Yesterday morning I was meditating on some verses from Paul's letter - 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 NIV:
[9] "However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”---the things God has prepared for those who love him--- [10] these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit."
"The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. [11] For who knows a person's thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. [12] What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. [13] This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. [14] The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. [15] The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, [16] for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ."
Starting with the last line first, what an incredible statement "But we have the mind of Christ." Just let that settle in! We have, through the Holy Spirit, access to the mind of Jesus. Not just access but possess, for the Greek word used is Echo and it is defined as 'to have, to own, to possess'. When we experience salvation, we receive the Holy Spirit, as promised by Jesus (John 15:26).
Jesus describes what the Holy Spirit will do in the following passages - John 16:13-15 NIV: "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. [14] He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. [15] All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
So, Paul was describing to the Church in Corinth basically what Jesus described here in John. The Holy Spirit makes available to us God's mind, because all that belongs to the Father, including His mind, is Jesus' and the Holy Spirit makes known to us that which Jesus desires, which includes how He thinks, feels, and considers. This doesn't mean we have access to everything in the mind of God, for clearly our finite minds cannot comprehend nor handle the infinite. The Greek word translated mind is the word Nous, and it is defined as follows:
1) the mind, comprising alike the faculties of perceiving and understanding and those of feeling, judging, determining
a) the intellectual faculty, the understanding
b) reason in the narrower sense, as the capacity for spiritual truth, the higher powers of the soul, the faculty of perceiving divine things, of recognising goodness and of hating evil
c) the power of considering and judging soberly, calmly and impartially
2) a particular mode of thinking and judging, i.e thoughts, feelings, purposes, desires
So we have the ability to access Jesus' mind. We don't have to wonder what He is thinking, He will make that available to us through the Holy Spirit. Obviously, I hope, on our part we need to be willing to inquire, to ask and listen. God honors our free-will in all ways, and He will not force Himself on us, regardless of how much easier that would be. He wants us to freely choose Him, choose to listen to Him, choose to ask Him. We have the mind of Christ available to us, but it is up to us to access Him. In the same way that I could have a million dollars in the bank and live each day, pay-check to pay-check, barely scrapping by, we can try to do life on our own as well.
Personally, I find that my life is much easier, and much better if I go to Him and ask His guidance and direction. The Lord is never put out, in a bad mood, or unapproachable, but always welcoming and helpful. I have learned that it is much better to go to Him and ask for guidance and direction early on, rather than waiting until I got myself in a real fix by my own fruitless efforts. When I think back at my wondrous life, I am absolutely convinced that my life is immeasurably better for the direction the Lord provided. I know my own capabilities and history and I would have ended up in some completely different life due to poor choices I would have made along the way.
I certainly don't feel that I have come to understand the mind of Christ, nor learned to fully live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, but I am doing better. I consider this a life-long quest, one that will only be fulfilled when I see Him face to face. However the knowledge that I can walk in closer unison with Him, that I can understand more of His mind and heart, and that I can grow to represent Him better is enough encouragement to last a lifetime. I am so grateful for the life that He has given me, the encouragement and affirmation, the gifts and blessings, and intimate relationship with Him. I am indeed a rich man.
So this day, the last of 2016, I am encouraged that 2017 will be a blessed year, not because 2016 was so terrible, but because I know that God is good, and He has great plans for me, some of which will be experienced in this coming year. I know that He is present and available and desirous of my relationship. I look forward to a new year, to new seasons and new adventures.
God bless!
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Sunday, December 25, 2016
A Christmas Meditation
Today I am just reflecting on these famous lines from the prophet Isaiah, fore-telling of Jesus nearly 700 years before His birth.
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 NIV:
[2] "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned."
[6] "For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
[7] Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."
When I read these verses, I can't help but hear the music to Handel's Messiah. :-)
Think about what a radical prophecy this was! That God would come as a child, and establish His Kingdom and rule over us on the earth for eternity. This was not your typical warning to Israel prophecy, but rather the a significant fore-telling of the most significant event to ever occur on earth.
Yesterday I was reflecting on John's introduction to his gospel, about how the light came into the world, and we see here in Isaiah the theme of a light coming to earth. I am reminded of something Jesus said and recorded in Matthew's Gospel - Matthew 5:14-16 NIV:
[14] “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. [16] In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
This is exactly what Jesus did, and invites us to do as well. We are called to let our light, the light of Christ within us, shine before others. We are not to remain hidden, or under cover, but to shine forth that all may see and give Glory to our Father in Heaven. Our love for one another is meant to be that light, that indication to all that we carry within us the same light that was in Christ Jesus. As John said in his first letter - 1 John 4:7-12 NIV:
[7] "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. [8] Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. [9] This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. [10] This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. [11] Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. [12] No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."
So let us love one another this day, and allow the Love of God to be made complete in us, and in those around us!
Merry Christmas and have a blessed celebration of Christ's birth!
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 NIV:
[2] "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned."
[6] "For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
[7] Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."
When I read these verses, I can't help but hear the music to Handel's Messiah. :-)
Think about what a radical prophecy this was! That God would come as a child, and establish His Kingdom and rule over us on the earth for eternity. This was not your typical warning to Israel prophecy, but rather the a significant fore-telling of the most significant event to ever occur on earth.
Yesterday I was reflecting on John's introduction to his gospel, about how the light came into the world, and we see here in Isaiah the theme of a light coming to earth. I am reminded of something Jesus said and recorded in Matthew's Gospel - Matthew 5:14-16 NIV:
[14] “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. [16] In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
This is exactly what Jesus did, and invites us to do as well. We are called to let our light, the light of Christ within us, shine before others. We are not to remain hidden, or under cover, but to shine forth that all may see and give Glory to our Father in Heaven. Our love for one another is meant to be that light, that indication to all that we carry within us the same light that was in Christ Jesus. As John said in his first letter - 1 John 4:7-12 NIV:
[7] "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. [8] Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. [9] This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. [10] This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. [11] Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. [12] No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."
So let us love one another this day, and allow the Love of God to be made complete in us, and in those around us!
Merry Christmas and have a blessed celebration of Christ's birth!
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Let the Light of the World Shine
This morning I thought it would be good to take a moment and reflect on how momentous Christ's birth was for all of creation. I love how the Apostle John starts his gospel - John 1:1-18 NIV:
[1] "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
[2] He was with God in the beginning.
[3] Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
[4] In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
[5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
[6] There was a man sent from God whose name was John. [7] He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. [8] He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
[9] The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. [10] He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. [11] He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. [12] Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--- [13] children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
[14] The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
[15] (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' ”) [16] Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. [17] For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. [18] No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known."
It is just beyond understanding that Jesus, a full member of the Trinity, through whom everything was created, came to earth as one of us, and even more, become completely human! He came to give us grace and truth, and to make His Father known. Our world was forever changed by and through Him. The Light has come into the world, and we now are bearers of that same light!
Let us shine with the Light who is Christ! Amen!
[1] "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
[2] He was with God in the beginning.
[3] Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
[4] In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
[5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
[6] There was a man sent from God whose name was John. [7] He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. [8] He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
[9] The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. [10] He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. [11] He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. [12] Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--- [13] children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
[14] The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
[15] (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' ”) [16] Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. [17] For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. [18] No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known."
It is just beyond understanding that Jesus, a full member of the Trinity, through whom everything was created, came to earth as one of us, and even more, become completely human! He came to give us grace and truth, and to make His Father known. Our world was forever changed by and through Him. The Light has come into the world, and we now are bearers of that same light!
Let us shine with the Light who is Christ! Amen!
Friday, December 23, 2016
Give With Good Measure
This morning I felt like reading from Luke's Gospel, and spending some time thinking about the character of Jesus, especially as we prepare to celebrate His birth. I was enjoying the sixth chapter and came upon the following verses, and thought they were worthy of additional reflection - Luke 6:37-38 NIV:
[37] “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. [38] Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
My first thought after reading these verses is how important our actions are in how we are treated. The verses immediately preceding these have to do with loving our enemies, and in those verses Jesus puts forth some very challenging teaching about we should treat even our worst enemies. He calls us to love them, pray for them, and be merciful just as our Father in Heaven in Merciful. Pretty challenging stuff. He then moves into these verses and basically calls us to take responsibility for our actions, and explains that how we treat others is how we will be treated. Don't judge, don't condemn and definitely do forgive. This seems to fly in the face of the entitlement mentality, where we think everyone owes us some unpaid debt.
Jesus is basically saying we shouldn't hold a grudge, shouldn't take offense and and shouldn't keep track of wrongs done to us, or experienced. As He ended the previous verses, He is calling us to embrace Our Father's heart. We are called to forgive, to be open about the value and past experiences of people, to not rush into criticism, or judgment because we don't know their situation or circumstances, and certainly not to call down condemnation on anyone. Wouldn't this be a great message to be heard in church?
He encourages us to forgive, and to give. If we are willing to give, that appears to open up a generosity on the Father's part that is not equal to our giving, but an abundance. The imagery He uses appears to be grain, and a speaks of the measure we use being the one the Father uses in return. However, it appears that the Father is not satisfied in just using the same measure, He presses it down to add more, He shakes it to make sure He can get as much as possible into the measure, and finally He adds more on top until it is overflowing! Notice that He doesn't say what to give, just to give. This opens up an abundance of scenarios - give life, give encouragement, give love, give mercy, give compassion, give time, give understanding, give forgiveness, give significance, give value, give peace, give your attention, give transparency, give, give, give, give. This is the kind of gift that I think we should most consider during this season!
Jesus certainly lived by these words. He is the one true judge, yet he didn't come to judge. He could of condemned the world, yet He came to save it. He who was betrayed, tortured and killed, forgave it all, and even paid for the very sins committed against Him. He gave of Himself, gave us everything! He who is life, who is truth, who is the way - gave to us Himself, completely.
So in these season of celebration, celebrating the greatest gift ever given, Jesus Himself, let us give to one another gifts that will bring life, and significance to one another! Let us love with abandon, for whatever measure we use, He will use in return! Give with a good measure, a huge measure, and watch the Lord return that with abundance into our laps!
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
On Judging One Another...Don't!
This morning I opened my Bible to the following verses and thought they were worthy of some reflection - James 4:11-12 NIV:
[11] "Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. [12] There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you---who are you to judge your neighbor?"
The first question that pops into my mind, is what law? I read a couple of different commentaries and they both say that James is writing about the law that Jesus passed to us, not the Law of the Old Covenant. What law did Jesus give to us? He provided us several insights into the ways of the Father in His sermon on the Mount (Matt: 5-7). Here are a couple of applicable verses:
Matthew 5:44-45 NIV:
[44] "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
Matthew 7:1-2 NIV:
[1] “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. [2] For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Additionally, He gave us a new Commandment - John 13:34 NIV: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
Putting these together we can gain a very solid understanding of what is expected of us in our actions towards each other. We should love as Jesus loved, love as the Father loves, and not judge one another. Any judgment towards a fellow man, any harsh language about a brother, is effectively going against the law that Jesus passed to us, and in effect saying either that His law isn't sufficient, or that we know better than Him. Ouch!
Secondly, as I think about what James is saying here, I think that having a critical spirit falls into this category. Slander means to falsely accuse one, but some of the other translations have used "speak against" and I think that includes a wider category of negative speaking. What we say might be true, but unhelpful, or we might calling someone's attention to something they had not seen before in the subject of the criticism. In either case, our speaking would be against the individual we are called to love, as Jesus loved. We are called to lay down our lives for one another. If our words are not helpful, encouraging, and spoken in love to the subject themselves, rather than to someone else, then I think they fall into "speaking against".
Finally, we are called to love as a brother or sister, not direct another's life as a superior. We are called to serve, not be served (Mark 10:42-45). Taking on the role of superior over someone else's life is taking a position that is for the Lord only. We are not substitutes for the Lord, as if He is unable to be Lord in each person's life. In taking on this role, we are effectively judging His work and finding fault in it. Yikes! This is essentially what James is saying here in these verses.
So today, I am encouraged to look at my brothers and sisters in love, to banish my critical and judgmental nature, and to look for ways to love them and encourage them. I know that the Lord loves and treasures every person, regardless of their life choices, life situations, and life experiences, most of which I will never know. If He, who knows everything about each person, loves them beyond comprehension, who do I think I am to think or act differently? Lord, help me!
[11] "Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. [12] There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you---who are you to judge your neighbor?"
The first question that pops into my mind, is what law? I read a couple of different commentaries and they both say that James is writing about the law that Jesus passed to us, not the Law of the Old Covenant. What law did Jesus give to us? He provided us several insights into the ways of the Father in His sermon on the Mount (Matt: 5-7). Here are a couple of applicable verses:
Matthew 5:44-45 NIV:
[44] "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
Matthew 7:1-2 NIV:
[1] “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. [2] For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Additionally, He gave us a new Commandment - John 13:34 NIV: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
Putting these together we can gain a very solid understanding of what is expected of us in our actions towards each other. We should love as Jesus loved, love as the Father loves, and not judge one another. Any judgment towards a fellow man, any harsh language about a brother, is effectively going against the law that Jesus passed to us, and in effect saying either that His law isn't sufficient, or that we know better than Him. Ouch!
Secondly, as I think about what James is saying here, I think that having a critical spirit falls into this category. Slander means to falsely accuse one, but some of the other translations have used "speak against" and I think that includes a wider category of negative speaking. What we say might be true, but unhelpful, or we might calling someone's attention to something they had not seen before in the subject of the criticism. In either case, our speaking would be against the individual we are called to love, as Jesus loved. We are called to lay down our lives for one another. If our words are not helpful, encouraging, and spoken in love to the subject themselves, rather than to someone else, then I think they fall into "speaking against".
Finally, we are called to love as a brother or sister, not direct another's life as a superior. We are called to serve, not be served (Mark 10:42-45). Taking on the role of superior over someone else's life is taking a position that is for the Lord only. We are not substitutes for the Lord, as if He is unable to be Lord in each person's life. In taking on this role, we are effectively judging His work and finding fault in it. Yikes! This is essentially what James is saying here in these verses.
So today, I am encouraged to look at my brothers and sisters in love, to banish my critical and judgmental nature, and to look for ways to love them and encourage them. I know that the Lord loves and treasures every person, regardless of their life choices, life situations, and life experiences, most of which I will never know. If He, who knows everything about each person, loves them beyond comprehension, who do I think I am to think or act differently? Lord, help me!
Monday, December 19, 2016
Change, Transition and Testing
Today, I am personally in a time of transition, once again. This time it was again an unexpected transition, so as I sat down to pray, I was thinking about my unknown future. I thought it would be good to look up 'unknown' in scripture and see what the Lord had to say, and I came across these familiar verses in Isaiah 48:3-7, 10, 12-13, 16-17 NIV:
[3] "I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.
[4] For I knew how stubborn you were; your neck muscles were iron, your forehead was bronze.
[5] Therefore I told you these things long ago; before they happened I announced them to you so that you could not say, 'My images brought them about; my wooden image and metal god ordained them.'
[6] You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not admit them? “From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you.
[7] They are created now, and not long ago; you have not heard of them before today. So you cannot say, 'Yes, I knew of them.'
[10] See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
[12] “Listen to me, Jacob, Israel, whom I have called: I am he; I am the first and I am the last.
[13] My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together.
[16] “Come near me and listen to this: “From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret; at the time it happens, I am there.” And now the Sovereign Lord has sent me, endowed with his Spirit."
[17] "This is what the Lord says---your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go."
I definitely feel like I am in the stage of God announcing new things to me, of hidden things previously unknown to me. In the past it seemed like the Lord would give me a six month notice to major life changes, but since this summer the time of notification was very close to the change. I was complaining about that to the Lord this summer and His response was that I had learned how to trust Him and follow His guidance when I knew about things in advance, but that He wanted me able to follow Him without knowing the plan in advance, trusting totally in His character, rather than in His revealed plans. So now I am learning to trust Him in midst of change, with no visibility to where I will end up, nor how long it will take to get there.
I like these verses because, although the motivation ascribed to the Lord is different, the process He takes them through is similar to my present experience. My favorite verse is verse sixteen, where the Lord says, "at the time it happens, I am there." What a great promise to hold onto in the midst of transition and change. Even though the plan is not known, He is present! That should be enough for me, and so far it is. I am resting in my knowledge of His goodness and faithfulness. I am confident in His plan for my life, and know that He has led me to this place, and that He is leading forward in the way I should go (verse 17). I am counting on His presence to be evident in my life, bringing His peace that passes understanding (Phil 4:7).
Secondly, verse ten speaks of being tested and refined. I believe that the Lord regularly allows our testing, for it helps us to know how we are doing and what areas we need to grow in our relationship with Him. I think of this as a carpenter building a house, testing His work as he goes making sure it is solid, square and level. He desires that we grown into His image, and our testing allows us to see areas where we still need to grow. For example, if our first response is fear, then we need to know His love in a deeper way, for perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). If we see God as punishing us, then we need to know the Father's heart in a deeper way for He didn't send Jesus to judge but to save (John 3:16-17). Our response to these challenges and tests will tell us much about our relationship and heart knowledge of the Lord, what we really believe versus what we say we believe.
Lord, I pray for all of us who are going through times of transition, and times of testing, that we might rest in You, and grow in our faith and knowledge of You through our experience of Your peace, provision and guidance. Amen!
[3] "I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.
[4] For I knew how stubborn you were; your neck muscles were iron, your forehead was bronze.
[5] Therefore I told you these things long ago; before they happened I announced them to you so that you could not say, 'My images brought them about; my wooden image and metal god ordained them.'
[6] You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not admit them? “From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you.
[7] They are created now, and not long ago; you have not heard of them before today. So you cannot say, 'Yes, I knew of them.'
[10] See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
[12] “Listen to me, Jacob, Israel, whom I have called: I am he; I am the first and I am the last.
[13] My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together.
[16] “Come near me and listen to this: “From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret; at the time it happens, I am there.” And now the Sovereign Lord has sent me, endowed with his Spirit."
[17] "This is what the Lord says---your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go."
I definitely feel like I am in the stage of God announcing new things to me, of hidden things previously unknown to me. In the past it seemed like the Lord would give me a six month notice to major life changes, but since this summer the time of notification was very close to the change. I was complaining about that to the Lord this summer and His response was that I had learned how to trust Him and follow His guidance when I knew about things in advance, but that He wanted me able to follow Him without knowing the plan in advance, trusting totally in His character, rather than in His revealed plans. So now I am learning to trust Him in midst of change, with no visibility to where I will end up, nor how long it will take to get there.
I like these verses because, although the motivation ascribed to the Lord is different, the process He takes them through is similar to my present experience. My favorite verse is verse sixteen, where the Lord says, "at the time it happens, I am there." What a great promise to hold onto in the midst of transition and change. Even though the plan is not known, He is present! That should be enough for me, and so far it is. I am resting in my knowledge of His goodness and faithfulness. I am confident in His plan for my life, and know that He has led me to this place, and that He is leading forward in the way I should go (verse 17). I am counting on His presence to be evident in my life, bringing His peace that passes understanding (Phil 4:7).
Secondly, verse ten speaks of being tested and refined. I believe that the Lord regularly allows our testing, for it helps us to know how we are doing and what areas we need to grow in our relationship with Him. I think of this as a carpenter building a house, testing His work as he goes making sure it is solid, square and level. He desires that we grown into His image, and our testing allows us to see areas where we still need to grow. For example, if our first response is fear, then we need to know His love in a deeper way, for perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). If we see God as punishing us, then we need to know the Father's heart in a deeper way for He didn't send Jesus to judge but to save (John 3:16-17). Our response to these challenges and tests will tell us much about our relationship and heart knowledge of the Lord, what we really believe versus what we say we believe.
Lord, I pray for all of us who are going through times of transition, and times of testing, that we might rest in You, and grow in our faith and knowledge of You through our experience of Your peace, provision and guidance. Amen!
Saturday, December 17, 2016
On Death and Hope
This morning I am reflecting on some verses from Paul's letter to the Church in Thessalonica, in honor of Don, one of my oldest friends, who passed into heaven yesterday. Here are the verses - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV:
[13] "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. [14] For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. [15] According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. [16] For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. [17] After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. [18] Therefore encourage one another with these words."
I love how Paul gets right to the heart of the matter, grieving without hope. We will all grieve the passing of a loved one, but we should know that there is hope in Christ Jesus. He is our hope, the first born from the dead, the one who makes a way for us to enter our eternal life, one that we enter through our relationship with Him!
Paul was writing to a church that believed the Lord's return was imminent, so they were concerned about those who had passed away before His return. In our humanness we struggle to see past our material existence, our physical bodies, and so when death claims us we are uncertain what, if anything, comes next. Paul is affirming their belief that God is sovereign over everything, even death, and that for Him death is no barrier. He who has existed before time, continues to exist outside of time, and for Him all things are possible both in the natural worlds as well as the supernatural world and spiritual world or realm. Christ Jesus provided the proof that there is life after death, life that flows from Him. In this, and in Him we can place our hope.
Paul actually dealt with death in several of his letters, and in his first letter to the Church in Corinth, he talks about how our mortal bodies cannot inherit immortality, and so we must be changed - 1 Corinthians 15:54 NIV: "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
Thus we believe that when our believing loved ones pass into eternity, their experience is one of shedding the perishable to become clothed with their imperishable bodies, and death is defeated. We, who remain here, don't get to see that change, but we know that it has occurred for Jesus demonstrated this reality after His resurrection.
While I will miss my friend Don, I know that He has passed into a heavenly existence and his body is new and his suffering is over. I will grieve, but do so with hope in Christ Jesus, and believe that I will see him again when I pass into eternity. Even better, I will be reunited with my family members, my father, my nephew, my grandparents, all who have passed before me. Most importantly, I will see the Lord face-to-face and experience His love and glory in its fullness. Don is there now, and I am happy for him and blessed to have been a part of His life.
Lord, I pray for all that have recently experience the death of a loved one. I pray that You will bless them with peace, comfort, and hope.
Amen.
[13] "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. [14] For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. [15] According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. [16] For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. [17] After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. [18] Therefore encourage one another with these words."
I love how Paul gets right to the heart of the matter, grieving without hope. We will all grieve the passing of a loved one, but we should know that there is hope in Christ Jesus. He is our hope, the first born from the dead, the one who makes a way for us to enter our eternal life, one that we enter through our relationship with Him!
Paul was writing to a church that believed the Lord's return was imminent, so they were concerned about those who had passed away before His return. In our humanness we struggle to see past our material existence, our physical bodies, and so when death claims us we are uncertain what, if anything, comes next. Paul is affirming their belief that God is sovereign over everything, even death, and that for Him death is no barrier. He who has existed before time, continues to exist outside of time, and for Him all things are possible both in the natural worlds as well as the supernatural world and spiritual world or realm. Christ Jesus provided the proof that there is life after death, life that flows from Him. In this, and in Him we can place our hope.
Paul actually dealt with death in several of his letters, and in his first letter to the Church in Corinth, he talks about how our mortal bodies cannot inherit immortality, and so we must be changed - 1 Corinthians 15:54 NIV: "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
Thus we believe that when our believing loved ones pass into eternity, their experience is one of shedding the perishable to become clothed with their imperishable bodies, and death is defeated. We, who remain here, don't get to see that change, but we know that it has occurred for Jesus demonstrated this reality after His resurrection.
While I will miss my friend Don, I know that He has passed into a heavenly existence and his body is new and his suffering is over. I will grieve, but do so with hope in Christ Jesus, and believe that I will see him again when I pass into eternity. Even better, I will be reunited with my family members, my father, my nephew, my grandparents, all who have passed before me. Most importantly, I will see the Lord face-to-face and experience His love and glory in its fullness. Don is there now, and I am happy for him and blessed to have been a part of His life.
Lord, I pray for all that have recently experience the death of a loved one. I pray that You will bless them with peace, comfort, and hope.
Amen.
Friday, December 16, 2016
On Fasting and Reflection
This morning I have been thinking about fasting, based on some verses I read in the book of the prophet Zechariah 7:5, 8-10 NIV:
[5] “Ask all the people of the land and the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted?"
[8] "And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: [9] “This is what the Lord Almighty said: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. [10] Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.'"
These verses are very similar to verses in Isaiah where the subject of fasting was addressed. Here are those verses - Isaiah 58:3-7 NIV:
[3] 'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?'
“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. [4] Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. [5] Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?
[6] “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? [7] Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter---when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"
The question in Zech. 7:5 really grabbed my attention this morning. It is such a simple question, but really gets to the heart of our motivation for religious acts like fasting -and it is right to ask ourselves 'who are we doing it for?'
Fasting is an interesting practice that does not really get mentioned until Leviticus as part of the the Day of Atonement. The idea in Leviticus was that the people were supposed to deny themselves food, and present an offering to the Lord. The Day of atonement was supposed to be celebrated one time per year, and it was the day the people's sins were removed from them. Thus, they were reminded of their sins and extended mercy and grace on the day of their fast.
It seems to me that they never made the connection between their fasting and God's actions, which were meant to be an example for them of how they should treat one another. That is exactly what Isaiah is addressing, the people were fasting but never changing their attitude towards each other or their behavior. The idea was not observe the religious practice, but to actually change one's behavior to become more like the Lord. We would be right to call this repentance, for it should involve changing the way we think, and then changing the way we act. The fast was meant to aid us in this, by causing us to reflect on our lives and see the areas where our actions did not line up with God's law, and provide us the opportunity to change. Fasting is supposed to be an aid in reflecting on our life, seeing God's mercy and compassion, and then imitating Him in our own lives.
The question that God asks through Zechariah cuts to the heart of the people's motivation. Are they fasting for God, or for themselves? Are they using this time to become more like the Lord, or are they trying to check off a box so they can say they did what was required, and then go back to doing things exactly the way they did them before? The Lord is pretty clear in Isaiah that He expects that their reflection to lead them to better represent Him through their actions.
So why do people give up chocolate in Lent? Why do we fast? Are we trying to get God to answer our prayers? Are we trying to get the Lord to notice us, or think nice thoughts about us because we followed the rules? What is our motivation? Are we changed in our behavior following our fast? Are we fasting for God (for His Name's sake), or fasting for ourselves?
As I think about this reflection, I realize that in this season of advent, when we are preparing ourselves for the celebration of Christ's birth, one of our goals should be reflection upon our lives, identifying areas where we are not Christ-like, and deciding to change to become more like Him. Just as Jesus demonstrated when He came to earth, we are called to extend mercy and compassion, to loosen chains of injustice, to set oppressed free, to share our food with the hungry, shelter for the poor wanderer, clothing for the naked, and embrace our times with our families. I believe that would represent a proper embrace of the reason for the season.
Oh Lord, help us to focus our attention on You, rather than on ourselves this Christmas season!
[5] “Ask all the people of the land and the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted?"
[8] "And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: [9] “This is what the Lord Almighty said: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. [10] Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.'"
These verses are very similar to verses in Isaiah where the subject of fasting was addressed. Here are those verses - Isaiah 58:3-7 NIV:
[3] 'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?'
“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. [4] Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. [5] Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?
[6] “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? [7] Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter---when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"
The question in Zech. 7:5 really grabbed my attention this morning. It is such a simple question, but really gets to the heart of our motivation for religious acts like fasting -and it is right to ask ourselves 'who are we doing it for?'
Fasting is an interesting practice that does not really get mentioned until Leviticus as part of the the Day of Atonement. The idea in Leviticus was that the people were supposed to deny themselves food, and present an offering to the Lord. The Day of atonement was supposed to be celebrated one time per year, and it was the day the people's sins were removed from them. Thus, they were reminded of their sins and extended mercy and grace on the day of their fast.
It seems to me that they never made the connection between their fasting and God's actions, which were meant to be an example for them of how they should treat one another. That is exactly what Isaiah is addressing, the people were fasting but never changing their attitude towards each other or their behavior. The idea was not observe the religious practice, but to actually change one's behavior to become more like the Lord. We would be right to call this repentance, for it should involve changing the way we think, and then changing the way we act. The fast was meant to aid us in this, by causing us to reflect on our lives and see the areas where our actions did not line up with God's law, and provide us the opportunity to change. Fasting is supposed to be an aid in reflecting on our life, seeing God's mercy and compassion, and then imitating Him in our own lives.
The question that God asks through Zechariah cuts to the heart of the people's motivation. Are they fasting for God, or for themselves? Are they using this time to become more like the Lord, or are they trying to check off a box so they can say they did what was required, and then go back to doing things exactly the way they did them before? The Lord is pretty clear in Isaiah that He expects that their reflection to lead them to better represent Him through their actions.
So why do people give up chocolate in Lent? Why do we fast? Are we trying to get God to answer our prayers? Are we trying to get the Lord to notice us, or think nice thoughts about us because we followed the rules? What is our motivation? Are we changed in our behavior following our fast? Are we fasting for God (for His Name's sake), or fasting for ourselves?
As I think about this reflection, I realize that in this season of advent, when we are preparing ourselves for the celebration of Christ's birth, one of our goals should be reflection upon our lives, identifying areas where we are not Christ-like, and deciding to change to become more like Him. Just as Jesus demonstrated when He came to earth, we are called to extend mercy and compassion, to loosen chains of injustice, to set oppressed free, to share our food with the hungry, shelter for the poor wanderer, clothing for the naked, and embrace our times with our families. I believe that would represent a proper embrace of the reason for the season.
Oh Lord, help us to focus our attention on You, rather than on ourselves this Christmas season!
Friday, December 9, 2016
Not Just Scraps!
This morning I felt like reading from Mark's gospel, and here are the verses I am reflecting upon - Mark 7:24-30 NIV:
[24] Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. [25] In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. [26] The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
[27] “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs.”
[28] “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.”
[29] Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” [30] She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone."
This is always such an interesting story, for the way Mark writes the account, it appears that Jesus is almost reluctant to do anything for her, just because she wasn't Jewish. However, that whole line of conversation is not my focus this morning. What i am thinking about is the fact that if we take the language in this story literally, that with the scraps from the banqueting table that would normally be fed to the dogs, Jesus has plenty to defeat the work of the enemy and cast the demon from the young girl's body.
As I was thinking about these scraps of bread, I was reminded of Jesus teaching on prayer (Matt 6:9-13), about asking for our daily bread from the Father. So often I would be more than happy with just a little scrap of God's presence, and yet according to Jesus, it is the Father's will to provide us the whole of our daily provisions! We just need to ask, just like this women! She isn't concerned that she doesn't have relationship with Jesus, she has heard that he is capable to heal people of demonic possession and so she goes to Him and asks. We, who have relationship with Him, how much more likely or willing is He to provide exactly what we need? He is our Lord, our provider, our source of all life! As Jesus tells us in Luke 11:13 NIV: "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!”
I also like the fact that Jesus never leaves the house and yet casts the demon out from afar (at least that is the way it appears). In other words, we don't need to feel His presence to know that He is capable of dealing with the situation! What an awesome God we have.
So this morning I am encouraged to ask, for the Lord doesn't just want to give me the scraps for the dogs! No, He wants to give me the whole of my provision, all that I want, my daily bread, and even more so the Holy Spirit!
Amen!
[24] Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. [25] In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. [26] The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
[27] “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs.”
[28] “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.”
[29] Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” [30] She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone."
This is always such an interesting story, for the way Mark writes the account, it appears that Jesus is almost reluctant to do anything for her, just because she wasn't Jewish. However, that whole line of conversation is not my focus this morning. What i am thinking about is the fact that if we take the language in this story literally, that with the scraps from the banqueting table that would normally be fed to the dogs, Jesus has plenty to defeat the work of the enemy and cast the demon from the young girl's body.
As I was thinking about these scraps of bread, I was reminded of Jesus teaching on prayer (Matt 6:9-13), about asking for our daily bread from the Father. So often I would be more than happy with just a little scrap of God's presence, and yet according to Jesus, it is the Father's will to provide us the whole of our daily provisions! We just need to ask, just like this women! She isn't concerned that she doesn't have relationship with Jesus, she has heard that he is capable to heal people of demonic possession and so she goes to Him and asks. We, who have relationship with Him, how much more likely or willing is He to provide exactly what we need? He is our Lord, our provider, our source of all life! As Jesus tells us in Luke 11:13 NIV: "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!”
I also like the fact that Jesus never leaves the house and yet casts the demon out from afar (at least that is the way it appears). In other words, we don't need to feel His presence to know that He is capable of dealing with the situation! What an awesome God we have.
So this morning I am encouraged to ask, for the Lord doesn't just want to give me the scraps for the dogs! No, He wants to give me the whole of my provision, all that I want, my daily bread, and even more so the Holy Spirit!
Amen!
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Distortion and Truth
This morning I felt I should read from the Prophet Isaiah. He is my favorite of the Old Testament Prophets, so I am always excited to open up that book. This morning I felt particularly led to verse fourteen - here is the particular part that I have been meditating on - Isaiah 19:14 NIV: "The Lord has poured into them a spirit of dizziness; they make Egypt stagger in all that she does, as a drunkard staggers around in his vomit." This is a bit of a surprising focus, for this chapter also has some very interesting things to say about the middle-east.
The NIV translation of this particular verse seems to me to miss a little of the meaning of the original Hebrew. I like this NASB translation better - "The LORD has mixed within her a spirit of distortion; They have led Egypt astray in all that it does, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit."
The specific phrase that grabbed my attention was "spirit of dizziness" or in the NASB, "spirit of distortion". The reason this grabbed my attention is that it seems to me that we in the USA are being affected by a similar spirit of distortion. I am not sure if you have facebook, or watch the news, but if you do you can easily find commentaries and people's perspectives about certain events that offer wildly different portrayals of the truth! Often the same situation is described by two different people as the exact opposite of each other. I believe both can't be true, but yet both believe their perspective is true.
The original Hebrew word that Isaiah uses here is the word (`av`eh) and it means distorting, perverting, warping. I do believe that part of the USA's problem is a spiritual problem. In the Bible, Jesus describes the devil as follows - John 8:44b NIV: "He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." Later, Paul writes something similar in describing the enemy and how he affects people - 2 Thessalonians 2:10 NIV: ..."and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved." There are numerous other scriptures that offer similar descriptions of the devil and his works, and clearly from a scriptural perspective lies, deception, distortion and perverting truth are the handiwork of the enemy.
The problem with deception, delusion and even distorted perspective is the one who is affected usually doesn't know it. For them, their perspective and beliefs are true. I am reminded of the old old story of several blind men describing an elephant, each only describing what they can touch and feel. Here is a version I found online describing the six blind men as they described the elephant:
"Everyone of them touched the elephant.
"Hey, the elephant is a pillar," said the first man who touched his leg.
"Oh, no! it is like a rope," said the second man who touched the tail.
"Oh, no! it is like a thick branch of a tree," said the third man who touched the trunk of the elephant.
"It is like a big hand fan" said the fourth man who touched the ear of the elephant.
"It is like a huge wall," said the fifth man who touched the belly of the elephant.
"It is like a solid pipe," Said the sixth man who touched the tusk of the elephant.
They began to argue about the elephant and everyone of them insisted that he was right."
Sometimes our perspective is limited by our view, sometimes by our mind-set, and sometimes by our experience. In this story, each was sharing their experience, and for them it was true, but they were clearly lacking the big picture truth. If someone were to purposely only let every blind man only touch the trunk, they would all agree that the elephant was like a thick brach of a tree, and they would all be only partially correct and they would have a distorted perspective. In this case their distorted perspective would be the result of a conscious effort to influence them.
So, in today's information age where everyone has an opinion, and everyone seems to want to share their "truth" or the truth that appeals to them, how do we know what is really true? I believe the answer is that we need to go to the one that can see the whole truth, whose perspective is not tainted by delusion, deception or limited view. In my opinion, we need to go to the source of all truth and ask for clarity and right perspective. Jesus describes Himself as the truth (John 14:6) and He is willing and able to help us if we ask Him. He says the following as well concerning the Holy Spirit - John 16:13 NIV: "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."
So, in these times of confusion, distorted truths, deception and delusion, let us turn to the one who is the Truth, and allow His truth to adjust our perspectives, and lead us to the whole truth! Help us Lord! Clear away the spirit of distortion that is affecting us!
The NIV translation of this particular verse seems to me to miss a little of the meaning of the original Hebrew. I like this NASB translation better - "The LORD has mixed within her a spirit of distortion; They have led Egypt astray in all that it does, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit."
The specific phrase that grabbed my attention was "spirit of dizziness" or in the NASB, "spirit of distortion". The reason this grabbed my attention is that it seems to me that we in the USA are being affected by a similar spirit of distortion. I am not sure if you have facebook, or watch the news, but if you do you can easily find commentaries and people's perspectives about certain events that offer wildly different portrayals of the truth! Often the same situation is described by two different people as the exact opposite of each other. I believe both can't be true, but yet both believe their perspective is true.
The original Hebrew word that Isaiah uses here is the word (`av`eh) and it means distorting, perverting, warping. I do believe that part of the USA's problem is a spiritual problem. In the Bible, Jesus describes the devil as follows - John 8:44b NIV: "He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." Later, Paul writes something similar in describing the enemy and how he affects people - 2 Thessalonians 2:10 NIV: ..."and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved." There are numerous other scriptures that offer similar descriptions of the devil and his works, and clearly from a scriptural perspective lies, deception, distortion and perverting truth are the handiwork of the enemy.
The problem with deception, delusion and even distorted perspective is the one who is affected usually doesn't know it. For them, their perspective and beliefs are true. I am reminded of the old old story of several blind men describing an elephant, each only describing what they can touch and feel. Here is a version I found online describing the six blind men as they described the elephant:
"Everyone of them touched the elephant.
"Hey, the elephant is a pillar," said the first man who touched his leg.
"Oh, no! it is like a rope," said the second man who touched the tail.
"Oh, no! it is like a thick branch of a tree," said the third man who touched the trunk of the elephant.
"It is like a big hand fan" said the fourth man who touched the ear of the elephant.
"It is like a huge wall," said the fifth man who touched the belly of the elephant.
"It is like a solid pipe," Said the sixth man who touched the tusk of the elephant.
They began to argue about the elephant and everyone of them insisted that he was right."
Sometimes our perspective is limited by our view, sometimes by our mind-set, and sometimes by our experience. In this story, each was sharing their experience, and for them it was true, but they were clearly lacking the big picture truth. If someone were to purposely only let every blind man only touch the trunk, they would all agree that the elephant was like a thick brach of a tree, and they would all be only partially correct and they would have a distorted perspective. In this case their distorted perspective would be the result of a conscious effort to influence them.
So, in today's information age where everyone has an opinion, and everyone seems to want to share their "truth" or the truth that appeals to them, how do we know what is really true? I believe the answer is that we need to go to the one that can see the whole truth, whose perspective is not tainted by delusion, deception or limited view. In my opinion, we need to go to the source of all truth and ask for clarity and right perspective. Jesus describes Himself as the truth (John 14:6) and He is willing and able to help us if we ask Him. He says the following as well concerning the Holy Spirit - John 16:13 NIV: "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."
So, in these times of confusion, distorted truths, deception and delusion, let us turn to the one who is the Truth, and allow His truth to adjust our perspectives, and lead us to the whole truth! Help us Lord! Clear away the spirit of distortion that is affecting us!
Monday, December 5, 2016
The Church and Sinners
Yesterday morning I was thinking about the church and its attitude towards sin and sinners. I think it is a fair statement to say that the church is often better known for its judgment of sin and sinners than it is for its loving and welcoming of all. I was thinking about how Jesus was often surrounded by what the authors of the Gospels called sinners. They described how Jesus' actions were called into question by the religious leaders of the time. Here are a couple of verses from Mark that are a good example - Mark 2:13-17 NIV:
[13] "Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. [14] As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him."
[15] "While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. [16] When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
[17] "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
I love the heart of Jesus towards those who were considered sinners. Notice that He says He has come to call sinners, not the righteous! What an incredible statement that the church would be wise to take to heart, and consider how to reflect this in our mission. In fact, if you go back to the beginning of this little story, Jesus calls Levi to follow Him directly from his position as one of the chief sinners, as tax collectors were considered traitors since they worked for the Romans and certainly were not practicing Jews. It is widely believed that Levi (Hebrew name) is indeed Matthew (Greek name) the Apostle. In fact in Matthew's Gospel, he actually replaces the name Levi with Matthew in this same story (Matt 9:9-13).
I had read this many times before, but yesterday it just kind of grabbed me. Matthew went from being completely lost, a complete sinner, to one of Jesus' closest companions in a very short period of time. One wonders how many apostles the church has missed because they were at present sinners and just not welcome. Going back to the verses, notice that the invitation wasn't to clean up his (Matthew's) life, but rather it was an invitation to relationship.
When the church leads with judgment of sin and sinners, we are saying the opposite of what Jesus said and demonstrated here. We (the church) are saying to the sinner that they must clean up their life before they can have relationship with us or Jesus. It is no wonder that so many people don't want to go to church where they will be judged and required to change. I just don't see Jesus leading with that message.
Taking this reflection further, since Jesus hadn't already come and offered the sacrifice that bought us all forgiveness for our sins and salvation for our souls, every single person that Jesus called to be His disciple and apostle was a sinner! I think we (the church) can get so caught up with being "holy" or "sanctified" that we forget that we were all called when we were sinners. In fact, the great commission is to go to all nations and make disciples, just like Jesus did, going to sinners bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Good News is that God came to earth and is still present with us through His Holy Spirit, and that He came to have relationship with us. It is through relationship with Jesus that our lives are changed, but only after we have relationship with Him. Paul says we literally become a new creation when we are saved by faith in Jesus, not before.
For much of the church, it seems like the goal it to build these nice safe havens where we are only surrounded by others like us, others who will help us become holy and sanctified. We are afraid of the influences of the world, that we might be tainted or marred with sin. Jesus said that the gates of hell would not be able to overpower the church (Matt 16:18), not the other way around. The Kingdom of God is advancing, and to advance it must overcome the kingdom of this world. We are called to be a light, to overcome darkness and we can't do that if the only light that gets out to world is from the windows of our churches. What is this light that we are to be known for, this light that overcomes the darkness? It is our love (John 13:35) and it is the Lord present in our midst (John 8:12)! It is not our judgment of sin and sinner.
I am reminded of a few verses from John's first letter - 1 John 2:3-10 NIV:
[3] "We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. [4] Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. [5] But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: [6] Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
[7] Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. [8] Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.
[9] Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. [10] Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble."
Here John equates loving our brother and sister with living in the light. He says that we must live like Jesus did (verse 6) , loving everyone, even the sinners.
Today I am encouraged to reflect on my heart towards sinners, towards those that are lost and clearly not following the Lord. His heart is for these people! He said He came for these very people, so how am I to represent Him to those I meet? Clearly with a demonstration of love, not judgment! Help me Lord to overcome any fear on my behalf.
[13] "Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. [14] As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him."
[15] "While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. [16] When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
[17] "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
I love the heart of Jesus towards those who were considered sinners. Notice that He says He has come to call sinners, not the righteous! What an incredible statement that the church would be wise to take to heart, and consider how to reflect this in our mission. In fact, if you go back to the beginning of this little story, Jesus calls Levi to follow Him directly from his position as one of the chief sinners, as tax collectors were considered traitors since they worked for the Romans and certainly were not practicing Jews. It is widely believed that Levi (Hebrew name) is indeed Matthew (Greek name) the Apostle. In fact in Matthew's Gospel, he actually replaces the name Levi with Matthew in this same story (Matt 9:9-13).
I had read this many times before, but yesterday it just kind of grabbed me. Matthew went from being completely lost, a complete sinner, to one of Jesus' closest companions in a very short period of time. One wonders how many apostles the church has missed because they were at present sinners and just not welcome. Going back to the verses, notice that the invitation wasn't to clean up his (Matthew's) life, but rather it was an invitation to relationship.
When the church leads with judgment of sin and sinners, we are saying the opposite of what Jesus said and demonstrated here. We (the church) are saying to the sinner that they must clean up their life before they can have relationship with us or Jesus. It is no wonder that so many people don't want to go to church where they will be judged and required to change. I just don't see Jesus leading with that message.
Taking this reflection further, since Jesus hadn't already come and offered the sacrifice that bought us all forgiveness for our sins and salvation for our souls, every single person that Jesus called to be His disciple and apostle was a sinner! I think we (the church) can get so caught up with being "holy" or "sanctified" that we forget that we were all called when we were sinners. In fact, the great commission is to go to all nations and make disciples, just like Jesus did, going to sinners bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Good News is that God came to earth and is still present with us through His Holy Spirit, and that He came to have relationship with us. It is through relationship with Jesus that our lives are changed, but only after we have relationship with Him. Paul says we literally become a new creation when we are saved by faith in Jesus, not before.
For much of the church, it seems like the goal it to build these nice safe havens where we are only surrounded by others like us, others who will help us become holy and sanctified. We are afraid of the influences of the world, that we might be tainted or marred with sin. Jesus said that the gates of hell would not be able to overpower the church (Matt 16:18), not the other way around. The Kingdom of God is advancing, and to advance it must overcome the kingdom of this world. We are called to be a light, to overcome darkness and we can't do that if the only light that gets out to world is from the windows of our churches. What is this light that we are to be known for, this light that overcomes the darkness? It is our love (John 13:35) and it is the Lord present in our midst (John 8:12)! It is not our judgment of sin and sinner.
I am reminded of a few verses from John's first letter - 1 John 2:3-10 NIV:
[3] "We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. [4] Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. [5] But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: [6] Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
[7] Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. [8] Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.
[9] Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. [10] Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble."
Here John equates loving our brother and sister with living in the light. He says that we must live like Jesus did (verse 6) , loving everyone, even the sinners.
Today I am encouraged to reflect on my heart towards sinners, towards those that are lost and clearly not following the Lord. His heart is for these people! He said He came for these very people, so how am I to represent Him to those I meet? Clearly with a demonstration of love, not judgment! Help me Lord to overcome any fear on my behalf.
Monday, November 28, 2016
Relationship During Transition
This morning I felt like I should read from Luke's Gospel, even though it is very familiar. I love how the Lord can take a familiar set of verses and make them new again, or give them special renewed meaning in a new season. The verses I am reflecting on this morning are the following - Luke 11:9-13 NIV:
[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!”
These verses are very encouraging to me as I am in a season of transition and waiting on the Lord to reveal His plan and purposes for me. I have been asking, and seeking, and knocking on doors a little, and knowing that He hears and responds is helpful.
I have a couple of quick thoughts about the verses without going too deep into the original language of the verses. First, it is interesting to me how the verb tense changes from verse nine to verse ten. The sentences are almost identical, except for the tense of the verbs. Apparently asking and seeking are answered immediately, but knocking on doors takes a bit of time. The verb tenses for asking and seeking are present tense, while the knocking is future tense. Going a bit deeper, the Greek word translated ask is Aiteo and it means:
1) to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, or require.
The word translated seek is the Greek word Zeteo and it means the following:
1) to seek in order to find
a) to seek a thing
b) to seek [in order to find out] by thinking, meditating, reasoning, to enquire into
c) to seek after, seek for, aim at, strive after
2) to seek i.e. require, demand
a) to crave, demand something from someone
Now Jesus, in verse 13, places these words in the context of receiving the Holy Spirit. This is the same Holy Spirit that came upon the apostles and disciples at Pentecost (Acts 2) and is our advocate, our helper and the source of any power in our lives.
As I reflect on these verses I am reminded that everything that Jesus is speaking about is our inheritance in Him. He made a way for us to have real relationship with Him, the Holy Spirit and the Father. When we accept His salvation, we enter into a relationship with them all. So why would he be encouraging us to ask and seek for the Holy Spirit?
I believe the answer is quite simple and is related to our free will. We can just as easily decide to ask and seek for other things! We can divert our attention and our hearts away from God and in doing so, God allows us to wander away from Him. He is telling us to constantly ask for, and seek Him, to turn back to Him, to be reminded of His love for us. We need to do this every day, in fact sometimes I need to do it multiple times a day, and when we do, He is immediately available to us.
Going back the verses, I believe Jesus is talking about 2 things, relationship and direction. Relationship is related to our heart's desires and both Greek words used here describe the object of one's desire and longing. The knocking on the door, to me, sounds more like asking direction and is the way I commonly refer to decisions and direction in my own life. When I am looking for a new job, I am "knocking" on as many doors as possible. When I am going through transition, I am waiting for a new door to open so that I might walk into the new experiences and purposes that are revealed. All the while I am doing the knocking, I am constantly embracing relationship with Him.
In summary, if we are asking for Him and seeking Him, He is immediately available for relationship. If we are seeking direction, that may take some time for it to be revealed, for God's purposes and plans are revealed in His perfect timing. He is more than willing to be with us and help us wait, to give us clarity in our present situation, and to bless us with relational intimacy, but He is committed to His perfect plan and that does have time components.
Thus, this morning I am encouraged in this time of transition. I am encouraged that He loves me and wants me to walk with Him through this time of transition. I am encouraged because the proper door will be opened, but while I am waiting I can enjoy the blessings of relationship with Him. Lord, I ask for You, I seek You and I will continue to knock until the door is opened.
Amen!
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Thanksgiving and Reflection
A couple of days ago I felt like reading from the Gospel of Luke. Here are the two verses that captured my attention - Luke 15:1-2 NIV:
[1] "Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. [2] But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
I love that these verses, especially verse 1, are recorded in Scripture. In these, and many other stories, we find a good example of Jesus' heart, as the Father's representative, towards sinners. I can imagine what the church would be like if these verses were not included. I think that it is possible to forget that Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10) and we can also forget that we are called to continue His ministry. If sinners hung out with Jesus and felt comfortable in His presence, even welcomed, can we say the same about our lives, and our churches?
That is actually a really interesting question. We, who are saved, tend to classify ourselves as saints (small s), those that have experienced Jesus salvation and are following Him. Our lives should be marked by our desire to follow him, and hopefully we are sinning less than before. In church we probably hang around people who are similar to us, and we try to make a positive impact on our world. Sometimes we can forget where we came from and what we were like previously, and take on a judgmental attitude towards those who have not yet welcomed the Lord into their lives. However, no matter our state of holiness, in reality we are all still sinners who have been redeemed! Some questions to consider in light of Jesus' example here in Luke:
Do we classify ourselves as better then others in our church, or in our neighborhood, because our sins are not as visible?
Do we have a list of bad sins and a list of not so bad sins? Do we feel good about ourselves because we don't do any of the "bad" sins?
Do we judge people by their sin, and even identify them by their sin, as we see the Pharisees and teachers of the Law doing here?
Do we even have anything interesting to say to "sinners"?
Do we even relate to people outside the fellowship of believers?
Do we remember our lives before Christ?
Do we take the forgiveness of our sins for granted?
Do we have an us and them attitude towards those inside vs. outside the church?
As I re-read these verses today, I was thinking that on Thanksgiving we gather around family and friends and possibly some of them may not know the Lord, or maybe have fallen away. What a great opportunity we have to love them and let them know how significant they are to us! I believe that each and every one of us is significant to the Lord, and greatly loved by Him. Let us endeavor to represent Him today to all those who would be classified as "sinners". Let us be thankful that we have experienced His love and forgiveness and extend the same to those around us! Let us cultivate a grateful heart for all the mercy and grace we have received from the Lord!
I am reminded of a very interesting story Jesus told in Luke 18:9-14 NIV:
[9] "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: [10] “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. [11] The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people---robbers, evildoers, adulterers---or even like this tax collector. [12] I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
[13] “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
[14] “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Let us remember our lives, and be thankful and grateful rather than prideful. God in His mercy has called us, forgiven us and made us His sons and daughters! The exact same mercy, forgiveness and invitation to relationship is available to us all! Let us be thankful that we have heard His voice, and responded.
Monday, November 21, 2016
Of Cats, Cars and Right Perspective...
This morning I was just reflecting on my relationship with our cat Wicket. He is quite the unique cat, and often is a bit stand-offish. He bites me sometimes, and sometimes bites books and cards and things he shouldn't. Regardless of what he did yesterday, or even 15 minutes ago, if he comes over and wants to snuggle on my lap, or lay against my leg, next to me on the couch, I welcome him and am glad that he wants to be by me. I was just thinking how similar this is to the Lord. His desire is always for us, He is always welcoming us, regardless of what we just did, or have done in the past. He loves me, desires me to be near, desires that I interact with Him. There is no penance necessary, no sacrifice required on my part due to my sin, for He paid for all of that previously.
He interacts with me here in time, but He sees me from His eternal, outside of time, position. Thus, when He sees me, He sees me as who I become in Him, who I am right now, and who I have been. A good analogy would be a car restoration. The really good restorers can look at an old worn out car and imagine how the vehicle will look once they are finished. They keep that image constantly in their mind as they work through the restoration process. They know what the car looked like at first, what its present state is, and what it will look like when finished. Because they know what it will look like when finished, they are able to plot out the path to get from its present state to its future state. One could say that they see through their imagination the vehicles future value and form, and it is their guiding vision.
In a very similar way, when the Lord looks at us, He sees us in our present state, and our actual future state, and He guides us. The difference is that His vision of us in not imaginary, it is reality, for He is outside of time and He can see the past, present and future all at once. He really is the beginning and the end, and everything in between. So when we look to the Lord, asking Him to guide us, we are allowing His clear perspective to guide us, rather than stumbling along trying to figure it out on our own. His love for us never changes because He has always seen us with the same perspective. I am so grateful that His perspective and opinion of me is never changing.
Probably the best part of this whole reality is that when God looks at me, He doesn't see my sin! He sees me as I am, clean without any sin to mar me, for Jesus paid for all my sins, and has forgiven me. I guess we could say that God has a really bad short-term memory concerning my sin, and fantastic long term-memory concerning me. He only has good thoughts about me, because He doesn't consider my sin (they have paid for) and He sees me as I am, hidden in His Son Jesus. How could he possibly think anything negative about me in this reality?
The key thing for all of us is to learn to live this way as well! We are invited to view ourselves, though our relationship with Him, the same way. We need to train ourselves to look at ourselves in a present/future state, rather than a past/present state. He invites us to leave all our history in the past, and step into the newness of today, the new mercies that are available today. He invites us to lay down all our memories of our sins, failures, wounds and scars so that we might see ourselves the way He sees us. Not only that, but He wants to speak to us and tell us who we become, so that we might believe and live toward that vision.
I am reminded of two great scriptural examples, first, the story of Gideon in Judges, Chapter 6. The background to the story is that Israel was being severely oppressed by the Midianites. Gideon was trying to thresh some wheat for his family, and doing so while hiding in a wine press. He has an encounter with and Angel and doesn't believe what the Angel says. Here are the two verses that demonstrate what I am saying - Judges 6:12, 15 NIV:
[12] "When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior. ”
[15] “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family". The Lord was speaking to Gideon's present/future state, but Gideon was mired in His past/present state. The Lord looked at Gideon from outside of time and rightly calls him a mighty warrior. Gideon, who can only look at his past and present, sees no reason to believe that he could be a mighty warrior. The invitation from the Lord was for Gideon to believe God's perspective rather than his own. Our invitation daily is to do the same.
The second example is the story of the prodigal son found in Luke, chapter 15. In this story the son asks for his inheritance, goes to a distant land and spends it in all sorts of sinful ways, and after becoming poor and starving, He decides to go back to his father's house and beg to just be a servant, because he was clearly no longer qualified to be called his son. Here are a couple of verses that are applicable - Luke 15:17-24 NIV:
[17] “When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! [18] I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. [19] I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.'
[20] So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
[21] “The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
[22] “But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. [23] Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. [24] For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate."
The son was trying to accept his past/present state and move forward in relationship with his father. The father though, would have none of that nonsense. he immediately restored the son to right relationship, as his son, and pronounced this to his whole household. It was as if he never saw this sinful son in any other way than as his son whom he loved. The father did not drag up his past, make him pay restitution, or punish him in any way. The father could only think of him as his son, whom he loved!
In the same way, our Father in heaven looks at each of us, and sees us where we are and sees us as His children. He loves us, and calls us forward in relationship with Himself. He doesn't dig up our past, call us to make restitution or make us pay any penalty. He wants us to believe in His perspective of us, and step into our identity as His sons and daughters and encourages us to live our lives with present/future perspective.
He interacts with me here in time, but He sees me from His eternal, outside of time, position. Thus, when He sees me, He sees me as who I become in Him, who I am right now, and who I have been. A good analogy would be a car restoration. The really good restorers can look at an old worn out car and imagine how the vehicle will look once they are finished. They keep that image constantly in their mind as they work through the restoration process. They know what the car looked like at first, what its present state is, and what it will look like when finished. Because they know what it will look like when finished, they are able to plot out the path to get from its present state to its future state. One could say that they see through their imagination the vehicles future value and form, and it is their guiding vision.
In a very similar way, when the Lord looks at us, He sees us in our present state, and our actual future state, and He guides us. The difference is that His vision of us in not imaginary, it is reality, for He is outside of time and He can see the past, present and future all at once. He really is the beginning and the end, and everything in between. So when we look to the Lord, asking Him to guide us, we are allowing His clear perspective to guide us, rather than stumbling along trying to figure it out on our own. His love for us never changes because He has always seen us with the same perspective. I am so grateful that His perspective and opinion of me is never changing.
Probably the best part of this whole reality is that when God looks at me, He doesn't see my sin! He sees me as I am, clean without any sin to mar me, for Jesus paid for all my sins, and has forgiven me. I guess we could say that God has a really bad short-term memory concerning my sin, and fantastic long term-memory concerning me. He only has good thoughts about me, because He doesn't consider my sin (they have paid for) and He sees me as I am, hidden in His Son Jesus. How could he possibly think anything negative about me in this reality?
The key thing for all of us is to learn to live this way as well! We are invited to view ourselves, though our relationship with Him, the same way. We need to train ourselves to look at ourselves in a present/future state, rather than a past/present state. He invites us to leave all our history in the past, and step into the newness of today, the new mercies that are available today. He invites us to lay down all our memories of our sins, failures, wounds and scars so that we might see ourselves the way He sees us. Not only that, but He wants to speak to us and tell us who we become, so that we might believe and live toward that vision.
I am reminded of two great scriptural examples, first, the story of Gideon in Judges, Chapter 6. The background to the story is that Israel was being severely oppressed by the Midianites. Gideon was trying to thresh some wheat for his family, and doing so while hiding in a wine press. He has an encounter with and Angel and doesn't believe what the Angel says. Here are the two verses that demonstrate what I am saying - Judges 6:12, 15 NIV:
[12] "When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior. ”
[15] “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family". The Lord was speaking to Gideon's present/future state, but Gideon was mired in His past/present state. The Lord looked at Gideon from outside of time and rightly calls him a mighty warrior. Gideon, who can only look at his past and present, sees no reason to believe that he could be a mighty warrior. The invitation from the Lord was for Gideon to believe God's perspective rather than his own. Our invitation daily is to do the same.
The second example is the story of the prodigal son found in Luke, chapter 15. In this story the son asks for his inheritance, goes to a distant land and spends it in all sorts of sinful ways, and after becoming poor and starving, He decides to go back to his father's house and beg to just be a servant, because he was clearly no longer qualified to be called his son. Here are a couple of verses that are applicable - Luke 15:17-24 NIV:
[17] “When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! [18] I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. [19] I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.'
[20] So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
[21] “The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
[22] “But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. [23] Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. [24] For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate."
The son was trying to accept his past/present state and move forward in relationship with his father. The father though, would have none of that nonsense. he immediately restored the son to right relationship, as his son, and pronounced this to his whole household. It was as if he never saw this sinful son in any other way than as his son whom he loved. The father did not drag up his past, make him pay restitution, or punish him in any way. The father could only think of him as his son, whom he loved!
In the same way, our Father in heaven looks at each of us, and sees us where we are and sees us as His children. He loves us, and calls us forward in relationship with Himself. He doesn't dig up our past, call us to make restitution or make us pay any penalty. He wants us to believe in His perspective of us, and step into our identity as His sons and daughters and encourages us to live our lives with present/future perspective.
Monday, November 14, 2016
God's Promise and Long Waits
This morning I felt like I should read from the Book of Genesis, specifically about Abraham, and God's promises and covenants with him. There are many things to learn from his story, but today the thing that stood out to me was the time between God's promises and the fulfilment of those promises. Abraham was 75 years old when God told him to leave his people and go to the land he would show him (Gen 12:1-4). God also told him that He would make Abraham into a mighty nation. In Genesis 15, God reiterates His promise to Abraham and this time is more specific, saying that a son of his own flesh will be his heir! This was after a year of craziness, as they had to go to Egypt to escape the famine in the promised land, as well as deal with Sodom and Gomorrah. At this point Abraham is 76 years old and Sarah his wife is 67 years old.
After they resettle in the land, they wait another 10 years but no children are born to Abraham and Sarah. At this point they try to figure out God's plan on their own, and Sarah figures Abraham should just sleep with her slave Hagar, who became one of Abraham's wives (Gen 16:1-4). Their plan was immediately successful, but Ishmael was not the son of the promise nor the covenant, but was the son of human effort. Over the next 13 years Ismael grows, and Abraham grows older.
Finally, after 24 years from the first invitation from God, He speaks again and tells Abraham, who is now 99, to circumcise all the males in his household, even Himself (Gen 17:1-3). It is at this time that the Lord, once again reiterates His promise, and tells Abraham that Sarah will have a son by this time next year (Gen 17: 15-21). Abraham thought it was funny, as it just didn't make sense in the natural, for he was 99 and Sarah was 90 years old.
Within the year, as foretold by God in verse 21, Sarah had given birth to Isaac. So in total Abraham waited at least 25 years from the original promise to seeing it miraculously fulfilled by God.
I guess my encouragement this morning is to not give up on the promises of God, regardless of how long ago they were spoken, nor how impossible they seem. It is interesting that it might have been physically possible for Sarah to give birth back when Abraham first heard that promise. Every year of delay made it less and less likely, yet God was able to do what He said He would do. I am encouraged that God was revealing part of His character here, that He is faithful and His word is true. His fulfilment doesn't always take on the form, nor timing that would make sense to us as humans, and that is perfectly ok. He is God and He is Faithful.
So, whether you have been waiting for 25 years or more, or the way God appears to be moving makes no sense to you, wait on the Lord. He will show you the perfect fulfillment oh His promises.
After they resettle in the land, they wait another 10 years but no children are born to Abraham and Sarah. At this point they try to figure out God's plan on their own, and Sarah figures Abraham should just sleep with her slave Hagar, who became one of Abraham's wives (Gen 16:1-4). Their plan was immediately successful, but Ishmael was not the son of the promise nor the covenant, but was the son of human effort. Over the next 13 years Ismael grows, and Abraham grows older.
Finally, after 24 years from the first invitation from God, He speaks again and tells Abraham, who is now 99, to circumcise all the males in his household, even Himself (Gen 17:1-3). It is at this time that the Lord, once again reiterates His promise, and tells Abraham that Sarah will have a son by this time next year (Gen 17: 15-21). Abraham thought it was funny, as it just didn't make sense in the natural, for he was 99 and Sarah was 90 years old.
Within the year, as foretold by God in verse 21, Sarah had given birth to Isaac. So in total Abraham waited at least 25 years from the original promise to seeing it miraculously fulfilled by God.
I guess my encouragement this morning is to not give up on the promises of God, regardless of how long ago they were spoken, nor how impossible they seem. It is interesting that it might have been physically possible for Sarah to give birth back when Abraham first heard that promise. Every year of delay made it less and less likely, yet God was able to do what He said He would do. I am encouraged that God was revealing part of His character here, that He is faithful and His word is true. His fulfilment doesn't always take on the form, nor timing that would make sense to us as humans, and that is perfectly ok. He is God and He is Faithful.
So, whether you have been waiting for 25 years or more, or the way God appears to be moving makes no sense to you, wait on the Lord. He will show you the perfect fulfillment oh His promises.
Sunday, November 13, 2016
One Household, One Building, One Body
This morning I am reading from Ephesians 2:12-22 NIV:
[12] "...remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ."
[14] "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, [15] by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, [16] and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. [17] He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit."
[19] "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. [21] In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. [22] And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."
Wow, talk about loaded lines of scripture! A couple of things that stand out very clearly here. In verse fifteen, Paul is as clear as can be in stating that Jesus set aside, in His flesh, the law and its regulations. This version of translation is relatively mild in how it translates the original Greek katargeo. A better definition is as follows:
1) to render idle, unemployed, inactivate, inoperative
a) to cause a person or thing to have no further efficiency
b) to deprive of force, influence, power
2) to cause to cease, put an end to, do away with, annul, abolish
a) to cease, to pass away, be done away
b) to be severed from, separated from, discharged from, loosed from any one
c) to terminate all intercourse with one
Any way I read the definition, it is clear that the Law and its regulations and commandments are no longer enforced. Jesus did this through His body, sacrificing Himself so that we could be free of the Law. He also did this so that the way would be opened for all men, both Jew and Gentile, and in so doing making us all into one new humanity (verse 15).
Secondly, we are all members of God's household. God doesn't have multiple household, just one, and we are all members of it. Jesus himself said "in my Fathers house, there are many dwellings" (John 14:2). Thus, we are all members of this one household, the household of God. We are all built on the same foundation and are all being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives (verse 20, 22). The Greek word translated built together is Sunoikodomeo and it is defined as follows:
1) to build together
a) to build together or with others
b) to put together or construct by building, out of several things to build up one whole
1) of the human body
Again, Paul is saying though we were many parts, Jew and gentile, we are now being built together into a single building, the temple of God or just as clearly, the Body of Christ. We can not disassociate ourselves from others in the body. We may have a different focus, a different purpose, but we are all members of this same building, this same body. I also like the fact that he says we are being built together, as it is not complete yet, but in process.
Lord, I pray that the simple truths revealed here would cause us to see the Church or the Body of Christ differently. We are all one, all members of one household, one body, one building! Help us to put away our petty disagreements and those things that cause division and embrace the unity that God has made possible.
Amen!
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
For Our Nation Today...
This morning I am reminded of this pledge and today make it a prayer as well!
I pray that God's Peace may be ours today!
I pledge allegiance to the flag,
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands,
One nation, under God,
Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all!
Monday, November 7, 2016
The Command to Love
As I sat down to pray this morning, I opened my Bible to the last location I had been reading from yesterday, out of John, and the following verses caught my eye - John 14:15-17, 21 NIV:
[15] “If you love me, keep my commands. [16] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever--- [17] the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
[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.”
That first sentence in verse 15 is so simple and yet one that we often don't like, for Jesus speaks of His commands, and associates our following them with loving Him. For many of us, these two ideas (love and commandments) are not closely related. We think of love as being founded in emotion and affection, but commands as being something that is demanded of us from an authoritarian ruler (at least some of the time), especially if we take them out the context and just consider them as words.
The issue for many of us is that our heart responds coolly to this type of statement. Imagine yourself saying these very words to your spouse or significant other. If I imagine my wife saying these words to me, I would likely not be pleased. We think that a mutually loving relationship of equals should not have commands and/or obedience required.
So how do we open these words up and learn to embrace them? They are clearly significant, and the fruit of our obedience appears to be unfathomable intimacy with God Himself.
First, it might be helpful to understand what exactly are Jesus' commands? Are they the rules of the church (many would want to teach that is the case)? Are they the rules for living found in the Old Covenant of the Law? I figure the best place to go is back to Scripture and see where Jesus actually gives us (His followers) commands. The language is so specific, yet up to this point in John's Gospel, Jesus has not yet given a command that would be applicable to all. If I turn the page and go to Chapter 15, I find the only times in John's Gospel that Jesus actually gives a command, and then reiterates that command. Here are the verses -
John 15:12 NIV: "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."
- and again -
John 15:17 NIV: "This is my command: Love each other."
Isn't that incredible? In fact in all of the New Testament, these are the only times that Jesus gives a direct command to us. Now, if this is the command of Jesus that opens the door to unfathomable intimacy with Him, the Father and the Holy Spirit, then I find I am not so turned off by the command. He isn't commanding me to do things that I don't want to do, although I will be the first to say that I don't always feel like loving like He loved. He isn't demanding my adherence to some petty command, He is actually inviting me to enter into His mission and purpose! He was sent to reveal the Father to us all (Heb 1:3), to reveal the Father's love for us (John 3:16), and to love us with His whole life, demonstrating the greatest love possible by laying down His life for us (John 15:13).
Jesus is inviting us to embrace His mission and purpose out of our relationship with Him. Notice, He says, "if you love me" - then "keep my commands." If we love Him, (then) we should love one another too!
I was just thinking how different verse 14:15 would sound if we just took out the words "keep my commands" and replaced them with His actual command. It would read like this:
"If you love me, (then) love each other as I have loved you!"
This I can embrace! This is sweet to my ears, and welcome in my heart!
Going back to Jesus statement in verse 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.”
Oh Lord, I pray for this greater revelation of Yourself an Your love, as You promised here! Help me Holy Spirit through Your power, as promised by Jesus. Come into my life and into my being! I look to You Father, help me to understand Your love for me! Help me to take this love, revelation and power and reveal You to all those around me through my love for them!
Amen!
[15] “If you love me, keep my commands. [16] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever--- [17] the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
[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.”
That first sentence in verse 15 is so simple and yet one that we often don't like, for Jesus speaks of His commands, and associates our following them with loving Him. For many of us, these two ideas (love and commandments) are not closely related. We think of love as being founded in emotion and affection, but commands as being something that is demanded of us from an authoritarian ruler (at least some of the time), especially if we take them out the context and just consider them as words.
The issue for many of us is that our heart responds coolly to this type of statement. Imagine yourself saying these very words to your spouse or significant other. If I imagine my wife saying these words to me, I would likely not be pleased. We think that a mutually loving relationship of equals should not have commands and/or obedience required.
So how do we open these words up and learn to embrace them? They are clearly significant, and the fruit of our obedience appears to be unfathomable intimacy with God Himself.
First, it might be helpful to understand what exactly are Jesus' commands? Are they the rules of the church (many would want to teach that is the case)? Are they the rules for living found in the Old Covenant of the Law? I figure the best place to go is back to Scripture and see where Jesus actually gives us (His followers) commands. The language is so specific, yet up to this point in John's Gospel, Jesus has not yet given a command that would be applicable to all. If I turn the page and go to Chapter 15, I find the only times in John's Gospel that Jesus actually gives a command, and then reiterates that command. Here are the verses -
John 15:12 NIV: "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."
- and again -
John 15:17 NIV: "This is my command: Love each other."
Isn't that incredible? In fact in all of the New Testament, these are the only times that Jesus gives a direct command to us. Now, if this is the command of Jesus that opens the door to unfathomable intimacy with Him, the Father and the Holy Spirit, then I find I am not so turned off by the command. He isn't commanding me to do things that I don't want to do, although I will be the first to say that I don't always feel like loving like He loved. He isn't demanding my adherence to some petty command, He is actually inviting me to enter into His mission and purpose! He was sent to reveal the Father to us all (Heb 1:3), to reveal the Father's love for us (John 3:16), and to love us with His whole life, demonstrating the greatest love possible by laying down His life for us (John 15:13).
Jesus is inviting us to embrace His mission and purpose out of our relationship with Him. Notice, He says, "if you love me" - then "keep my commands." If we love Him, (then) we should love one another too!
I was just thinking how different verse 14:15 would sound if we just took out the words "keep my commands" and replaced them with His actual command. It would read like this:
"If you love me, (then) love each other as I have loved you!"
This I can embrace! This is sweet to my ears, and welcome in my heart!
Going back to Jesus statement in verse 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.”
Oh Lord, I pray for this greater revelation of Yourself an Your love, as You promised here! Help me Holy Spirit through Your power, as promised by Jesus. Come into my life and into my being! I look to You Father, help me to understand Your love for me! Help me to take this love, revelation and power and reveal You to all those around me through my love for them!
Amen!
Sunday, November 6, 2016
The Father's Plan for the Lost: To Seek and Save
I opened up my Bible to the Gospel of Luke, and one of my favorite stories, the story of Zacchaeus. Here is the story as told by Luke 19:1-10 NIV:
[1] "Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. [2] A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. [3] He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. [4] So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
[5] When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” [6] So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
[7] All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
[8] But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
[9] Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
As I read through the story once again, I was most impacted by Jesus' statement, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” We know from Jesus' statements in John that He only said and did what the Father told him to do and say. When I read this statement today, it was apparent to me that Jesus was being obedient to the Father, when he told Zacchaeus that "I must stay at your house today"! It seemed clear to me that Jesus was following the Father's specific directions.
Wouldn't that be awesome to have that type of interaction with the Father?
The good news is that is exactly what we are invited to do, we are invited to have the Father and Jesus come and make their home in us (John 14:23).
So, taking that belief that it was the Father directing Jesus, we see in Jesus' words and actions the Father's heart for Zacchaeus, while he was still steeped in His sins. It was clear that the Father had been already been drawing Zacchaeus, as he had it in his mind that he wanted to see Jesus. The Father's heart is further revealed in Jesus' statement at the very end, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” That was the assignment that He had given to Jesus and that is what occurred.
What a wonderful example of the Father's heart for the lost, for those who are caught up in sin, for those that would be considered traitors and the worst of the worst. I am encouraged today, that the Father has the exact same heart for all those I know who are in the same heart condition as Zacchaeus. I am confident in His ability to find them where they are, to draw them towards Himself, and finally to encounter Him in such a way that their hearts are changed and their lives transformed.
The Father wasn't calling judgment down upon Zacchaeus and his household for his sins and evil ways! Instead the Father was visiting his whole house with salvation! Oh that all the church would learn to pray for the sinners and lost this way!
Lord, I lift up to You those that I know who have wandered away from You, have never known You, or who are worshipping money and material goods. I pray that You would seek them and save them and their whole households!
Amen and Amen!
[1] "Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. [2] A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. [3] He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. [4] So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
[5] When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” [6] So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
[7] All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
[8] But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
[9] Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
As I read through the story once again, I was most impacted by Jesus' statement, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” We know from Jesus' statements in John that He only said and did what the Father told him to do and say. When I read this statement today, it was apparent to me that Jesus was being obedient to the Father, when he told Zacchaeus that "I must stay at your house today"! It seemed clear to me that Jesus was following the Father's specific directions.
Wouldn't that be awesome to have that type of interaction with the Father?
The good news is that is exactly what we are invited to do, we are invited to have the Father and Jesus come and make their home in us (John 14:23).
So, taking that belief that it was the Father directing Jesus, we see in Jesus' words and actions the Father's heart for Zacchaeus, while he was still steeped in His sins. It was clear that the Father had been already been drawing Zacchaeus, as he had it in his mind that he wanted to see Jesus. The Father's heart is further revealed in Jesus' statement at the very end, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” That was the assignment that He had given to Jesus and that is what occurred.
What a wonderful example of the Father's heart for the lost, for those who are caught up in sin, for those that would be considered traitors and the worst of the worst. I am encouraged today, that the Father has the exact same heart for all those I know who are in the same heart condition as Zacchaeus. I am confident in His ability to find them where they are, to draw them towards Himself, and finally to encounter Him in such a way that their hearts are changed and their lives transformed.
The Father wasn't calling judgment down upon Zacchaeus and his household for his sins and evil ways! Instead the Father was visiting his whole house with salvation! Oh that all the church would learn to pray for the sinners and lost this way!
Lord, I lift up to You those that I know who have wandered away from You, have never known You, or who are worshipping money and material goods. I pray that You would seek them and save them and their whole households!
Amen and Amen!
Saturday, November 5, 2016
We Are His Children and His Heirs!
This morning I opened my Bible to Galatians, and to a few verses that I was meditating on a couple of weeks back. Here are the verses - Galatians 4:4-7 NIV:
[4] "But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. [6] Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba , Father.” [7] So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir."
In light of the dream I had recently (my blog about it can be found here: http://amomentwithgod-srh.blogspot.com/2016/11/dont-settle-for-mediocracy-in-your.html), I want to start at verse 7, today. Paul is writing about being under the Law, in regards to his mention of slavery here. As the Law was fulfilled by Christ Jesus, and a new covenant was established through His most precious blood, this statement is true for us all. None of us is slave to the Law!
Unfortunately, much of the church seems to want to bring parts of the Old Testament Law back in, and subject us to those requirements. There are those that preach judgment and curses upon people for sin, which is part of the Law, but not the New Covenant. There are those that think that the judgments of Israel or the Jews, apply to us, but again those are part of the Old Covenant of the Law. When the question of how much of the Law is required under the New Covenant was brought up in the early church, when those who were not Jews joined the church, the resulting discussion and agreement of the Apostles caused the following letter to be written, as found in Acts 15:22-29 NIV:
[22] "Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. [23] With them they sent the following letter:
The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:
Greetings. [24] We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. [25] So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul--- [26] men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. [27] Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. [28] It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: [29] You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell."
This is their summation of all the things that passed from the Old Covenant Law to the new believers, who were not Jewish, under the New Covenant. That is it, nothing else was added. Paul went on later in his letter to the church in Corinth to say that really food sacrificed to idols, and really eating of anything, was actually not an issue either (1 Cor 8:1-8), so we are left really with abstaining from sexual immorality. You will note that there were no judgments, no curses or punishments added, just the requirement to abstain.
So back to His statement in verse 7, we are no longer slaves to any of the Law, we are all, each and everyone of us, God's child! No one is more favorite, no one has position or authority over you in God's family, we are all equally His children, made so by the same sacrifice of Jesus. There are no half-siblings, no step-children, all are children of God! If you have ever thought yourself as less deserving, or not properly related to God, you thought wrong. We can choose to believe other things, and apply rules and regulations to ourselves (like pieces and parts of the Old Covenant) that are not true for us, or we can choose to live as we truly are, His children, His sons and His daughters. It is our choice!
I will say that many of us have been brought up in religion, and religion works to enslave us to rules and regulations. We believe in Christ and His salvation, but we have been taught incorrectly about grace, mercy, compassion and judgment, and fed a bunch of rules and regulations that are not part of the Gospel. It is no fault of ours that we have believed that which we have been taught, but the truth, seen here in Paul's writings and of course in Jesus' teachings throughout the Gospels, is clear! When we are confronted with truth from God's Word that is not in line with our own beliefs, our choice is simple, we can repent and change the way we think and act, or we can hold onto our wrong thinking! The call from God is towards freedom, towards life full of Him as His sons and daughters.
Finally, Paul finishes his statement with the statement, "God has made you also an heir." Please note, this is God's will towards us, not something we have earned. It is through His relationship with us, established in Christ Jesus, that He extends the inheritance to include us! We are His heirs! We probably need to tell ourselves that over and over and over.
Going back to the dream I had recently, the idea is that the inheritance is our to experience now, and is just waiting for us to step into it. Jesus taught His disciples to pray the following - Matthew 6:9-10 NIV: “This, then, is how you should pray: “ 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." This prayer is not that we might make it to Heaven so that we can experience God's will there, but rather a prayer that we would experience here on earth that which is already experienced in Heaven. Jesus tells us to pray that God's will (His will states that we are His heirs) be done or experienced on earth as it is in Heaven. The Greek word that has been translated 'done' is the word Ginomai. Here is a brief definition:
1) to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being
2) to become, i.e. to come to pass, happen
a) of events
3) to arise, appear in history, come upon the stage
a) of men appearing in public
4) to be made, finished
a) of miracles, to be performed, wrought
5) to become, be made
When we pray as Jesus taught us, we are connecting ourselves to God's will, and asking that it would be revealed through us, to come into existence, to happen, to appear and become part of our history, to cause miracles to be performed that just need that finishing touch, to become real here on earth as it already is in Heaven! This is God's will for us, and we are His heirs, which means if it is His, it is ours as well, for we are His children. My children, when growing up in our house, never questioned if they could eat the food, or use the tools, or drink the juice - for they knew through their identity and relationship with us, their praents, that even though we paid for it, it was theirs to enjoy!
I really feel that this is God's invitation today, to step into our identity and become who we are, His sons and daughters! He is calling us to step into those things that are already in our possession as His heirs! Let us pray and believe and step into His freedom and the fullness of our relationship.
Amen and amen!
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Don't Settle For Mediocracy In Your Faith Experience!
This morning, and it seems like most of last night, I was dreaming about a mansions that we lived in. What was interesting about this dream is that we were using parts of it, or rediscovering parts of it that we haven't visited for years. We had grown so accustomed to living in the few rooms that we visited that we had forgotten about all these fantastic rooms and equipment, and stuff that was ours.
We had a whole area set aside for hosting big family events, extra kitchens, large cooking equipment, etc., almost like a commercial kitchen, but just on a different level than where we usually live. We had an area set up like a coffee shop, where we had a really cool coffee grinding mill that looked like an old water-powered grinding mill. We had a whole area that was like a concessions area for a mall, several different types of treats and food, each announced with bold Neon signs. When we opened the doors to these areas, I kept telling my children, these are here everyday, and always open for your use.
Amazingly it had been years since we had wandered through this part of the house.We had closets after closets of art work, most already framed, most done by my children, we seemed to have everything they had ever drawn or painted. We turned the corner and opened the door and there were at least 8 art studios all in this next section, separated by large sliding panels with the canvasses ready to be painted. We had rooms where I had musical equipment (guitars, drums, keyboards) and sounds systems, all ready for use. In other rooms we had all the supplies we needed, and or had bought at any time, it all looked fresh and ready to eat. There was meat in the freezers we found, and even though we hadn't been there in years, the supplies were all fresh and ready to be consumed and used, and there was no dust or cobwebs at all. It appears that someone was keeping it all in perfect readiness for the day we decided to walk back over to that part of our house. I kept telling everyone, "remember this is yours to use, and it always has been, you just need to walk into this part of the house".
As I reflect back on the dream, I do believe that I have been in this house before in my dreams, because it all seemed very familiar. What else was interesting was that my family was in town and that was why we were using the big family events section. As we walked around there were things from all of our childhood's. So this wasn't just my house, but it was the family estate!
When I woke up I felt the Lord whisper to me that this is exactly what is also available to us as His children in the spiritual realm. Most of us settle for the little areas that we are comfortable in, and never venture past our comfort, into areas that are just around the corner, or behind the next door. Each of the areas represented things that are in me, gifts and callings, and even things that I thought at one time that would be cool; it was all there in closets waiting for me to pull it out and use. I felt the strong encouragement of the Lord to revisit past words, dreams, visions, experiences and to open them back up and try them on, try them out, or enjoy them once again. Better yet, I felt like the encouragement was to invite my family and friends to enjoy these things with me. They are all just waiting and ready to be used! I felt Him say, "Don't settle for the mediocrity of what you already know and am comfortable with, but open the door and walk around, test things out, find something that interests you and give it a whirl." The best part is I don't need to ask permission, wait for clear direction, its already mine and I live right in the midst of it all, I just need to go there and open the doors.
I pray that you are encouraged to visit the mansions the Lord has prepared for you all (John 14:2 NKJV), and are a part of your inheritance as His co-heirs (Rom 8:17). He has provided for us with all the fullness of Himself. I am reminded of Paul's great prayer for the church in Ephesus, and believe this prayer is for us today.
Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV:
[14] "For this reason I kneel before the Father, [15] from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. [16] I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, [18] may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, [19] and to know this love that surpasses knowledge---that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Yes, let us be filled to to the measure of all the fullness of God, and experience His love in it's breadth, depth, width and height!
We had a whole area set aside for hosting big family events, extra kitchens, large cooking equipment, etc., almost like a commercial kitchen, but just on a different level than where we usually live. We had an area set up like a coffee shop, where we had a really cool coffee grinding mill that looked like an old water-powered grinding mill. We had a whole area that was like a concessions area for a mall, several different types of treats and food, each announced with bold Neon signs. When we opened the doors to these areas, I kept telling my children, these are here everyday, and always open for your use.
Amazingly it had been years since we had wandered through this part of the house.We had closets after closets of art work, most already framed, most done by my children, we seemed to have everything they had ever drawn or painted. We turned the corner and opened the door and there were at least 8 art studios all in this next section, separated by large sliding panels with the canvasses ready to be painted. We had rooms where I had musical equipment (guitars, drums, keyboards) and sounds systems, all ready for use. In other rooms we had all the supplies we needed, and or had bought at any time, it all looked fresh and ready to eat. There was meat in the freezers we found, and even though we hadn't been there in years, the supplies were all fresh and ready to be consumed and used, and there was no dust or cobwebs at all. It appears that someone was keeping it all in perfect readiness for the day we decided to walk back over to that part of our house. I kept telling everyone, "remember this is yours to use, and it always has been, you just need to walk into this part of the house".
As I reflect back on the dream, I do believe that I have been in this house before in my dreams, because it all seemed very familiar. What else was interesting was that my family was in town and that was why we were using the big family events section. As we walked around there were things from all of our childhood's. So this wasn't just my house, but it was the family estate!
When I woke up I felt the Lord whisper to me that this is exactly what is also available to us as His children in the spiritual realm. Most of us settle for the little areas that we are comfortable in, and never venture past our comfort, into areas that are just around the corner, or behind the next door. Each of the areas represented things that are in me, gifts and callings, and even things that I thought at one time that would be cool; it was all there in closets waiting for me to pull it out and use. I felt the strong encouragement of the Lord to revisit past words, dreams, visions, experiences and to open them back up and try them on, try them out, or enjoy them once again. Better yet, I felt like the encouragement was to invite my family and friends to enjoy these things with me. They are all just waiting and ready to be used! I felt Him say, "Don't settle for the mediocrity of what you already know and am comfortable with, but open the door and walk around, test things out, find something that interests you and give it a whirl." The best part is I don't need to ask permission, wait for clear direction, its already mine and I live right in the midst of it all, I just need to go there and open the doors.
I pray that you are encouraged to visit the mansions the Lord has prepared for you all (John 14:2 NKJV), and are a part of your inheritance as His co-heirs (Rom 8:17). He has provided for us with all the fullness of Himself. I am reminded of Paul's great prayer for the church in Ephesus, and believe this prayer is for us today.
Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV:
[14] "For this reason I kneel before the Father, [15] from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. [16] I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, [18] may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, [19] and to know this love that surpasses knowledge---that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Yes, let us be filled to to the measure of all the fullness of God, and experience His love in it's breadth, depth, width and height!
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Jesus' Witnesses
This morning I am doing some reflecting on God's word and felt like reading from the book of Daniel 9:9-12 NIV:
[9] "The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; [10] we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets."
[11]" All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. “Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. [12] You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem".
What caught my eye this morning was verse 11 where he writes, "Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you." As I read those words the question popped into my mind, were there any such curses and sworn judgements written in the new covenant, the one established by Jesus? I certainly can't think of any.
Scripture is very clear that Jesus fulfilled the old covenant and established a new covenant through His death and resurrection. Thus, none of us in the "Christian" church are under the old covenant with its curses and sworn judgments for we follow the one who established the New Covenant. There are those who wrongly bring the curses and sworn judgments from the old covenant into the new, and this is not correct.
My good friend Vince Staggs writes the following yesterday on his Facebook feed- "I think Jesus' followers are going to have to settle, once and for all, which covenant—Old or New—is now in effect for humanity. We can’t afford to be of two minds about this. Here's my understanding: When Hebrews was written the Old Covenant was obsolete and “ready to disappear” (8:13). Not long after God ended that covenant in spectacular fashion with the destruction of the Temple in 70AD, permanently ending the Jewish priesthood and animal sacrifices.
The Law brings wrath (Rom 4:15). But Jesus fulfilled that Law and became the atoning sacrifice “not only for our sins, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 Jn 2:2). The Law was about blessings and curses; Jesus redeemed us from the Law’s curse, becoming a curse for us (Gal 3:13). Whereas 3,000 people died the day the Law was given, 3,000 were saved with the Spirit’s coming at Pentecost. Now, instead of cursing the wicked with drought, God sends rain on both the righteous *and* the unrighteous, showing kindness to wicked and ungrateful people. He’s not counting humanity’s sins against us (2 Cor 5:19). (If he is, why do so many mass murderers live to ripe old ages: Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, etc.?)
I don't think God is judging cities, much less nations. Jesus is the one entrusted with all judgment, and he wasn’t sent to judge—on the contrary, God sent him to *save* the world. The last city destroyed in judgment was Jerusalem in 70AD, destroyed in the final fulfillment of the Old Covenant as God invoked the curses specified in the Law on those who refused the safety of the New Covenant (including Jesus’ warnings to flee the city when they saw Rome surrounding it with armies, which the Christians did). This doesn’t mean there isn’t an appointed day (singular) of judgment at Jesus’ final return, but I believe we live in the favorable year of the Lord."
As we examine our lives it is right to repent, to change the way we think and act, as we are confronted with God's truth as demonstrated and fulfilled by Jesus. There are many times in my life that I have come to recognize that my thoughts or ways of thinking were not in line with His revealed truth, and I have changed. I don't do this because I fear His judgment or curse, but rather because I want to fully embrace and experience the intimacy and blessing of walking in unity with Him. HE is the greatest treasure that has been given to us and my goal is to experience as much of His goodness as is humanly possible.
As people groups and Nations, it is also right for us to change the way we think and act (repent) towards God and His beautiful Son and Holy Spirit. Again we are note called to do this out of fear, but rather as a result of our loving relationship. We are called to let our light shine to all men, that they might see and be drawn to the one who loves them from before the creation of the world. When we mis-characterize who God is, or what He is like through our words or actions, we affect others who do not know Him. I think it is time for many of us to repent of how we represent Jesus to the world. We were told to go and spread the Kingdom of God, to make disciples of all nations, to be witnesses for Him to all the world.
In the Catholic Church, today (Nov. 1st) is the Feast of All Saints, when we celebrate the lives of many who were faithful in being witnesses of Jesus through their life and death. Let us reflect on our lives and also accept this call and let us be true witnesses to Him who has loved us before the creation of the world.
Amen and Amen!
[9] "The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; [10] we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets."
[11]" All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. “Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. [12] You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem".
What caught my eye this morning was verse 11 where he writes, "Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you." As I read those words the question popped into my mind, were there any such curses and sworn judgements written in the new covenant, the one established by Jesus? I certainly can't think of any.
Scripture is very clear that Jesus fulfilled the old covenant and established a new covenant through His death and resurrection. Thus, none of us in the "Christian" church are under the old covenant with its curses and sworn judgments for we follow the one who established the New Covenant. There are those who wrongly bring the curses and sworn judgments from the old covenant into the new, and this is not correct.
My good friend Vince Staggs writes the following yesterday on his Facebook feed- "I think Jesus' followers are going to have to settle, once and for all, which covenant—Old or New—is now in effect for humanity. We can’t afford to be of two minds about this. Here's my understanding: When Hebrews was written the Old Covenant was obsolete and “ready to disappear” (8:13). Not long after God ended that covenant in spectacular fashion with the destruction of the Temple in 70AD, permanently ending the Jewish priesthood and animal sacrifices.
The Law brings wrath (Rom 4:15). But Jesus fulfilled that Law and became the atoning sacrifice “not only for our sins, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 Jn 2:2). The Law was about blessings and curses; Jesus redeemed us from the Law’s curse, becoming a curse for us (Gal 3:13). Whereas 3,000 people died the day the Law was given, 3,000 were saved with the Spirit’s coming at Pentecost. Now, instead of cursing the wicked with drought, God sends rain on both the righteous *and* the unrighteous, showing kindness to wicked and ungrateful people. He’s not counting humanity’s sins against us (2 Cor 5:19). (If he is, why do so many mass murderers live to ripe old ages: Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, etc.?)
I don't think God is judging cities, much less nations. Jesus is the one entrusted with all judgment, and he wasn’t sent to judge—on the contrary, God sent him to *save* the world. The last city destroyed in judgment was Jerusalem in 70AD, destroyed in the final fulfillment of the Old Covenant as God invoked the curses specified in the Law on those who refused the safety of the New Covenant (including Jesus’ warnings to flee the city when they saw Rome surrounding it with armies, which the Christians did). This doesn’t mean there isn’t an appointed day (singular) of judgment at Jesus’ final return, but I believe we live in the favorable year of the Lord."
As we examine our lives it is right to repent, to change the way we think and act, as we are confronted with God's truth as demonstrated and fulfilled by Jesus. There are many times in my life that I have come to recognize that my thoughts or ways of thinking were not in line with His revealed truth, and I have changed. I don't do this because I fear His judgment or curse, but rather because I want to fully embrace and experience the intimacy and blessing of walking in unity with Him. HE is the greatest treasure that has been given to us and my goal is to experience as much of His goodness as is humanly possible.
As people groups and Nations, it is also right for us to change the way we think and act (repent) towards God and His beautiful Son and Holy Spirit. Again we are note called to do this out of fear, but rather as a result of our loving relationship. We are called to let our light shine to all men, that they might see and be drawn to the one who loves them from before the creation of the world. When we mis-characterize who God is, or what He is like through our words or actions, we affect others who do not know Him. I think it is time for many of us to repent of how we represent Jesus to the world. We were told to go and spread the Kingdom of God, to make disciples of all nations, to be witnesses for Him to all the world.
In the Catholic Church, today (Nov. 1st) is the Feast of All Saints, when we celebrate the lives of many who were faithful in being witnesses of Jesus through their life and death. Let us reflect on our lives and also accept this call and let us be true witnesses to Him who has loved us before the creation of the world.
Amen and Amen!
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