES based on my experience of You!

Yes Lord, I want to know You more, and know more of Your love and care! 

Amen and Amen!

Sweet Restoration

Yesterday during worship I was thinking about a couple of things.  First, I was thinking about the apostles and how their friendships with Jesus must have really seemed a bit strange after His resurrection.  I was thinking about how they would have related to Him after they realized He was actually the Son of God!  I think to some extent they never realized fully what that meant, Peter had revelation that He was Messiah, and even said so in Matt 16:16, but afterwards it seemed that they continued to relate to Him as a man, for what options did they really have.  They had a reverence and respect, and maybe even a little bit of fear at His power and authority, but still they related to Him as a man.  It was after His resurrection that the reality of who Jesus really is hit them, and it must have totally affected their relationship. 

Looking at it in the natural, their relationship with Jesus ended when He died on the cross, at least that is what they thought.  They were clearly grieving, trying to figure out what to do after His death.  I am sure all of their last conversations and experiences were playing back over and over in their minds... and when He appeared to them after He rose, it must have just been so jarring to their minds and emotions, especially since He had the scars that showed it wasn't just a bad dream.  It is definitely something to think more about, that transition from friend to savior!

The second thing I was reflecting on was the restoration of Peter as recorded in John 21.  As I was reading back over that I  was amazed at the completeness and merciful and compassionate care Jesus extended to Peter. There is a definite parallel between Jesus' restoration and Peter's original call as recorded in Luke 5:1-11 NIV:

[1] "One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. [2] He saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. [3] He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 

[4] When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 

[5] Simon answered, “Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 

[6] When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. [7] So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 

[8] When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” [9] For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, [10] and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. 

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” [11] So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him."

Here is John's recounting of the events following Jesus' resurrection - John 21:2-17 NIV:

[2] "Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus ), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. [3] “I'm going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We'll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 

[4] Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. [5] He called out to them, “Friends, haven't you any fish?” 

“No,” they answered. 

[6] He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 

[7] Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. [8] The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. [9] When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 

[10] Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” [11] So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. [12] Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. [13] Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. [14] This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. 

[15] When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” 

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” 

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 

[16] Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” 

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” 

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 

[17] The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” 

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” 

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep."

There is much to think about and reflect on in these verses, so I will just share the couple of things that stood out.  First, Jesus recreated His original call of Peter, with a very similar redirecting of where they were fishing and massive catch of fish.  This seems to me to be a restoring of His call on Peter's life.  I am sure Peter thought his call was over to some extent, especially after his public denial of Jesus.  

Secondly, Jesus did this in front of the others, to make sure they knew He was restoring Peter.  Jesus cared so much for Peter, and restoring Him, that He made sure the others knew that Peter was being restored, for they clearly might have had issues following him after his public denial of Jesus.  It is interesting to note that only 7 of the remaining 11 are there, and even Peter's brother Andrew seems to be missing, so it is possible there was already a bit of fragmenting of the unity of the Apostles.

Third, Peter didn't even push back on Jesus' direction to throw their nets on the right side of the boat whereas in Luke's recounting of the original Pater had basically told Jesus that He didn't know what He was talking about.  This to me shows the humility of Peter, something that was a long-time in the making. 

Fourth, Jesus very specifically cleared the denial off the books, for He provided Peter the opportunity to admit his love one time for every time he denied Him. I have read many author's thoughts on this restoration, and specially these three questions followed by commands, and they are very helpful.  I am just looking at the my own propensity to think poorly of my own words and actions, and how healing this must have been for Peter.  He essentially got to take back everything He had said, and while his denial was later detailed in the Gospels, he no longer bore the shame of those words!  

I could go on, but suffice it to say, the Lord cares for each of us in this exact same way!  There is nothing we can say or do that will cause Him to love us less!  He is always ready to invite us back into relationship, He is always ready to restore us, even as He did Peter.  He is merciful and compassionate and knows our thoughts and knows how to love us back into the fold!

Today I am so greatly encouraged by the Lord's love, compassion, forgiveness and sweet restoration! 

Thank You Lord!  

What is My Motivation?

This morning I felt like I should read from Mark's Gospel.  Here are the verses I am reflecting on today - Mark 7:1-8 NIV:

[1] "The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus [2] and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. [3] (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. [4] When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles. ) 

[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.”

As I was reading this, I was very aware of the specific language that Mark used calling these things the "tradition of the elders", and making sure that point was emphasized, for that was what Jesus responded to, the greater concern for things of man than things of God.  Those verses from Isaiah are just brutal, especially when we consider the whole goal of God's actions was to have relationship!   The Jews were no longer interested in relationship, but rather in the following of their own rules, for their hearts were far from God!  

As I read these things, I wonder how much of our church liturgical expression is from our hearts, and how much is just the "tradition of the elders"?

Are our hearts stirred for love and relationship with the Lord, or are our hearts and attentions on other things?

Do we talk like followers of Christ, but our actions and affections are on other things?

Do we gather around a practice and a set of rules, or do we gather out of love and affection for the Lord?

Have we let our affection and love for the Lord grow cold?

I am reminded of the two greatest commandments, as described by Jesus in Mark 12:29-31 NIV:

[29] “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [30] Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' [31] The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.”

The core of both of these commandments is love, and relationship.  We are called to press into relationship, not follow a list of rules passed down by our fathers.  God's desire is that we know Him, and respond to Him our of that place of relationship!  Jesus himself made the order very clear, relationship first, which provides the motivation for actions.  I am reminded of a His words in John 14:15,21 NIV:

[15] “If you love me, keep my commands." 

[21] "Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

It seems to me that we have often forgotten about verse 15, and only remember verse 21.   We think the way to show our love of God is the following of rules and commands, but it is the loving relationship that is the foundation of our desire to follow His commands, that is the motivation for any change in our behaviour.  We are invited to love and be loved!  

This morning I am encouraged to look at my motivation, at my reason for my actions!  Am I just following what I have been taught, or am I responding from a place of relationship?

Oh Lord help us to put relationship with You first!  Help me to respond from a place of love and affection in my pursuit of You!  Help me to set my heart fully on You!

Amen and Amen!

Humility = Greatness in The Kingdom

Verses for this morning - Matthew 18:1-6,10-14 NASB:

[1] "At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 

[2] "And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, [3] and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. [4] Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. [5] And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; [6] but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." 

[10] "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven. [11] [For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.]"

[12] "What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? [13] If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. [14] So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish."

The verse that caught my attention this morning was verse 10, specifically about despising little ones.  Jesus is talking about a Kingdom reality here, for that was the context of the question from the disciples.  I just love this whole section, for Jesus absolutely flips their understanding, and does the unexpected.  

It is important that we understand His comments about children here, and figure out how to put them into our context today.  The Greek word translated despise is the word:    "2706 kataphronéō (from 2596 /katá, "down, according to," intensifying 5426 /phronéō, "regulating behavior from inner mind-set") – properly, view down, i.e. with a negative (hostile) outlook; to despise, thinking down on (thinking little of); esteem lightly, seeing as insignificant or detestable; to treat with contempt or disregard (BAGD); devalue; to depreciate (scorn); pay no regard to (because something seems of no account); " 'despise, scorn,' and show it by active insult" (Souter).

[2706 /kataphronéō (literally, "think down") refers to holding someone in contempt, deeming them unworthy and hence despised (scorned).]"

We understand culturally that children were considered lower than servants at this time, and were certainly not considered great, and yet Jesus holds them as an example of the greatest in the Kingdom.  Specifically Jesus says we should humble ourselves as a child, which is, at least in our day, a bit difficult to understand.  The Greek word used is: "5013 tapeinóō – make (become) low, to humble. See 5011 (tapeinos).

With the believer, 5013 /tapeinóō ("show humility, true lowliness") happens by being fully dependent on the Lord – dismissing reliance upon self (self-government) and emptying carnal ego. This exalts the Lord as our all-in-all and prompts the gift of His fullness in us."

This is really helpful to my understanding, its not about becoming child-like, its about total reliance on our Father, and rejecting our own self reliance.  This is how one gets to be great in the Kingdom!  It seems the exact opposite of what we would expect.  Its NOT about doing great things for God:

1) its about obedience

2) its about servanthood 

3) its about doing what we are asked without asking why

4) its about reliance on the Father

5) its about embracing the dominion of the Father for our world--view

I love the last line of the word-help, "This exalts the Lord as our all-in-all and prompts the gift of His fullness in us."  Lord, we need Your fullness in our lives!!

Greatness isn't about our abilities, its about God's ability to work through us!  It is about our willingness to lay down our self, our will, and embracing His!  We are called to embrace this path, and it can't be a false humility as a way to achieve greatness!  

It can be quite troubling to our sense of self when we encounter someone who is pressing into this place of humility and trust of the Lord in all things.  It seems like a weak path, and certainly an unattractive path!  Also, from my self, it is HOPEFULLY one that the Lord would never call me to!

For example, at one time my honey felt called by the Father to stop using makeup for a period, to embrace her true identity and experience His pleasure in who she was, not in who she made herself to look like.  Some of the other women in our church were REALLY uncomfortable with this, and essentially tried to talk her out of it.  It seemed to me that their "self" was very uncomfortable being uncovered... for that is part of this call to humility.

Lastly, I think it is of critical importance that we understand the value the Lord places on His little ones!  They are of up most value to Him, both our actual children, and those who embrace this call to humble servanthood.  There are several stories of holy people who have embraced humble positions, and seen the Lord absolutely bless others through them and given them the opportunity to minister to 1000s effectively!  It was often so unusual that their leaders called them forward to see why so many people wanted to talk to them, and often the one being questioned had no idea, so complete was their simple obedience and humility.  

My encouragement today is to embrace the invitation to become like a child in humility, relying on the Lord in all things!  I am encouraged to allow the Lord's words of valuation to wash over me and help me understand my value to Him.  Lastly, I am encouraged to place greater value in my mind and heart on those that seem lowly, those that are children, and on those that have obeyed into weakness, into a place of humble reliance on the Lord!

Oh Lord, help me!

Relationship Guards Against Offense

Yesterday while walking our dog I definitely had one of those "whoever has ears, let them hear" experiences (Luke 8:8).  I was walking and thinking and praying, like normal, and I had a "thought" pop into my mind, unrelated to my other thoughts, and it was a really clear and simple revelation that I hadn't had before.  I immediately decided to jot that down when I got home.  No more than 5 minutes later the "thought" was completely gone, as in I couldn't even recall the theme.  Once I got back home, I almost immediately started thinking about work, etc. and that simple and clear revelation was forgotten.  

A short while later, when I took a break I remembered that I had meant to write something down from the Lord, but for the life of me I couldn't remember anything other than that.  I started praying asking the Lord to bring back the "thought" to mind, as I believed it came from Him originally.  As I tried to reconnect the neurons of that memory of thought and moment I remembered it had to do with relationship.  That gave me enough of the theme to start tracking backwards and soon I remembered the "thought":

Here it is...  "Relationship with me (The Lord) is essential for guarding and protecting against offenses caused by other followers of Christ!"  

I hope that rings in your spirit like it did mine!  I know so many people who have lost their zeal for the Lord, walked away from church, and in some cases walked away from the Lord because of something someone did, in the Lord's name, that offended them or wounded them.  I saw in that instant that having a real living breathing relationship  with the Lord would allow us to realize that the injuring, offending individual was NOT representing the Lord!

Putting this in another context, if someone were to come up to me and tell me my honey did something terrible and mean, I would know that they were lying, for I know my wife's character, and that is just not in her, and has never been in her!  I could tell immediately that they are misrepresenteing her, and I certainly wouldn't get mad at my wife, for someone else misrepresenting her!

Yet, this is often the case in the church!  We believe all sorts of things about the Lord because we don't know Him well enough to reject those accusations.

This is yet another reason why it is so important to cultivate our relationship for the Lord!  We must know Him intimately!  We must know His word, His character, the way He speaks and acts!   

I have heard it said that training on counterfeit money involves spending tons of time examining real money, touching, feeling, examining the bills under different light, etc.  The knowledge and intimate experience of the real thing, allows the people to more quickly identify the counterfeit.

We must have this same mindset personally, and as a church, for there are many who say they represent the Lord, and some who are even ordained ministers who are not representing the Lord well.  They might have a message that seems to come from Him, but deliver it in the wrong spirit or character!  It is very difficult to separate out one's own personality, one's "self", when preaching, when speaking or writing, and sometimes that  "self" gets represented as "The Lord".  While it is absolutely the responsibility of the one speaking to do everything they can to remove their "self", it is also the responsibility of the hearer to be able to discern rightly the Word of the Lord!  Our best protection for this is to know Him!

We must learn to distinguish and discern what is from the Lord, and what is not!

We must learn to distinguish when someone is representing the Lord, and when they are not!

The time is coming when more and more voices will try to convince us that they speak for the Lord, and yet they are false!

We are warned to guard against false prophets, false teachers and even the anti-christ spirit, all of which are alive and well today in our present culture.

I am reminded of a several verses just now.  Here are just a few of the many verses that have popped into my memory:

2 Timothy 4:2-4 NIV:

[2] "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage---with great patience and careful instruction. [3] For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. [4] They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."

Matthew 24:23-24 NIV:

[23] "At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. [24] For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."

2 Peter 2:1 NIV:  "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them---bringing swift destruction on themselves."

I could continue quoting scripture, but suffice it to say that our ability to know the Lord, our relationship with Him, our intimate knowledge and experience with Him, knowing His voice, Knowing His character, knowing how He acts is going to be more and more important!  Let us stir up in ourselves and in our brothers and sisters a hunger to know Him more!  We want to be able to correctly discern the truth of what we hear and believe!  

Whoever has ears, let them hear, and discern!

One last note, for those who have been wounded by someone in the church, or in the name of the Lord, please know that WAS NOT Jesus!  He is the good shepherd, He is the one who laid down His life for You, He is the one sent to the sick, the lowly, the poor, the sinner and He had mercy and compassion on all!  

Amen and Amen!  Lord help us to hear and discern!

The Point of No Return

Recently a conversation group at our church has been trying to decide our next topic and one of the suggestions was the "Blood of Jesus", amongst other topics.  Yesterday as I was praying I felt led to read from Leviticus 17, which turns out to be about the blood.  Here are some of the verses from that chapter - Leviticus 17:11-14 NIV:

[11] For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life. [12] Therefore I say to the Israelites, “None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner residing among you eat blood.” 

[13] “ 'Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among you who hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth, [14] because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, “You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off.”

This was one of the essential dietary laws of the Jews, not eating blood, and today it is still practiced in some streams, and we would know it as part of the Kosher requirements.  This morning as I was revisiting these passages I wondered about how strange Jesus' declaration in John 6, and at the last supper about his blood, must have sounded to a people who for centuries were told not to consume blood!  Not only was it forbidden, but there were penalties for the consumption of blood, as noted above.  I don't know if they actually followed through with cutting people off from the tribe by the time of Jesus, but it was certainly known to be wrong.

Into this culture, we then have Jesus saying the following - John 6:43-60 NIV:

[43] “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. [44] “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. [45] It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. [46] No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. [47] Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. [48] I am the bread of life. [49] Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. [50] But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. [51] I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” 

[52] Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 

[53] Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. [54] Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. [55] For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. [56] Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. [57] Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. [58] This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” [59] He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 

[60] On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

I think John is severely understating the response to this teaching!  

We read this with some understanding of Jesus' passion and death, and  the reason Jesus shed His blood, but none of that would have been present to the people hearing this.  They clearly understood the role of blood in the sacrificial system of the Temple, but Jesus wasn't talking about that system when He delivered these words, the previous discussion was on the Manna, and His previous miracles of multiplication of food. 

In my mind, it seems that the Father is about revealing the real foundations of what Jesus is going to do in the near future, and He has Jesus start to lay the framework here.  I don't believe the Jews at that time understood the Messiah was coming to lay down His life for them, or that He was going to fulfill the law, and become the perfect sacrifice.  I believe their thoughts were that He was coming to lead them to victory over their enemies, who happened to be the Romans at that time.  They expected someone greater than David, but of his lineage, who become king over them once again and established His kingdom, through which the Jews would all be blessed.  I would imagine that Isaiah 53, the suffering servant song, would not have been understood so literally as we do now.

This clearly was a turning point in Jesus' ministry, for John notes that many left Jesus as described in John 6:66-67 NIV:

[66] "From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 

[67] “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve."

In addition to losing followers, Jesus is now absolutely going forward down the path that leads to His death!  

As I was reflecting on these verses, and the impact, I saw a picture of a mother bird in her next pushing the fledglings out of the nest, forcing them to fly for their first time.   While not a great faith picture, it does represent a point of no-return, one could say, for the young birds either fly or fail.  

In the same way, I think this was the point of no return for Jesus, for from this time forth He begins to prepare the disciples for His death.  Also from this point forward the arguments about who Jesus is, escalate, for in these quoted verses, He clearly alludes to Himself as the Messiah, the One who gives eternal life, the One who knows the Father, the One sent from Heaven.

Let us not be offended by hard to understand language, or difficult theological principles, but let us continue to pursue the one who has the words of life, the one who has been given the power and authority to grant eternal life!  Let us press forward into the deeper revelation, into deeper understanding, into His very presence!

Amen and Amen!

Diagnosis From Love

Yesterday I was reflecting on the story of the rich young man, and after finishing my time of prayer and reflection I had one more quick revelation that was worth thinking about today.  It is based on the same verses from Mark 10:17-23 NIV:

[17] As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 

[18] “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good---except God alone. [19] You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.' ” 

[20] “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 

[21] Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 

[22] At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 

[23] Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

My main focus is verse 21 this morning, the look of Jesus, and His response.   

The young man was clearly a fervent and good man.  He RAN up to Jesus and this to me indicates a passion and desire.  He recognizes Jesus' authority and wisdom in coming to Him.  I think we can say that he was pursuing God to the best of his ability, but wanted to do more if required. 

Jesus must have stopped and welcomed the young man, for they engaged in a bit of conversation.  Jesus fully understanding the desire in the young man, seeing his passion and zeal, recognizing his obedience to the precepts of the law, looked at him and loved him!  I am not sure how that was evident, but Mark makes it clear that there is a place in Jesus' heart for this young man.  The Greek word Agape is used here, and this is the love that is deeper than brotherly love.  This is the Love that is spoken in the new Commandment Jesus gives in John 13.  A good world help I found describes it as follows: 

"With the believer, 25 /agapáō ("to love") means actively doing what the Lord prefers, with Him (by His power and direction). True 25 /agapáō ("loving") is always defined by God – a "discriminating affection which involves choice and selection" (WS, 477). 1 Jn 4:8,16,17 for example convey how loving ("preferring," 25 /agapáō) is Christ living His life through the believer."

It is important to note, that this fact that Jesus loves the young man is clear before Jesus speaks the next words.  For the next words are Jesus' diagnosis of the young man's life, in his pursuit of God.  The diagnosis was painful, for Jesus correctly identified the one thing that was holding  the young man back from his pursuit of God was his riches!  The man walked away, for the diagnosis was to much for him!

The picture I saw yesterday was one of a doctor coming in and announcing the diagnosis to a patient with cancer, one who required life saving but painful surgery.  The doctor understands fully the suffering and pain, the affected life this patient is walking into, but it is necessary.  He provides the diagnosis from a place of care, mercy, and empathy.

The next picture I saw was the Lord looking at me, loving me, and telling me the things that are keeping me back, that I am unwilling to lay down, that I might know Him.  It is always communicated in an abundance of love, understanding, and mercy.  He desires for me to follow Him, to let old ways fall by the wayside, that I might press forward in love and pursuit of Him.  

He loves me.

He diagnoses me.

He invites me to follow Him.

He is for me in the midst of all of the struggle, the dying to myself, in my suffering. 

His desire is relationship with me, and what He tells me is to help me!

My question today is what does He see when He looks at me?

Oh Lord, help me!

The Struggle To Follow

Verses for reflection this morning - Mark 10:17-31 NIV:

[17] "As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 

[18] “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good---except God alone. [19] You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.' ” 

[20] “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 

[21] Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 

[22] At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 

[23] Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 

[24] The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! [25] It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 

[26] The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 

[27] Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” 

[28] Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” 

[29] “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel [30] will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields---along with persecutions---and in the age to come eternal life. [31] But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

It is interesting, in reading some commentaries about these verses, so many focus on the statement Jesus makes in verse 25 about the camel and the eye of a needle, almost like its more important than verse 27, or verses 29-31.  Apparently there really was no gate known as the "eye of the needle", so Jesus really was talking about a sewing needle and a camel.  Regardless, Jesus is stating in verse 27, that this quest for eternal life is impossible without God, without relationship with Him, but absolutely possible with God!

The truth is simple, without the Lord's sacrifice, His fulfilment of the Law, His death and resurrection, no one, whether rich or poor, good or bad, was going to be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven or eternal life on their own righteousness. It is impossible, except for God's intervention.  In my opinion, Jesus just happens to make the connection to the rich, because of the rich young man, but the same could be said for everyone.  He might have been making a statement that it is extra hard for the rich, due to their attachment to the trappings of wealth, but the reality is that without relationship with Him, we are all lost.  

The rich young man had walked away from relationship with Jesus because of his idolatry of riches.  He is no different than those who walk away from relationship with the Lord for many other selfish reasons.  The call to take up our cross and follow Him, to lose our life that we might gain eternal life (Mark 10:38-39) is the same for us all!

Its a painful truth to our selfish, fleshly perspective, and we struggle to accept the Lord's invitation.  His parable about the sower, the seed and the soil (See Matt 13:3-9) is about our willingness to receive His word, to listen and respond. Jesus ends that parable with a simple statement,  "Whoever has ears, let them hear.” (Matthew 13:9 NIV).  We sometimes read that as a not part of the parable, but I believe the Lord is summarizing and emphasizing the whole of it, as being about hearing, and then acting!

I think the young man in my original verses, didn't really hear the true invitation.  His hearing was immediately blocked by the need to free himself from his riches.  I know there are many times I will hear someone say something that is jarring, and I won't hear a word they say afterwards, because I am so focused on what caught my attention.  When my honey was dealing with cancer, I always made sure to go with her to the doctor, and afterwards, we would compare what we heard, and many times she had missed much, for the shock of the diagnosis had overwhelmed her ability to listen further.  

I believe the Lord knew how the young man was going to respond, but he still looked at him and loved him (verse 21), for He know well our weaknesses and struggles, and inability to truly help ourselves.  I am so grateful that Jesus added verse 27!  We can depend on Him to continue to extend the invitation, to continue to love us, to continue to help us, to welcome us with open arms when we do finally accept the invitation!  Finally, we can depend on Him to lead us to eternal life, for it is only His to give.

One last note, Jesus adds an answer to Peter's claim of leaving everything to follow Him, and indicates He is well aware of everything we lay down, everything we leave to follow Him, and He intends to bless us beyond our pittance, in this age and the age to come.  Some people think this is a promise of wealth and prosperity, and I like how Jesus adds, "along with persecutions" just to make sure we don't think everything will be easy.  

This morning I am encouraged that He is worthy of me accepting His invitation once again, and that in that I will experience His love, His blessing, and a dying to my selfish ways.  I am reminded that I have many things that I struggle to lay down, but He sees, understands and invites me forward in love to follow Him anyways!  

Lord, help me to follow You!

Amen and Amen!

Theology AND Relationship

This morning I have been thinking back over my life, and the constant invitation from the Lord to grow deeper, to know Him more.  I was thinking about the difference between theology and relationship.  Theology is the study of God or as Webster's defines it: "the study of religious faith, practice, and experience : the study of God and God's relation to the world"  This is all good, but God is an individual, a personage, with characteristics, thoughts, emotions, Spirit and beyond. 

If someone were to write a book about me, so that everyone could study to understand my character and my relation to the world, while they could capture the main points, they could never accurately portray who I actually am.   My inner-thoughts are unknown except by myself and God, and many of my actions and interactions are again only known by myself, God, and one or two others who might have observed that specific moment.  Trying to write a definitive report on Sam Hall would be impossible from the outside.  I could give years of interviews and still not cover my whole life and motivations.

My point is that God is much more than what we can learn from studying theology!  He is meant to be known relationally, and for each of us, how we know Him, will in some respect be unique, for we are unique. 

Again taking a natural example, my Mom knows me differently than my siblings, who know me differently than my wife, who knows me differently than my children, who know me differently than my co-workers, who know me differently than my neighbors, etc. 

There must be understanding and allowance for us to know God, personally and individually!

I am reminded of the great invitation Jesus gives to the rich young man, found in Mark 10:18-21 NIV:

[18] “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good---except God alone. [19] You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.' ”

[20] “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

[21] Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

I love the note Mark adds, "Jesus looked at him and loved him" and issued the invitation, "come and follow me".  The Greek word literally means to come and walk the same road, especially as a disciple.  The young man had the actions, he just didn't have relationship, and that was the invitation! 

Oh, that we would embrace that invitation, and choose to walk with the Lord! 

Lord, help us to embrace knowing about You, but help us press past knowing about You to actually knowing You!

Amen and Amen!

Leaning Towards Others

This morning I felt led to read from Paul's letter to Colossians 4:2-6 NIV:

[2] "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. [3] And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. [4] Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. [5] Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. [6] Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

This letter is one written while Paul was in prison, or at least in chains, and that means it was late in his life.  He had completed his voluntary missionary journeys, and was now a prisoner and likely within a few years of his martyrdom in Rome.  I love his humility, arguably one of the greatest evangelists, an apostle and responsible for many of the letters in the New Testament, and Paul is asking for prayers to help him proclaim the Gospel clearly as he should.  This helps me in knowing that the one person who effectively communicated the Gospel to thousands, was always looking to refine his message and do better.  

His next encouragement to keep our conversations full of grace is one of the most important encouragements, in my eyes.  It is so easy for us to slide into presenting the Gospel with a judgmental spirit, and Paul is encouraging essentially the opposite.  The Greek word he uses (here translated grace) is "charis" and that is defined as follows - Cognate: 5485 xáris (another feminine noun from xar-, "favor, disposed to, inclined, favorable towards, leaning towards to share benefit") – properly, grace. 5485 (xáris) is preeminently used of the Lord's favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is "always leaning toward them").  In other words, our conversation should be clearly FOR those individuals that we are talking to.  

I love the imagery of Jesus leaning towards those He was talking to, as in leaning towards them with favor, wanting to hear from them, that He can answer their needs!  What a great model for interactions with all we meet!  Notice Paul's next statement, "so that you may know how to answer everyone", indicates an assumed listening!  We can't answer someone if they haven't talked first, so Paul is assuming that our conversations should be relational, a back and forth conversation, and not just a proclamation of our opinions and observations.

One thing I have learned is that my judgments and ideas about people are always flawed.  I know so little about their lives, about their history, about what has been said to them, what has happened, and even how they think, that my external observations are always lacking.  Even when I get to know someone really well, I still don't fully know their thoughts, their internal processing, or even what from their past might be affecting them.  Oh, that whoever I meet and converse with might walk away from our conversation knowing that I was for them, that I was interested in them, and that I wanted to hear from them!

This morning I am encouraged to be aware of my interactions with others, so that I might know how to answer everyone, with grace filled, favor filled words and attention!  Yes, Lord, please help me to represent You in grace, favor and mercy.

Amen!

The Lord Shepherds Us

This morning I was reading from Luke 9,  and it is an amazingly full chapter.  Jesus sends out the 12 to minister, feeds the 5000, takes Peter, James and John up to the Mount of Transfiguration, heals the epileptic boy that the disciples are unable to heal, twice speaks about His impending death,  Peter declares Him Messiah, they experience opposition from the Samaritans, they argue about who is the greatest, He calls them to be servant-leaders, and He tells the disciples there will be a cost to following Him.  Wow!  

Each of those sections could easily be the source of some rich meditation and revelation, however this morning as I rested on the Word and listened I felt like the Lord wanted me to view the chapter as more of a whole, rather than separating out a section.  Looking at the overarching themes, I would say we see  maybe four or five depending on how I break them out.

1) The Lord is in control and knows what He is doing and where things will end up.

2) The Lord was preparing the disciples to hand over His ministry to them.

3) The radical call of Jesus is to follow Him, to represent Him, to lay down our lives and plans, to embrace His plan which is better, and we can trust Him to provide.

4) In the midst of all, His Lordship over everything is evident and revealed, and the Father's backing is clear!  

5) The enemy brings resistance, and sometimes following Him will be difficult.

As I was letting all of this settle in my heart, I felt like the one message for me this morning was that even though the call may be to lay down my life and at times that will be difficult, yet in doing so, I would experience His provision, His Lordship, His authority and power, His glory, and His pleasure!  I feel like He wants me to know that He has it covered, that I can entrust myself and my future into His hands, choosing to follow Him wherever He leads. 

He will provide the training, authority and power to do what He calls me to do.

He can multiply that which I give Him into sustenance for me, and thousands of others 

He will speak prophetically into my life, and if I listen, in time it will make sense.

He will reveal Himself, and bring encouragement when I need it!

It will likely challenge me and be difficult, but He is for me, and is Faithful.

Finally, the coming of His Kingdom is the message, and what I am called to proclaim and demonstrate.

This morning I am encouraged where I find myself and see a wider picture of the Lord's work in my own life, as well as a wider call.  I am so grateful for His gentle leading and guiding in my life.  I am definitely not always aware, and regularly stumble, but He is faithful, and He has plans, and He will provide the guidance and sustenance I need!  He really is the Good Shepherd!   In light of that, I should finish with the 23rd Psalm:

Psalm 23:1-6 NIV

[1] The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 

[2] He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 

[3] he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake. 

[4] Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

[5] You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

[6] Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Thank You Lord!