The Great Invitation

This morning I was reading through John's Gospel. Yesterday while traveling I was reading through some of my earlier writing and the particular entries were about Jesus representing the Father perfectly.  This morning that theme was once again the focus of my reading.  Here are the verses - John 8:12-19,27-30 NIV:

[12] "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 

[13] The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” 

[14] Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. [15] You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. [16] But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. [17] In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. [18] I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” 

[19] Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 

[27] They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 

[28] So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. [29] The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 

[30] Even as he spoke, many believed in him."

The verse that really stands out to me is the end verse 19, where Jesus says, “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”   This is such a monumental statement!  I don't think I could say the same thing about my earthly father, for I didn't know him well enough to be able to say that I could represent him in all ways.  I look somewhat like him, have some similar mannerisms, and even have some idea of his heart and mind, but I could never say, if you have known me you have known my Father.

Jesus speaks about the importance of knowing the Father, of His intimacy, and equates this with eternal life, in fact he speaks about Eternal life quite often, and John captured many of those times in his Gospel.  I was just looking at all the verses this morning and think that might be a very interesting study.  He wraps them all into a single statement in John 17:3 NIV: "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."  

Jesus goes on to say that their plan and purpose is for us all to be part of their relationship, and in deep relationship with each other.  Jesus continues on praying for us in His final prayer, as captured by John 17:20-23 NIV: 

[20] “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, [21] that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [22] I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one--- [23] I in them and you in me---so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

I guess the point here is that the level of intimacy that Jesus has with the Father is our invitation as well.  We are invited into this deeply intimate relationship, for the Lord desires us to be loved sons and daughters, those that know Him, who know His love and represent that love to the world.  We are invited into that Holy unity, and that is something that will be a sign to the world of God's love.

There is so much to think upon in these verses, and I clearly have much ground to advance.  As I reflect on this theme I see where I am needing to change how I think throughout the day.  I am so rarely focused on representing the Lord in my daily moment to moment existence.  Lord, I don't know how to do this, but I know You do, and that Your help is all I really need.  

Thank You for Your patience, compassion, love and mercy.

Amen and Amen.

God's Love Like a Flood

Yesterday, I was flying back home and thinking about the Love of God.  I had been reading through some of my earlier blog entries and reflecting on how the Gospel is really introducing people to the fact that God loves them and wants a relationship with them.  It really is very simple, and somehow we have made it s complex.  

I was thinking about how people often experience this rush of God's Love when they come to salvation.  We can often associate this "rushing in" feeling with what God's love should feel like, and when we don't continue to feel it, we think that some how God ha left us or no longer present to the same degree.  The truth is that God is all around us and we are now living a life where we can experience His love at all times.

As I was reflecting on this I imagined the Love of God being like floodwaters, and people who haven't heard the Gospel, like a door shut to that flood.  The role of those of us who are representing the Love of God, is to show them that the floodwaters on the other side are love, not judgment!  I was reminded of how when I opened the door of my heart to the Lord, how I was overwhelmed by His Love!  I was aware of His love in a way I had never experienced, and there was absolutely no judgment!  

Once the door is opened, the love of God fills us completely, if we let it do so.  That initial rush was God's love pouring into our lives filling the emptiness that is supposed to be filled with His presence.  The truth is that we were made to know God and His love for us, we were made for intimacy with Him.  We are meant to be in relationship with Him, and it is where we are fulfilled.  Using the imagery of the floodwaters, we are created to live underwater, completely enveloped by the Love of God.

As I think about that this morning, that imagery of flood waters is actually quite rich.  People don't want flood waters in their homes (lives) for they mess everything up, at the very least, and are capable of great destruction. We fear that type of ruin and change as well as the lack of control, and unknown.  We fear what we don't know, fear that which requires change, and have heard that God is angry and hates our sins, and can only imagine that He hates us for all of it.

The Gospel, in its simplicity is stated by Jesus in his dialogue with Nicodemus, where he says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17 NIV).  The impetus for Jesus coming to earth is love!  

The truth is that God has known us and loved us since before the creation of the world.  He sees everything about us from that vantage point, outside of time, and still loves us.  His love doesn't change based on our actions, His Love is eternally set.  God doesn't change His mind about us based on our present circumstances, character, sin, or unbelief!  His love is like an immense ocean just waiting to pour into our lives that we might be filled and realize we were created for this very existence, lives saturated with His love, and filled with His Spirit!   

I am reminded of a couple of verses from the Book of the prophet Ezekiel 47:1-9,12 NIV:

[1] The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. [2] He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side. 

[3] As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. [4] He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. [5] He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in---a river that no one could cross. [6] He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?” 

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. [7] When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. [8] He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. [9] Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 

[12] Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing. ”

My prayer today is that I might learn how to share the Love of God wit those that I meet, that they might experience this Love for themselves, and that they might be healed of their fear.  I pray that we, as the Church, might better represent the Love of God, not the judgment of God.  I pray that all those whose lives are dry and devoid of the experience of God's Love, might be filled to overflowing!  

Amen and Amen!

Surprise! God Loves You!

This morning I was thinking about our salvation, our coming to know Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  I was thinking about how surprised people are when they come to the Lord.  They are surprised by His love, mercy, compassion, forgiveness and His desire to have a relationship with them!  In the words of one of my favorite authors, "The Gospel seems to good to be true, but it is!" 

I was also thinking about how today, religion has somehow convinced many in the church today that the only way to experience God's love and salvation, His mercy, compassion and forgiveness is if people conform to a set of rules and behaviours, get their lives cleaned up and take up the same religious mindset.  It is then, and only then that the Lord will bless them, and let them into His Kingdom.  Most churches have difficulty welcoming the truly unchurched, those that don't know the Christian lingo, those that haven't embraced the Christian life-style.  We struggle to welcome people that are different than us, have different values or perspectives, look or act differently.  

I was saddened by this perspective because it sets up a conditional love and acceptance as a part of the Gospel we offer.  To be clear this is NOT the Gospel!  The Lord makes no such requirements upon us!  Paul writes in his letter to the Colossians 2:13 NIV:  "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,..."  He made the way for us while  we were still sinners.  He didn't only accept us once we got our lives in order!  

In fact, the whole time we were sinning, the Lord was right there with us, loving us every bit as much as He does once we receive His salvation.  His love is unconditional!  He loves us in spite of our sin, in spite of our mixed up ideas, perspectives and opinions.  He does not withhold His love from the lost, from the disillusioned, the deceived, the broken, the sinner.  He loves us all and stands with arms wide open! Since before the beginning of the world He has loved us all! (Eph 1:4)  This was my great surprise, recognizing that God loved me all along, and that He was for me!   

I was just thinking that it is a bit like a surprise party, you have no idea there are a bunch of people waiting behind the door, waiting to shower you with their love and gifts.  The moment you open the door the reality of the people gathered just for you hits you.  They are there because they love you!  That is how the Lord is, just waiting for us to open the door so that we might experience His love.

I pray that we might learn to love as Christ loves us, unconditionally!  I pray that we might learn to celebrate each and every person that the Lord loves!  I pray that we might learn to love those the church rejects, those considered unlovely.  I pray that we might learn to love others in spite of their sins, their different ideas,  different ways of acting and even life choices!  How are these people ever going to experience God's love for them if we, His church, cannot learn to express it without condition?

I am encouraged this morning that I need to learn to love without condition!  I know that I struggle with judgment. I am reminded of an encouragement from Paul's letter to the Colossians 3:12-14 NIV:

[12] "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. [13] Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. [14] And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

I pray that we, as the Church, might embrace these words so that others experience the same from us!  Oh, that we might radiate love, forgiveness, patience, gentleness, humility, kindness and compassion!

Amen and Amen!

Rain, Wind and Floods, Oh My!

This morning as I opened my Bible, it opened up to the same verses I was reflecting on the last few days, which is not surprising, most mornings I use the Bible app I have loaded on my pad.  Anyway, I was getting ready to turn to some new passages and my mind strayed back to the verses about the rain, wind and waters destroying the house built on sand, and I started thinking about what the rain, wind and waters represent in the context of the revelation I had yesterday concerning the fact that my battle is almost always in my mind and thoughts?

Here are the verses again - Matthew 7:24-27 NIV:

[24] “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. [26] But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. [27] The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

As I mentioned yesterday, the primary struggle is internal for me, and it requires a daily connecting to the Rock.  This morning, as noted above, I started thinking about the symbolism of the rain, wind and waters.  Here are my first thoughts, starting with rain.  

In my thinking, rain is generally inconvenient.  It is usually something necessary for the earth, occasionally causes flooding, but for the land to produce food, trees and any type of greenery it is essential.  However, whether warm or cold, it is something that generally adds inconvenience.  People have to change plans, wear different clothes, drive differently, think and act differently than they want.   For some people the greyness associated with the rain clouds brings a sort of melancholy or even depression, but overall rain isn't dangerous, super difficult or really troubling.  

If I were to say what the "rain" is in my life, it is the rude people, the slow drivers, the things I get asked to do when I have another plan, the lack of my favorite drink at the store, the slow response of my cell phone, the changing of plans last minute, the lack of affirmation, having to wait in long lines, etc.  None of these are real problems, but they all cause me to grumble, complain and think judgmental thoughts.  Ultimately they uncover my selfish worldview and my judgment of all else, the loss of my perspective based on my relationship with the Lord.  If I let this thinking persist, pretty soon I am thinking that God hates me because nothing is going the way I want it to!  Man, that is ugly to admit.

As for the wind, my lovely daughter hates the wind because it pushes her. I think that is really good working definition for me as to what the wind represents.  These are things that are beyond mere inconveniences, but rather things that I actually find myself doing, through no real choice of my own, at least that is the narrative in my mind.  I would think these are highlighted in my life by thoughts like, "this isn't what I signed up for!"; "when did this become my job?"; "I hate this job!"; "This isn't worth it"; "how did I end up here?"  Suffice it to say these are more difficult or troubling than just a little inconvenience.  

In Missouri we can have stretches where the wind blows hard for multiple days in a row and it can be exhausting.  These scenarios can cause me to seriously think about my life choices, the decisions that have been made that affect my life, and really question the goodness of God, especially as they continue longer and longer.   My peace has gone, my focus is on my own life, and I am counting the cost and not liking what I am seeing.  I am completely caught up in my own narrative, and I have lost any sense of my identity and loving relationship with the Lord.  This is definitely not a good place.

Finally looking at the rising streams, or flood waters.  I think these could represent the major difficulties that we encounter in life, the loss of relationships, the loss of a job, the death of a loved one, the long and difficult illnesses, significant financial struggles or bankruptcy, and the like.  The thing about these types of rising waters is that they have the ability to wash away just about everything that was supporting our lives and worldviews.   These are things that move beyond difficult into traumatic.  

These types of situations really do strike at our core thinking and beliefs, not to mention affect the whole of our lives. As our lives are laid bare, we come face to face with what we really think and believe about God.  Many find it easier to just come to the conclusion that there is no God!  Worse I think is when a person thinks that there is a God and He hates them!   In situations like these, in addition to having lost the sense of peace, we lose hope.  Peace is for the present, and hope is for the future.  

So, how do we stand and even prosper in the midst of rain, wind and floods?  We press into the Lord, we press into His Word, we surround ourselves with those that have survived such experiences.  We need people who can be with us in the difficult places, who can help us sandbag our lives to prepare for the rain, wind and floods.  We listen to and act upon the words of Jesus, for they come from the heart of the Father!  We tune in and listen to His narrative about our value to Him, rather than our own selfish narrative. If we find ourselves far from Him, we turn back to Him, and He will run to us and welcome us with open arms! (Luke 15:20).

My prayer for us all this morning is that we learn to stand, learn to connect to the Rock that we might resist the effects of the rain, wind and floods!  I pray that we might connect to Him, and to those that can love us and surround us and speak life and truth into our minds and hearts!  I pray that we might be warm, dry, and comfortable in our lives connected to Him!

Amen and Amen! 

Foundation on Rock

This morning I felt like the theme of my prayer should be the rock of our faith.  As I was resting and waiting I had a couple of "rock" verses pop into my mind, which had nothing to do with any other thoughts, so it seems like a directive word and theme.  I initially was thinking about some of the Old Testament verses but then remembered Jesus speaking about building our house on the rock.  Here are the verses from Matthew 7:24-27 NIV:

[24]  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. [26] But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. [27] The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

The key point here is found in verse 24, it is not the "hearing" but the 'putting into practice Jesus' teaching that is critical.  If we only listen and do nothing, changing nothing about our behavior or thoughts, we may appear the same externally, but the results will be very different when difficulty comes.  

I was just thinking that there is a significant difference in the commitment to build between these two examples the Lord give us.  Digging down to the rock is what would be required here in KC, for most locations.  We don't have much exposed rock.  Even if it was exposed, building on rock requires a different approach to building a foundation.  If building in sand or earth  you dig a hole down a bit, make sure its level, compacted a bit and then lay the foundation, all the same level, very basic building block construction.  Building on rock requires you to drill into the rock, setting anchors in place.  Rock is generally not perfectly level, so building a level foundation requires much more planning and careful construction to bring the foundation to a point of being level all around.  Building on sand can be accomplished quickly, while building on rock will take longer, and will require some expertise.  However the longevity of the two variants is extremely different, and that I believe is Jesus' real point here.

Jesus likens our hearing His Words and acting on them as  one who builds on rock.  His teaching is foundational truth, and we must make the effort to connect to it, to choose to change our thinking and our acting.  This doesn't just happen, it requires real effort, and a commitment of time and energy. In my life it requires study, prayer, reading the word over and over, and a commitment to being discipled by Him.  In my experience this is not optional.  My daily investment in my faith, in growing my relationship, in learning and hearing and embracing His word is all part of my continued efforts to be anchored to my Rock (Ps 18:2).  

Most of the time that I have read these verses I have had the perspective that the rain, wind and waters that rose against the house were external circumstances, and troubles, however this morning as I was thinking about my own efforts to stay connected to His words, I realized that most of the time the battle is in my mind, in how I think, in what I think about, in how I perceive situations. There is a regular attacking of my mindset, my thinking that comes from the worldview that surrounds me, my own selfish desires, and finally from the enemy who tries to accuse God of being unloving, uncaring, unmerciful, and angry towards me.  My primary battle in life is not the external difficulties but that which assails me internally.  

My daily regimen of being in the word, of allowing His word to bring conviction, of choosing to change the way I think and act is how I combat those things that assail me.  Knowing the Word, trusting the Word, knowing who I am according to the Word of God is essential.  I guess as I think about it, this building and connecting to the Rock is a daily effort.  Maybe I am weak that way, but in my life this is the case.  My choosing to continue to mine the Word gives me the wherewithal to stand on these truths.

Lord I pray that I might continue to trust in Your Words, believing and embracing what you say about me and my life.  I desire to stand firm every day.  Lord, thank You for Your clear direction, Your words of Life, and Your willingness to disciple me.

Amen and Amen!

Jesus and Pharisees, Enemies?

This morning I was reading through Luke's Gospel, Chapter 13.  As is often the case I ask the Lord where I should read and receive some direction, often book and chapter, and then I begin the treasure hunt of finding the verses that are highlighted to my spirit.  This morning I was struck by the last few verses in the chapter, and decided to take some time reflecting on them.  Here are the verses - Luke 13:31-35 NIV:

[31] "At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” [32] He replied, “Go tell that fox, 'I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.' [33] In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day---for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem! 

[34] “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. [35] Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' ”

The first thing that caught my attention was the fact that the Pharisees seemed to be warning Jesus, in a helpful way.  So often in scripture we see the Pharisees as the enemies of Jesus, and this verse seemed out of character with that representation.  One of the things that I have noticed is that Jesus didn't seem to treat them as enemies, more as bad guides who were misrepresenting Him and His Father.  He engaged them constantly in conversations throughout the breadth of His ministry, welcomed invitations to their homes (Luke 7:36, Luke 14:1), and even private meetings (John 3:1).  I think they saw Him as a dangerous challenger to their power and role as the lead teachers in Israel, but Jesus was sent for all sinners, the Pharisees included.  

I am of the opinion that Jesus was always able to see the real person, their heart, mind and spirit.  He was always issuing the invitation to changing the way they thought (repentance) and relationship with Him.  He wasn't going to just affix a label and and judge them based on that label.  He always judges perfectly, and looks at all with the eyes of love, mercy, and compassion.  He looks at them with the heart of their creator and knows their potential and value as one of His creations, created in His likeness.

I often struggle with a judgmental attitude towards those who hold different ideas, different beliefs, different cultural practices.  I work hard not to act on these judgments, but my wife can attest that while driving, I sometimes give full verbal vent to my judgments, based solely on how someone is driving.  Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!  I am so grateful that the Lord doesn't judge me from single interaction, a single snap judgment!  

Continuing on in the verses, we find Jesus lamenting over Jerusalem, because He longs to gather them, yet they have rejected Him.  I am thinking this is His heart towards all that reject Him, and it is not anger, but sorrow.  I am reminded of the famous verses found in John 3:16-17 NIV: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

Oh, that we would have the same heart and mind as our Lord!  Lord, help us to look at all, even those who oppose or disagree with us as individuals You love and offer salvation to through Your great gift of Grace!  You love all, desire all to come to You to be saved!  You long to gather us all, to protect and love us!  

Help us to open our eyes, ears and hearts to respond to this great invitation.  Help us to share Your invitation with all, laying down our judgments and biases, instead choosing to love and welcome all, regardless of any differences between us!

Amen and Amen!

Dry Bones, Come Alive!

On Sunday, during worship, we were singing this song about the dry bones rattling, (based on Ezk 37).  As I was singing I had the sudden thought that this prophecy was actually speaking about all of us, for we were all once dead, but are now alive in Christ.  

In context Ezekiel's prophecy was about the restoration of Israel. Here are the verses - Ezekiel 37:1-14 NIV:

[1] The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. [2] He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. [3] He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

 I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know. ” 

[4] Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! [5] This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. [6] I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord. ' ” 

[7] So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. [8] I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. 

[9] Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' ” [10] So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet---a vast army. 

[11] Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.' [12] Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. [13] Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. [14] I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord. ' ”

I love the imagery here, and this has always been a favorite prophetic image of mine.  One thing I have learned about prophecy and God's word is that is is perfect, and it often is multi-faceted in how it is meant o be understood.  This was clearly a word about the restoration of Israel back to the land they were promised by the Lord God.  Ezekiel was prophesying about the Babylonian exile, sometime in the 600BCs, and return of Israel (something that happened 70 years later), but His words also seem to have a Messianic application as well.  

The verses that came to mind as I had the thought I mentioned earlier were from Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV:

[1] "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, [2] in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. [3] All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. [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."

Here, Paul writes that all of us were dead in our sins which could be compared to the dry bones.  We had no way that we could attain eternal life, nothing we could do to change our state.  However God in mercy, through His great grace caused a change to occur.  Through His work, will, Word and Spirit we are made alive again, and joined into the Body of Christ. The purpose of God is a work of joining us together, of causing us to mature and grow in relationship with Him and each other (tendons and flesh) and finally the Holy Spirit breathing life into us, and joining us to God's family as sons and daughters.

Paul writes again of this in his letter to the Romans 8:9-11,14-17 NIV:

[9] "You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. [10] But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. [11] And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. 

[14] For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. [15] The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” [16] The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. [17] Now if we are children, then we are heirs---heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."

This might not be revelation for many of you, but it was fresh for me, for I don't remember having seen myself as one of the dry bones of Ezekiel 37 before this past Sunday.  I was encouraged about the fact that I was essentially singing a song that was using verses that were written about me (and the Church) some 2600 years ago.  I was filled with gratitude that I am alive through God's amazing grace, mercy and compassion!  

I was clearly dead (and dry) in my transgressions and sins, and the Lord through His great mercy, through grace, gave me the opportunity to become alive again!

To quickly finish the story, I was meditating on all this during worship and then our pastor got up to speak and started with the very verses from Ephesians 2 that I was reflecting on!  Not a huge deal, but certainly a lovely little confirmation that my heart and mind were in the right place. :-)

My the Lord bless you and breathe on you that you might experience the wonder of His life through salvation, and the filling of the Holy Spirit!

It is time for the dry bones to come alive!

Amen and Amen!

Unembarrassed Boldness

 

This morning I felt led to read from Luke, chapter 11.  Again, these are familiar verses, but the Lord is always able to speak through His words a fresh message.  The verses that caught my attention were Jesus' parable of asking a man for bread.  Here are the verses - Luke 11:5-13 NIV:

[5] "Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; [6] a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.' [7] And suppose the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' [8] I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need."

[9] “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. [10] For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. [11] “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? [12] Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? [13] If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Jesus immediately follows His teaching on how to pray to the Father with these verses, and they are definitely linked.  I am going to start with verses 8, for I find Jesus statement interesting - "because of your shameless audacity".  I have reflected on these verses several times, and remember one specific one from about 10 years ago where I gained some helpful insight (to read follow this link: https://amomentwithgod-srh.blogspot.com/2014/07/approaching-father-with-shameless.html ).  This morning as I was reading through these verses my focus was on my lack, in regards to pretty much everything that the Father has readily available.

That is where Jesus leads us in His next sentence, we are invited to approach the Father.  The term Jesus uses, shameless audacity, in our context seems to mean a combination of expectant faith and humble recognition of our own lack.  The original Greek word used is  anaídeia 

HELPS: (from 1 /A "without" and 127 /aidṓs, "shame") – properly, "shameless persistence" (Souter). 335 (anaídeia), used only in Lk 11:8, is literally "shamelessness" and relates to carrying out God's plan with "unembarassed boldness" – in the dignity of faith.

335 /anaídeia ("no shame, without embarrassment") is the shamelessness a faith-led believer has who is not be halted by human fears – even when others cry "overdone" (i.e. accuse them of being extreme or excessive). definition taken from: https://biblehub.com/greek/335.htm

I like the short description found here, unembarrassaed boldness.  There is no shame in our recognition that we don't have what we need, in fact until we come to that realization, I don't think we will be successful.  The whole picture here is that you go to the one who has what you need, and ask him, expecting he will give it to you, with not a single concern or question in your heart. 

No shame or embarassment over not having it. 
No shame that you have to ask.
No shame that the timing of it is inconvenient. 
No shame that its not for you (which I think is actually easier, as I have a hard time asking for myself).
No shame in knowing that the visitor will understand the provision is not from you.
No shame that you were not prepared.

If I were to replace the need for bread, with something like the need for a miracle, or healing or deliverance, something we don't possess through our own will, I find these verses very encouraging. 

Of course I can't heal, create miracles, or deliver someone!  Only God can do such things, and that is the whole point here!  We don't have it, so we are supposed to go to the one that does have it.  We should not be apologetic that we don't have it, and can't help on our own.  We have relationship with the one who does have what we need!

Jesus continues on and qualifies the character of the Father as being better than any of us earthly Fathers.  He is able to meet all our needs, and most importantly give the Holy Spirit to those who ask! 

We don't have what we need for others. 
We are supposed to go to Him, to lead others to Him, to ask for those things we need, especially the Holy Spirit. 
There is no need to beg, to hope, to wonder, He has it all, we need to ask, and He will answer.
There is no better time than the present... whether convenient or not.

I just had a quick bit of insight.  I happen to be overlooking a river this morning.  If I need water, I know where I can go to get some.  If I need to eat, I now where to go to catch fish.  If I need to bathe, I know where an abundance of water is available.  There is no shame in my not having water or food, I just need to turn to the source that is readily available.  There is also no sense of lack, for an abundance lies with easy reach!  I just need to jump in!

Jesus tells us to do the same, in this case to turn to the Father, to jump into that relationship!  He has exactly what we need!

Lord, this morning I am well aware of my own absolute inability to produce anything.  I humbly recognize that everything i have is from You already, and You have everything I need.  I would be stupid to do anything other than turn to You an ask!  Help me to step into this unembarrased boldness!

Amen and Amen!